B-roll of burning Christmas tree

B-roll of burning home and emergency response vehicles

Slate: CPSC Urges Consumers to Decorate Safely for the Holidays
For more information, contact Kim Dulic at (301) 504-7058 or visit www.cpsc.gov.

Slate: Background. Holiday decorations, like candles and Christmas trees, add a joyous and festive mood to the holiday season. But when these decorations are not used properly, they can cause fires, injuries and death.
Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people for falls, cuts, shocks, and burns due to incidents involving faulty holiday lights, dried-out Christmas trees and other holiday decorations. Christmas trees are involved in about 300 fires annually, resulting in 10 deaths, 30 injuries and an average of about $10 million in property damage and loss. In addition, there are more than 13,000 candle-related fires each year, which results in 140 deaths and $205 million in property loss.

Nancy Nord, Acting Chairman
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
[Spanish Soundbites at end of feed]

"Live, fresh trees can be a source of tradition and beauty when decorating your home during the holidays. Dry, brittle trees, however, are highly flammable and a fire hazard. Remember to do a freshness test before purchasing a tree."

"Nothing sets the mood around the holidays like the beautiful glow of candles, but that small flame can quickly spread to nearby combustibles like wrapping paper and evergreens. "

"Keep your holiday season safe by never leaving a burning candle unattended, and always using the right holiday lights and extension cords to safely light up your home. "

Slate: Trees
When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers.

Tree Nursery Video – shopping for trees. People conversing, admiring the trees.

Slate: The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.

Nurseryman: "Once the tree is cut it does have a natural tendency to seal over the bottom with sap, and that should prevent it from picking up more water. When you do finally select your tree, just". (Checks base, taps tree on the ground)

"This holiday tree is very dry. It was ignited using an electric match at the bottom of the tree. The subsequent fire develops very quickly."

Video – Tree Fire

Slate: When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant" or "Flame Retardant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.

Picture of label, stating: "5.6 ft. girth, disassembles for easy storage, Realistic branches are easy to bend, Flame retardant, Tree stand included, Ten year warranty."

Slate: In homes with small children, take special care to avoid sharp or breakable decorations, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children who could swallow or inhale small pieces.

video: mother and children talking, decorating tree.

Slate: Lights
Use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards.

video: mother and children talking, decorating tree.

Shopper looking at a package with a UL or ETL label.

Slate: Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.

Mom checking lights before placing them on the tree, and discarding damaged lights.

Slate: Always replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs.

Mom replacing burned-out bulbs

Slate: Candles
Always follow directions on the candle label.

Picture of label.

Slate: Always burn candles within sight and out of reach of children. Never leave lit candles unattended.

Candles, up high, in the background while mom wraps packages and sips coffee.

Slate: Always put out lit candles before leaving a room.

Mom extinguishes candles as she leaves the room.

Spainsh Soundbites
Arlene Flecha
Comisión para la Seguridad de los Productos de Consumo de los Estados Unidos

"Los árboles naturales y frescos son una tradición en esta temporada de fiestas. Sin embargo, los árboles secos y quebradizos son inflamables y pueden presentar un peligro de incendio. Recuerde llevar a cabo una prueba de frescura antes de comprar su árbol."

"Nada crea el ambiente festivo como el resplandor de las velas decorativas pero la llama de éstas puede propagarse rápidamente a materiales combustibles tales como papel de regalo y las ramas decorativas."

Mantenga su temporada de fiestas segura. Nunca deje una vela encendida desatendida y utilice cables de extensión y luces adecuadas para iluminar su hogar de manera segura."

End