Holiday Safety

The holidays are a time for celebration with family and friends. Unfortunately, they are also a time when a number of preventable residential fires and incidents increase across Canada.

 
woman sitting near TV that says Happy Holidays

During the holidays, we change the way our houses are decorated, we cook more elaborate meals, we travel away from home, and we shop for items we don’t regularly purchase.

These behavioral changes during the holidays can elevate safety risks — risks that are responsible for more fires and trips to the ER than other times of year.

In case of an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Tips for the holidays

Gifting electronics

Phones, smartwatches, kitchen appliances, electric scooters and bikes, tablets, etc.  are popular holiday gifts but are you aware of the risks associated with rechargeable, lithium-ion batteries? Watch the video below to learn more.

Safety tips:

  • Purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Below are three certified testing labs for Canadian safety standards.

 

  • Charge with cables that come with the product, buy replacement cords directly form the manufacturer or a reputable retailer, and check that the chargers have been certified by a third-party testing lab (as soon above).
  • Never place a lithium-ion powered device where they could block your exit in the event of a fire.
  • Pay attention to manufacturer instructions that offer important tips for safe operation.

Watch video
Candles and decorations
  • Keep candles away from decorations, trees, and other combustible materials. 
  • Turn off all lights and blow out all candles before leaving the home or going to sleep. 
  • Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home.

Downloadable tip sheet 
Holiday tree
  • Water real trees regularly. 
  • When setting up the tree, try to position it near an electrical outlet to keep cords short. 
  • Before leaving home or going to sleep, always unplug tree lights.
  • For an artificial tree, check the label to ensure it is fire-retardant.
  • Make sure any tree is kept away from exits, heat vents, fireplaces, radiators, televisions, and other heat sources.

Watch video
 In the kitchen
  • Never leave cooking unattended. This is the leading cause of kitchen fires.
  • Turn pot or pan handles inward to prevent burns caused by overturned pots. 
  • Wear short or close-fitting sleeves to avoid clothes catching on fire. 
  • Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. Turn off burner of you leave the kitchen for any reason.
  • Have a pot lid nearby to smother a pan fire. Never pour water on a cooking pan frease fire.
  • Keep flammable materials, such as curtains, newspapers or plastic grocery bags, away from heaty sources such as burners and the oven.

Downloadable tip sheet
Portable electric space heaters
  • Turn off heaters when you go to bed or leave the room. 
  • Purchase a heater with the seal (stamp) of a qualified testing labratory.
  • Place space heaters on a solid, flat surface and keep them and their electrical cords away from things that can burn, high traffic areas, and doorways.
  • Do not plug antyhing else into the same circuit as the one you are using for your space heater. Doing so could result in overheating.
  • Keep the heater at least 3 feet away from antyhing that can burn, including people.

Downloadable tip sheet