The Windsor Fire Protection District family wishes you and your
family a joyous holiday season and a happy new year.
As you celebrate, we want you to be safe. Please take a couple of
minutes to review these safety precautions:
- When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh
tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when
bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt
of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the
ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
- When setting up a tree at home, place it away from
fireplaces, radiators, or portable heaters. Place the tree out
of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
- Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the
fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will
help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire
- Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated
rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.
- When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire
- Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they
have been certified for outdoor use. To hold lights in place, we
recommend purchasing plastic holders designed for this purpose.
As an alternative, string them through hooks or insulated
staples. Never use nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to
- Check all tree lights—even if you've just purchased
them—before hanging them on your tree. Make sure all the bulbs
work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets, or
- Consider replacing old lights with LED lights. They are
safer, “greener,” and cost much less to operate.
- Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with
ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) to avoid potential
- Always turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or
leave the house.
- Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to
trim a tree.
- Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other
evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles
where they will not be knocked down. If you have small children,
place the candles high enough that the children cannot reach
- In homes with small children, take special care to avoid
decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with
small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the
child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings
that resemble candy or food that may tempt a young child to eat
- Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while
decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container
directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating
with artificial snow sprays.
- Remove all wrapping papers, bags, paper, ribbons and bows
from tree and fireplace areas after gifts are opened. These
items can pose choking and suffocation risks to children, and
they can easily catch fire. They should be disposed of in your
recycling bin, not burned in the fireplace.
- Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest
level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety
hazards for younger children.
- Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a
toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions
- To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don't give
young children (under age 10) a toy that must be plugged into an
electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
- Children under age 3 can choke on small parts contained in
toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for
children under age 3 cannot have parts less than 1-1/4 inches in
diameter and 2-1/4 inches long.
- Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12
inches in length as they can be a strangulation hazard for
- Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could
rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with
alcohol or tobacco.
- Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed.
- Keep a laminated list with all of the important phone
numbers you or a baby-sitter are likely to need in case of an
emergency. Include the police and fire department (always call
9-1-1 if it’s an emergency), your pediatrician, and the national
Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222.
- Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents,
shopping, etc., can all increase your child's stress levels.
Trying to stick to your child's usual routines, including sleep
schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy
the holidays and reduce stress.
- Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers,
and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that the
flue is open.
- Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire
may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
Monthly Safety Message
Disaster Supplies Kit
Senior Citizen Safety