Filipinos celebrate Christmas season as early as September which is the start of the 'BER months' as we call it here in the Philippines. For us Filipinos, that means decorating our Unavoidably, our homes are decorated with all sorts of fire hazards for the holidays. Added to that risk, substandard christmas lights flood the market today and it wouldn't be surprising if you fall into buying them for your home decorating.
To ensure that you have fire-proofed your homes for this Christmas, follow the tips provided below.
1. Use Fire-Resistant Christmas Tree
In the Philippines, it's normal to use artificial christmas trees than live ones. Although live ones pose a greater threat of catching fire, artificial trees can easily catch fires too especially the non-flame resistant ones. Make sure you buy from reputable department stores where talking to a knowledgeable salesperson is possible.
2. Buy Christmas Lights with ICC Stickers
The thrill of buying a lot to make your home as festive as possible gets to the best of us. Buying a lot means cutting down on the pricetag. Unfortunately, you hardly get anything cheap that has a quality that passes the safety standards.
Make sure you buy Christmas lights with Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers for imported lights or PS (Philippines Standard) license for locally manufactured lights.
You also have to make sure that the metal prongs in the plug are not easily bent.
Keep those christmas lights that are labeled "indoor lights" inside your home. Don't risk your safety by using it outside your house where it can be exposed to harsh weather elements like rain and wind.
Buying in those Chinese shops in downtown Cebu may save you a lot of money, but it won't save you the amount of emotional stress and money from losing your home after being burned down by fire due to substandard lighting decor. It may also cause a loss of life.
3. Avoid Lighting Candles
Lighting candles can improve the holiday mood alright. But avoid lighting candles too long especially when unattended or near any fire hazard or combustible materials like curtains, cloth or paper.
If you have a Belen set at home, don't be tempted to light a candle inside or around it. Avoid lighting a candle on the mantelpiece or under the Christmas tree as well.
4. Always Turn Off the Lighted Decors
You might be tempted to keep all the lights up when leaving the house or when going to bed. There is no way that the holiday festivity is going to run without the lights turned on. You want your family and home to be safe for sure. The best way to do that for this Christmas is to be modest in your electrical usage.
5. Invest in a Fire Extinguisher
Most Filipino homes and houses, don't really have any of these fire safety measures such as purchasing a fire extinguisher or adding fire safety features like fire alarm, water sprinkler system or emergency lighting unless you live in a condominium or apartment building.
If you buy a condominium, a fire extinguisher is part of the move-in expenses that you have to pay to the developer. Some developers of socialized housing also add fire extinguisher for the move-in expenses.
Investing in a fire extinguisher will help you fire-proof your home all-year round not just for Christmas.
6. Give Your Home an Electrical Safety Checkup
Routine electrical safety checkup for your home is hardly a priority to most Filipino homes. In fact, it's a non-existent routine for a regular Filipino household.
You may need to contact someone to evaluate and fix the overall electrical circuitry in your home. Make sure you only let a professional touch your electrical system. Otherwise, the service may cause more harm to your house.
7. Invest in a Fire Insurance
Fire insurance is usually on top of home loan payments if you purchased your house or condominium from a real estate developer. Otherwise, your home is most likely not insured against fire or any other home perils. Without an insurance, the loss or damage of your property will most likely cost you a lifetime of distress. Secure your home and secure your future by investing in a surprisingly humble amount to pay off for your home's annual fire insurance policy.
