IN Peters Township December 2017/January 2018 | Page 14

As the holidays are fast approaching, the Peters
Township Fire Department urges residents to identify
and eliminate potential dangers from holiday lights,
trees, and decorations. Each year during the holiday
season, hospital emergency rooms all over the United
States treat over 8,000 people related to injuries
sustained preparing for or during the holidays.
Electrical shocks, burns, falls, and lacerations are many
of the injuries that are directly related to holiday
lighting, decorations, and, most notably, Christmas
trees.
In 2016 more than 400 fires were reported to the
National Fire Protection Association involving trees.
These incidents resulted in 30 deaths and 150 injuries,
and caused more than $17 million dollars in property
damage.
TREES
When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness.
A fresh tree is green and plush. Check the needles and
see if they are pliable. Shake the tree and check for
needle