THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS MEANT to be a time spent with loved ones. But whether you prefer to bask in the glow of a warm fire or to relax in a festively decorated home, there are some hazards that could turn the night before Christmas into the nightmare before Christmas.

No matter your reason for celebrating this season, your local SERVPRO® Franchise Professional wants you to be able to enjoy the month of December safely. This issue of the Newsline is dedicated to creating awareness of several potential dangers like that come with holiday decorations.

This issue of the Newsline covers topics such as:

• The potential danger of Christmas
  tree fires, including statistics from
  the U.S. Fire Administration.
• Tips on how to safely use festive
  holiday candles around the home,
  also including statistics from the
  U.S. Fire Administration.
• Tips on how to minimize your
  risk for the seasonal flu, from the
  Center for Disease Control.

Of course, if disaster does strike your home or business during the holiday season, SERVPRO® Franchise Professionals are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After all, we’ve been helping keep homes merry and bright for more than 40 years.

If your home – like 33 million other households in the U.S. – includes a natural Christmas tree in its holiday decorations, the breathtaking beauty of the decoration comes with a fire risk. Be sure to check out the tips listed below, and see page 2 of this issue for  more safety information.

• If your tree is watered regularly,
  your risk for Christmas tree
  fires decreases significantly.
• Keep your tree well away from
  open flames – like candles
  and fireplaces.
• Be sure you don’t overload
  power outlets with holiday
  lights. Pay close attention to
  the manufacturers instructions
  on the number of lights you
  can string together.

WITH THE ONSET OF THE HOLIDAY season, homeowners and business owners across the country will begin decorating their properties with festive lights, trees, candles and more. While these items can add plenty of charm and cheer, there are a few potential dangers your customers and loved ones should be
aware of during the winter months. Candles alone cause an estimated 15,600 fires each year, causing 1,270 injuries and more than $539 million in property damage.

December is the peak month for candle fires, and Christmas day is the peak day. More than half of all candle fires start because the candle is set too close to a combustible material. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Christmas trees account for an estimated 200 fires annually and cause more than $6 million in property damage. These fires can be easily prevented simply by keeping your live tree watered.

The USFA has a fascinating, side-by-side video posted on its website (www.usfa.dhs.gov) comparing a adequately watered Christmas tree next to a dry, neglected tree. Within a mere 40 seconds of ignition, the dry tree has erupted into flames and consumed all oxygen in the room. By comparison, the “wet tree” resists the ignition, evenwhen a propane torch is applied.

Safety Tips

• Use sturdy, safe candle holders placed on a
  surface where they cannot be easily
  knocked down.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Never leave a candle lit while sleeping.
  Consider using battery-operated,
  flame lesscandles.
• Be careful not to splatter wax when
  extinguishing a candle.
• Use flashlights rather than candles for
  emergency lighting.
• Keep your Christmas tree well watered.
• Do not purchase a tree that is dry or
  dropping needles excessively.
• If you purchase an artificial tree, be sure it
  is labeled as fire-retardant.
• Always unplug or switch off lights when
  leaving the house or before going to bed.
• Do not use strings of lights that are worn,
  frayed, manually spliced or broken.
• Do not link more than three light strands,
  unless the directions indicate it is safe.
  Connect strings of lights to an extension
  cord before plugging the cord into the
  outlet. Make sure to periodically check
  the wires – they should not be warm to
  the touch.

WITH WINTER COMES THE ANNUAL FLU season, and this year the flu is causing much more concern than usual. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists the flu as a serious disease. Each year in the United States, an average of 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die from seasonal flu complications.

The health experts at the CDC are all providing the same advice: proper hygiene is a powerful public health preventative measure. For a partial list of the CDC’s preventative tips, see the list in the next column. For a full list, visit the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/flu.

Safety Tips

The CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza. Take everyday preventative actions.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue
  when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue
  in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
  If soap and water are not available, use an
  alcohol-based hand rub.
  Take flu antiviral drugs if your
  doctor recommends them.
• Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and
  shorten the time you are sick. They may
  also prevent serious flu complications.
• Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter
  and are different from antibiotics.
• For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if
  started within the first 2 days of symptoms.

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