Generally, December, January and February are the deadliest months for fires. In recent years, the top three days for home fires were Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Christmas Eve. While cooking and heating are the leading causes of home fires in the months of December through February, home candle fires occur at nearly twice the rate in December as throughout the rest of the year. Show family and friends that you care about them and are mindful of their personal safety by giving creative, practical presents that will help protect them from fire and injury this holiday season, and throughout the year.
Fire Safety Gifts
When purchasing any of these life-saving gifts, be sure to look for the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) label. The UL label means the device has passed certain safety tests.
• Smoke alarms for everyone on your list, including alarms for people who are deaf or hard of hearing that include strobe lights, high decibels and/or vibration.
• Flashlights and batteries for emergency lighting.
• Sturdy candleholders to prevent tip-over when candles are lit.
• A sturdy fireplace screen, to keep embers out of the room.
• Portable fire extinguishers, with clear instructions on how to use them.
• Fire escape ladder for homes with second or third floor bedrooms.
• Oven mitts for handling hot cookware, pot and pan lids, oven racks or tableware.
• Kitchen timers with loud end of time signals.
• Large house numbers so firefighters can locate a home at night quickly during an emergency.
• Carbon monoxide alarms to help keep your loved ones safe from the "silent killer."
Home Safety Gifts
• Quality home first aid kit
• Non-slip bath mats and shower grab bars to help prevent falls.
• Baby gates to keep toddlers away from stairs and other hazards.
• Child locks to put on cabinets and cupboards
Toy Safety Reminders
• Keep in mind the child's age, interests and skill level.
• Make sure that all directions or instructions are clear.
• Look for and heed age recommendations.
• Look for "Flame retardant/Flame resistant" labels on sleepwear.
• Use a toy chest that has a lid that will stay open in any position to which it is raised.
• Avoid toys with small parts that can be swallowed or lodged in a child's windpipe, ears or nose.
• Toys with long strings or cords may become wrapped around an infant's neck.
• Avoid guns or other toys which might be capable of firing articles not intended for use in the toy.
Think about it. Why not consider an invaluable gift that could both protect and save lives. What better way to show someone how much you care.
