The activity and excitement of the holidays tend to make people less careful when they should be more cautious. Dr. Roger Yurt, director, and Robert Dembicki, R.N., M.S., patient care director of the Hearst Burn Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, urge you to take care all the time, but especially during the holidays.
Among the Christmas and Hanukkah pointers to bear in mind:
* Remember that Christmas trees cut early in the season quickly dry out to become fire hazards. Never put a Christmas tree in front of an exit.
* Never leave religious or Hanukkah candles burning unattended.
* Never decorate Christmas trees with candles, even if you do not intend to light them.
* Only buy Christmas tree lights that have been inspected by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL). Inspect and test lights each year before putting them on the tree.
* Never leave Christmas tree lights on when you leave the house. If a wire should short, you might return to find your house on fire!
* Never place a Christmas tree near a fireplace. If there is no other place to put it, do not use the fireplace until after the tree has been removed and the needles have been cleaned up.
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