5 Tips for Keeping the Tree & Family Healthy

The arrival of Thanksgiving marks the advent of the holiday season as decorations shortly start appearing and families embark on  the annual trek to find that perfect Christmas tree.

Just in case you need a refresher, or are buying your first-ever balsam, here are a few expert tips to keep in mind for keeping the needles from hitting the carpet too soon:

1. Before you set up your tree, cut a few inches off the trunk and set the tree in water. This cut opens the channels in the tree and allows it to take in water. A moist tree is far less of a fire hazard than is a dry tree. A good rule of thumb is that whatever the diameter of the trunk at its base, the tree will need that many quarts of water daily to stay fresh. So a tree with a 4-inch trunk will need four quarts of water a day.
2. Never decorate a tree with candles, and make sure you replace worn-out electrical cords, use power strips, and that light sets are in good condition. LED lights use less electricity, and they're not as expensive as they used to be.
3. Keep a fire extinguisher handy and within close reach and make sure it's working properly. Most have a dial that shows green for "working" and red for "not working." If you have to go down into the basement to get it, or you have to hunt for it under the sink, it's not going to help you much.
4. The holiday season is also a good time to make sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly as windows are mostly closed this time of year.
5. And don't let Santa get his jolly outfit all filthy so get the furnace and fireplace chimney cleaned regularly. The best holiday season is a healthy and safe one.