NEW YORK (October 2008) — 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 of the time, and offer these special tips for the holiday season:
* Trees: Remember that trees cut early in the season quickly dry out to become fire hazards. Never put a tree in front of an exit.
* Candles: Never leave religious, or any, candles burning unattended.
* Decorations: Never decorate your holiday tree with candles, even if you do not intend to light them.
* Lights: Only buy holiday lights that have been inspected by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL). Inspect and test lights each year before using them.
* Wires: Never leave holiday lights on when you leave the house. If a wire should short, you might return to find your house on fire!
* Fireplaces: Never place a 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.
Linda Betharte
lib9027@med.cornell.edu
October 16, 2008
Dr. Roger Yurt