How to avoid Clark Griswold-like disasters this holiday
Imagine Santa Claus tumbling down the chimney and catching fire by still-burning embers; reindeer on the roof crashing through the ceiling; Frosty the Snowman melting and flooding the basement; or a candle on the menorah falling onto a tablecloth and setting it ablaze.
Holiday accidents aren't just the tableau of Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation; they are real threats this time of year.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates there are more than 12,000 injuries each year directly related to holiday decorations. Those injuries range from falls and lacerations to back strains and burns, just to name a few. And landing in the hospital isn't the worst that can happen: 10 people died due to holiday decoration incidents in 2012, the latest year for which data were available, according to the CPSC.
No one wants to think of bad things during happy holidays, but understanding that decorations can be blown about by high winds; that snowmen and ice castles built too close to basement windows can melt and cause a flood; or that the extra weight of snow along with heavy decorations placed on a roof can cause it to collapse are scenarios that should be thought through. Moreover, if you're burning wood in a fireplace to fight off the cold weather, it's worth knowing how to prevent smoke or a house fire.
To keep these holidays merry and jolly, here are a few tips and reminders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency):
• Keep those candles 12 inches away from anything that might catch fire. (Two out of every five home decoration fires are linked to burning candles.)
• Unplug the lights on your Christmas tree before bedtime and always make sure that it is watered properly. Also, check for damaged bulbs or frayed wires.
• To stay warm, run your ceiling fans in reverse. This helps circulate warm air that gathers near the ceiling.
• Make sure your gutters and drains are clean and that water drains at least six feet from your home's foundation.
• Check your fire extinguishers and ensure everyone in the household (even out-of-town guests) knows where they are and how to use them.
• Consider hiring a contractor to test the soundness of your roof's structure and its ability to withstand the weight of snow, ice and heavy ornaments.
• Let the fireplace cool completely before closing the damper, and always have your chimney professionally inspected and cleaned each year. Never use charcoal lighter or other volatile chemicals in a fireplace or wood stove and do not overuse paper to boost a fire. Keep a metal grill in front of the fireplace while burning, and, of course, keep flammable objects away from the fireplace, especially off the mantel.
• Consider investing in a sump pump with an alarm that you can keep in the basement. Sensors detect water levels and the alarm can alert you if snowmelt has sopped through windows or cracks.
Holiday surprises are best left for when you are opening gifts. It's better to be prepared for holiday hazards.
Thomas M. Kostigen is the founder of The Climate Survivalist.com and a New York Times best-selling author and journalist. He is the National Geographic author of "The Extreme Weather Survival Guide: Understand, Prepare, Survive, Recover" and the NG Kids book "Extreme Weather: Surviving Tornadoes, Tsunamis, Hailstorms, Thundersnow, Hurricanes and More!" Follow him @weathersurvival, or e-mailkostigen@theclimatesurvivalist.com
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