By Doug Bardwell, American Red Cross volunteer
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Northeast Ohio. While the dusting of snow is lovely, and while we are all busy getting ready for the holidays, we need to be aware of the potential for home fires during this season.
The National Fire Protection Association warns us that Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are the three days most likely to experience fires started by candles.
Consider that Northeast Ohio experienced 14 fires just over Thanksgiving weekend alone.
The American Red Cross wants people to stay safe from home fires—the nation’s most frequent disaster—by testing their smoke alarms and practicing their home fire escape plan with free resources at redcross.org/homefires. In addition, you can follow these 10 simple safety tips as you put up lights and ornaments:
- Check all holiday light cords to make sure they aren’t frayed or broken. Don’t string too many strands of lights together—no more than three per extension cord.
- If you are buying an artificial tree, look for the fire-resistant label. When putting it up, keep it away from fireplaces, radiators and other sources of heat.
- If getting a live tree, make sure it’s fresh and water it frequently to keep it fresh. Bend the needles up and down to make sure no needles fall off.
- If using older decorations, check their labels. Some older tinsel is lead-based. If using angel hair, wear gloves to avoid irritation. Avoid breathing in artificial snow.
- When decorating outside, make sure decorations are for outdoor use and fasten lights securely to your home or trees. If using hooks or nails outside, make sure they are insulated to avoid an electrocution or fire hazard.
- If using a ladder, be extra careful. Make sure to have good, stable placement and wear shoes that allow for good traction.
- Don’t use electric lights on metallic trees.
- Don’t forget to turn off all holiday lights when going to bed or leaving the house.
- Keep children, pets and decorations away from candles.
- If hanging stockings on the fireplace mantel, don’t light the fireplace.
Every eight minutes, donations to the Red Cross help someone affected by a disaster—most often, home fires. You can help save lives by making a financial donation to support our mission, signing up to become a volunteer or taking steps to protect your own family from home fires. Visit redcross.org to learn more.
Don’t stop now. Also check out our tips for Cooking Safety and Travel Safety.
Also, as you continue to prepare to decorate your house, here is a video on holiday decorating safety tips you can watch with your family to ensure everyone can enjoy the holidays safely:
The Red Cross responded to seven incidents in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Mahoning, Stark and Trumbull Countries, assisting eight adults and 13 children and distributing more than $4,255 in immediate financial assistance to help the needs of residents in Northeast Ohio during their darkest hours.
operated the shelter for 24-hours a day over a three-day period, providing the residents of Elyria an opportunity to escape the cold, to enjoy snacks and beverages and to receive assistance and care.
serve the 22 counties and 4.5 million residents of Northeast Ohio without the tremendous dedication of our volunteers, which make up 90 percent of our workforce. Our volunteers are truly the face of the Red Cross. If you are interested in making an impact in local communities, the Red Cross is always looking for volunteers. To volunteer, visit 
The need is constant—and this year was no different. Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in Northeast Ohio, the Red Cross assisted 72 adults and children, who were affected by 14 separate incidents. The Red Cross also gave $14,000 in immediate financial assistance. Home fires—the nation’s most frequent disaster—account for the vast majority of our responses.
need nourishment after a disaster. A donation of $100 can provide a family of two with a full day’s worth of emergency shelter with meals, snacks, blankets, a cot and hygiene supplies. Help provide warmth with a gift of $50, which can provide blankets for 10 people.
For many of us, it’s hard to think about a joyful holiday when so many people all over our great country are suffering unimaginable loss. News of more lives lost and the devastation and grief of the victims of the California wildfires greets us daily. And much of our nation is still dealing with the aftermath of this past year’s hurricanes and other localized tragedies like home fires. If the idea of buying a bunch of stuff, most of it not really needed, is hitting you this year, there’s something you can do.
One of those missions is providing the nation a safe and secure blood supply. It’s regrettable that less than 40% of our nation’s population CAN give blood (for a variety of reasons). What’s far more regrettable is that less than 10% of that population CHOOSES to give blood. My challenge to all of us is to not be part of that 90% of the population that can give but chooses not to donate this life saving product. Please find time over the next five weeks to donate blood to the American Red Cross. If you can’t donate, then please encourage a family member, colleague, and/or friend to give. Every donation counts!! Thank you in advance for making a difference and helping save lives!
Over the weekend, the Red Cross responded to 17 incidents in all five chapters in Northeast Ohio, assisting 64 residents, and distributing more than $12,300 in immediate financial assistance to help people in their darkest hours.
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