Page 30 - Parents Magazine (December 2019)

KIDSÑNews + Ideas

Natural

Training Treats

for Dogs

Brush Up on Holiday Fire Safety

A crackling blaze in the fireplace and twinkly lights on the
Christmas tree brighten any dreary winter day. But home
fires are most likely to occur during the winter from causes like
A tasty treat you’ll feel good candles, heat sources, and lighting equipment. These tips from

about giving Philip Landrigan, M.D., a Parents advisor and coauthor of Children
& Environmental Toxins, will help protect your family.

1 C A R E . You don’t 3 F I R E PL AC E . It’s fine out any deadly CO. Before
MAI NTAI N TH E
U S E
WITH
CAN D LE S
closing the damper, leaving
have to banish them, but to have 2 or 3 inches of ash the house, or going to bed,
be cautious. Make sure on the firebox floor, but be sure the fire is almost out
they’re in a sturdy holder any more may push the logs (it’s okay to leave an ember
that won’t tip over. Place forward and cause flames, or two). If your fireplace
them up and away from sparks, or smoke to billow or stove has a chimney or
your kid’s grasp—and into the room. Use a shovel a vent, call in a certified
where your dog can’t to remove it, and toss it into chimney sweep every year
reach them. Try to keep a noncombustible garbage to evaluate its condition.
them off the dinner table; can with a sealable lid or
a tablecloth or a napkin your compost pile. To help TEND TO YOUR
could easily catch fire. reduce built-up soot, ash, 4 TREE . If you’re getting
When you leave the room, and creosote (tar that a real Christmas tree, try
blow the candles out. comes from wood smoke), to pick one that’s fresh (this
use only dry, well-seasoned might mean chopping it
I N S PE C T C O R D S . firewood. Green or wet down yourself or asking the
2 When you take your wood can cause excessive tree-lot attendant when the
string lights and extension smoke, creosote, and ones available were cut).
cords out of storage, look dangerous chimney fires; Once it’s at home, keep it
at where the plugs and wrapping paper and moist by placing the base
cords meet. If a connection plastic contain chemicals in a stand that holds water
is pulling apart or you can that can harm us and and refilling it daily. And
see wires, throw the cord the environment; and as pretty as a lit, ornament-
out; loose wires can spark cardboard is highly laden tree looks, get rid of
on tree needles or wrapped combustible and can it once the holidays pass.
presents. Unplug lights greatly increase the risk A tree that’s dry (it’ll have
and cords when you’re of a fire. needles that break easily
not using them, especially Check the batteries in or fall off in your hand) is CAIAIMAGE/PAUL BRADBURY/GETTY.
at night, and pop on an your carbon monoxide more likely to catch fire
outlet cover to protect detector twice a year, and from lights, cords, or plugs.
curious little fingers from crack a window when —Riyana Straetker
getting shocked. you light a fire to help let and Emily Elveru

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