Toronto – 'Tis the season for decorating and gift giving, yet dangers can hide in the form of counterfeit tools, gifts and unsafe seasonal décor. Each year, thousands of Canadians are treated in emergency rooms due to holiday related mishaps. To avoid any journeys to the hospital this season, families should be aware of the dangers to avoid, helping keep their loved ones and their homes protected from seasonal accidents.

“We see more residential fires during the winter holiday season than at any other time of year,” explains Chief Bruce Burrell, President, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. “In addition to fires from candles, cooking and heating appliances, overloaded outlets, faulty extension cords and defective holiday lighting are leading contributors to residential fires. It is important for the public to inspect their decorative light strings and to ensure they are only using electrical and gas products that are in good working order and that are certified by an accredited organization such as CSA International.”

The province of Ontario alone averages 29 residential fire fatalities each year for the period of November 1 to January 31. For the 2007-2008 holiday season, Ontario had more than 33 fatal residential fires that resulted in 40 deaths, according to the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal.

Leading up to the holidays, Canadians also need to be extra wary of counterfeit products ending up under the tree. While the low prices associated with counterfeit items may be tempting, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

CSA International certification marks appear on billions of products to indicate that they have been tested and certified to the applicable safety and performance standards. As a leader in certification, testing and anti-counterfeiting, CSA International offers the following safety tips for shopping and decorating to help prevent injuries this holiday season:

Holiday Shopping: Warning Signs that Separate Naughty from Nice Items

Counterfeit products can include unsafe items such as electric toys, household appliances, power tools, consumer electronics and other gifts that may present a shock or fire hazard. CSA International advises consumers to be familiar with the signs that indicate a product may be counterfeit.

• Label look-up: Avoid electrical products that are missing a label from an accredited certification organization such as CSA International.
• Good things come in clearly labelled packages: Counterfeit packaging often has an inferior design or partial illustrations. Look for misspellings and unclear print on products and labels. Also, check for a discrepancy between the contents of the product package and its description.
• Happy returns: When a product doesn’t include a brand identifier or trademark, it may be a fake. Look for missing return addresses or company contact information. Also, buy only from reputable stores with clearly stated return policies.
• Touch and see: Check the “look and feel” of products. Fakes are often light and flimsy.
  
  

Shiny and Bright: – Indoor Lighting Safety Tips

For the home:

• Don't be strung along: Carefully inspect holiday light strings each year and discard any with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders or loose connections.
• Disconnect and duplicate: Unplug light strings before replacing bulbs and check to ensure replacement bulbs match the voltage and wattage of the original.
• One size doesn’t fit all: Ensure that bulb reflectors are the right size for the light string.
• Goodnight lights: Always turn off holiday lights when you leave the house unattended or when going to bed.
• Find the CSA International certification mark: When purchasing light strings, extension cords and electrical decorations, look for the CSA International certification mark, which provides assurance that the products comply with applicable standards for safety and performance.
• Storage wrap-up: After the holidays, store lights and decorations in the original packaging, as they likely contain manufacturer’s instructions on replacement bulbs and details for proper product use.
• Don't let it burn: Do not use open flames or candles on or near flammable materials such as wreaths, trees or paper decorations.
  
  

For the office:

• Lights out: Ensure that decorative lights are turned off after business hours.
• Decorations should never be tacky: Never tack or staple lighting strings or extension cords to the wall or cubicle.
• Keep an eye on hang-ups: Never hang decorations from fire sprinklers, or have them obstruct exit corridors or exit signs, fire extinguishers and hose cabinets.
  
  

No Reindeer Games: Outdoor Safety Tips

• Please power down: Before working with outdoor wiring, turn off the electricity to the supply outlet and unplug the connection.
• Find the CSA International certification mark: Ensure that light strings, cords, spotlights and floodlights are certified by CSA International and marked for outdoor use.
• Apart from the rest: When hanging lights outdoors, keep electrical connectors above ground, out of puddles and snow, and away from metal eaves troughs.
• Form an attachment: Use insulated fasteners rather than metal nails or tacks to hold light strings in place.
• Bundle that joy away: Remove outdoor lights promptly after the holiday season to avoid damage caused by extended exposure to harsh weather conditions.
• Time is of the essence: Use an outdoor timer certified by CSA International to switch lights on and off automatically. Lights should be turned on after 7 p.m. to avoid the electricity rush hour.
• Pardon the interruption: Whenever possible, connect all outdoor lighting into receptacles protected by weatherproof ground fault circuit interrupters. These can provide protection from electric shock by sensing ground leakage and cutting electrical power.
  
  

Home Comfort and Joy: Indoor Safety Tips

Gas fireplaces

• No glass, no gas: Do not use your gas fireplace if the glass panel is removed, cracked or broken. Glass panels and frame assemblies should be replaced only by a qualified service person.
• Look for the certification Flame: When purchasing or installing a gas fireplace, check for the mark of an accredited certification organization such as the Flame mark from CSA International. This indicates the fireplace meets applicable national standards.
• No way to play: Keep pets and children away from hot surfaces.

Carbon-monoxide alarms

• Rest assured: Install at least one carbon-monoxide (CO) alarm near bedrooms. Use more than one CO alarm if sleeping areas are located on different levels of your home.
• Instrumental instructions: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installing and maintaining your CO alarms.
• Find the Flame: When purchasing a CO alarm, check for the mark of an accredited certification organization such as the certification Flame and CSA 6.19-01 reference mark from CSA International.

Smoke alarms

• More alarms alert to four-alarms: Test your smoke alarms monthly. One smoke alarm is not enough. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Only working smoke alarms can give you the precious seconds you may need to escape a fire.

Basement and garage

• Store safely and separately: Do not store combustible materials such as gasoline, propane, paper, chemicals, paint, rags and cleaning products near your gas furnace. Gasoline or propane cylinders must be stored outside the home.
• Far away flame: Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids anywhere near your gas furnace or water heater.
• On your mark: Look for the familiar CSA International certification Flame mark on your gas-fired furnace or water heater to ensure it has been tested and certified to the applicable standard. Have a qualified heating contractor perform a yearly maintenance check of your furnace and venting system.

For a fun and interactive Web site on holiday safety that the whole family can enjoy, visit www.csaholiday.com. For more general safety tips, visit www.csasafetytips.com. To learn more about CSA International certification marks, visit www.csa-international.org/certification_marks.

Holiday photos and broadcast video are available by contacting Amy Clark at aclark@environicspr.com or 416-969-2758.