Candles require care
Candles are very popular during the holiday season, but they may introduce an unfamiliar element of danger to a home. If you use them for decorative or ceremonial purposes, be sure to exercise extreme care and watchfulness at all times. Here a few tips to help ensure a safe season:
- Never leave a room with burning candles – an adult should be attending them at all times.
- Never move a burning candle. Extinguish it first, and then re-light it when it has been stably repositioned.
- If you must use burning candles, do not light them nor leave them near flammable objects such as curtains or on an unstable surface such as a bulky tablecloth.
- When burning wax candles, be sure to secure them on solid, heat resistant surfaces and use a “hurricane shade” to prevent flames from spreading due to unintended contact with materials, or unpredictable gusts or drafts.
- Keep candle wicks trimmed to about ¼ inch to avoid excessive smoking, and keep the area around the candles free of materials such as matches, wick clippings etc
- Discontinue burning a candle when it has less than ½ inch of wax remaining. Do not burn a candle if the candle holder or container is cracked.
- Ideally, consider in investing in electric candles, which are not only more convenient and less messy, but also infinitely safer and longer lasting than flame candles.