HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-12-04, Page 33•
REMEMBER SAFETY RULES
V'
Page
yl Christmas trees can make holidays safe
As you put the finish touches on your holi-
day preparations, stop for a moment and
consider the most important part of the
season's festivities — the health and welfare
of your loved ones.
While Christmas decorations lend magic
to the holiday season, they can also be a
potential fire hazard when handled im-
properly.
Artificial trees are a safe alternative to
natural Christmas trees if they are
manufactured from ignition -resistant
polyvinyl chloride (commonly known as
vinyl).
In an experiment conducted by the Inter-
. national Society of Fire Service Instructors,
a natural Christmas tree and a vinyl tree
were ignited.
The natural tree ,was consumed in flames
in a matter of minutes, and the room filled
with black smoke. But, under the same con-
ditions, the vinyl tree did not cause the fire
to spread, or give off the dense black smoke.
According to Dr. Roy T. Gottesman, ex-
ecutive director of The Vinyl Institute, the
Consider
calendar
as a gift
Consider the calender.
The calender an ancient device if th
ever was one, is still hanging d
countless years after the first h "ods
scratched wiggles into a rock to record the
passage of the moon.
That was the first calender, but calenders
have changed. Humaniods and the next
several generations used them to figure out
the crops. Today, being less earth oriented
than our ancestors, we use calenders to keep
track of our most precious commodity -
time.
But calenders are many other things.
Some of them inform, with interesting` little
notations from history. Others offer in-
spirational messages, humorous quips,
recipes and plant car tips.
Today's calender is geared to individual
tastes. There are calenders for cat lovers,
calenders for ski buffs, calenders illustrated
by classic art, calenders for the business
professional and calenders for children.
As a new year rolls around, a variety of
calenders flood the market. At Christmas
they make a particularly timely gift.
Age your
fruit cakes
Fruit cakes should be aged at least three
weeks before serving to improve the cake's
flavor and texture, says Monica Beaumont,
foods and nutrition specialist with the On-
tario Ministry of Agriculture and Food's
rural organizations and services branch. To
age the cake, wrap in foil or a liquid soaked
cloth. ( The cloth should be soaked with the
same liquid used to soak the fruits.) Place in
an airtight container and store in a very cool
place. After aging, fruit cakes can be frozen
for up to 12 months. Wrap in a moisture -
vapor -proof paper or plastic and freeze. To
serve, remove from freezer and thaw at
room temperature for several hours.
results of the experiment showed that a
vinyl tree can actually help prevent a fire.
"Unlike natural trees, vinyl trees will not
cause a fire to spread."
Before you buy an artificial tree, check to
be sure that it carries either a UL or FM
label, The Vinyl Institute recommends. This
ensures that the entire tree, from the base to
the needles, is ignition -resistant.
Do keep all decorations away from heat
sources such as radiators, stoves, heaters,
fireplaces, and any open flame. Don't use
lighted candles on trees or decorations.
Before stringing your lights, check
carefully for damaged plugs and frayed
wires. Also be careful not to overload elec-
trical outlets or plugs.
Plan ahead for a safe and. merry
Christmas by installing smoke detectors
and sprinklers in your home. Also make
sure each member of your family knows
what to do if a fire starts.
Common sense and a few preventive
measures will help you rest safely this holi-
day season.
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