18 ~ Sunday, December 26, 1993 - North Shore News

Safety is the key to enjoying a
happy, healthy holiday season

IF THERE isn’t already enough to
lose sleep over, what with
unemployment, taxes and the
world’s trouble spots, now that
the icy breath of winter is upon
us, we get to worry cbout our
pipes freezing and our Christmas
trees and lights starting house
fires.

Fortunately, proper precautions
combined with a measure of
common sense can prevent acci-
dents and tragedy. Here are sone
tips on playing it safe for- the
holiday season.

Fire prevention

If. you put up a tree. at
Christmas, be sure it’s not block-
ing an exit and be sure it’s fresh.
Put it in wet sand and add water
regularly,

Keep lit candles well away from
anything that can burn — that in-
cludes evergreen cuttings, curtains
and ‘furniture. And keep away
from flames,

“Use only, fire-resistant orna- °

ments on your tree; make sure
lights, if you use them, are in
working order and teach your
children not.to play either with the
tree lights or the electric connec-
tions. .

Don’t overuse ; eatension . cords
or overioad circuits, and use lights
only as designated.

Never use- outdoor lights in: °

‘doors, and’make sure to use only
lights approved by the Canadian
Standards Association (CSA). <
*. Don't leave lights on all night
or when you are out. And never
burn gift wrappings in your
_fireplace..

More fi ire deaths happen at

home in winter than any other
season and most ate caused by
heating equipment.

The largest number occur when
people are asleep — sleeping peo-
ple make poor smoke detectors,
and because fires at this time can
develop undetected, they are
especially likely to be fatal.

By giving you advance warning
of a fire and extra time to escape,
smoke detectors can save your life
and those of your loved ones.

If fact, if you're looking for a
gift idea, consider giving a smoke
detector to a friend,

Flood and freezing

Many people think of flooding
as one of the hazards of spring,
but winter flooding is a risk when
frozen pipes burst.

To prevent this kind of
flooding, make sure your pipes are
insulated and the building they’re
in is heated properly.

Don't set the thermostat too
low; whatever savings you might
be looking for cn your heating bill
wiil be more than offset by the
expense and headache of dealing
with a flood caused by burst
pipes.

if you’re going to be leaving a
place empty for a time, make sure
the maintenance on the furnace, if
the building is heated with one, is
kept up.

If you heat with oil, make sure
there is enough oil in the tank.

If you are going to be away for
a time and the structure is not well
insulated, like some country cot-
tages,. look into having pipes
drained.

If water pipes do freeze (and

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you will know they are frozen
because when you turn on the tap
no water will come out), and by
some miracle you manage to
detect the problem before the
frozen pipes burst, take a blow
dryer to the pipes to try to thaw
the ice inside.

if the furnace has shut down,
get it started.

Personal security

Remember that even though we
are all rushed around holiday time
and thinking about a thousand
things, it’s important to stay alert
to your surroundings,

Shop before dark if possible.

Co-ordinate shopping trips with
a friend if you're planning to be
out late, Park in a well-lit area.

Even if you are planning to be
gone only a few minutes, lock
your car and close the windows.
Lock packages in the trunk and
have your key on hand when you
return.

Teach your children to go to a
store clerk and ask for help should
you become separated frorn each
other while shopping.

Don’t carry large amounts of
cash and don’t carry all your
money in one place.

Never leave your purse or wallet
unattended, not even for an in-
stant. Be wary of strangers who
come to the door asking for
charitable donations.

Don’t display gifts where they
can be seen from a window. or
doorway and store gifts before
you go away ona holiday trip.

Remember these safety tips and
have a safe, healthy and joyous
holiday season. %

BY WOODWYNN

PARK &
TILFORD
CENTRE

SAVE-ON
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BROOKSBANK
AVE.

MAIN STREET

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