Montréal, 15 December 2015 - A few safety tips to keep in mind over the holidays and all winter long.

Christmas tree

• Set up your Christmas tree away from any heat source, and where it won’t block evacuation routes. 
• Always keep the base of natural trees well watered. 
• Turn out Christmas tree lights when going to bed or leaving the house. 
• After you’re done with your tree, call 311 or your municipality to ask about pick-up dates.

Decorative lights

• Use lights with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) seal and make sure that your strings of lights aren’t frayed or cracked, with exposed wires.
• LED lights certified by CSA or Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) are best, since they give off less heat because they use less energy.

Candles

• Set candles in glass holders designed for this purpose, to contain the flame and keep it away from flammable materials.
• Place candles somewhere they won’t tip over, out of reach of children and pets.
• Blow out all candles when leaving a room or going to bed.

Heating

Electricity

• Keep all combustible materials, like furniture, curtains and clothing, at least 30 cm away from electric baseboard heaters. 
• Never leave space heaters unattended. Turn them off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use a ULC or CSA certified device designed for this purpose.

Evacuation

• Winter and summer, you have to know how to evacuate your building. Right now is the best time to sit down with your family and agree on an evacuation plan, with two emergency exits for each room and a meeting point outside.
• Clear the snow away from all entries and exits (windows and doors), including staircases and balconies.

Lastly, remember that a smoke alarm is your best ally in a fire. Under current by-laws, you are required to have at least one per floor, maintain it and replace it when it reaches its expiry date.