Tips from Disney Muppets for Safe Holiday Season
A new campaign’s goal is to raise awareness of the importance of holiday safety and make sure parents know valuable holiday safety information – water your tree daily, never leave a lit candle unattended, and turn pot handles in while cooking.
Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global safety organization, is working with stars of Disney’s The Muppets, including Kermit the Frog, Swedish Chef, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker, on a national campaign – Commit a Minute to Safety.
A series of online safety videos and a national public service announcement (PSA) will provide families with vital safety tips to ensure a safe and bright holiday season. The first video focuses on the importance of fire safety and can be viewed at www.SafetyAtHome.com.
“The holidays are a happy time and we want to help keep them that way. Commit a Minute to Safety shows folks how easy it is to keep their home and family safe,” said Kermit the Frog, who adds an additional holiday safety tip of his own: “Never mix mistletoe and romantic pigs. Trust me on this.”
This year, UL offers the following safety guidelines to show how safety can take as little as one minute and help families identify and prevent hazards that too often result in accidents or tragedy.
WATER YOUR TREE DAILY: Dry trees pose a substantial fire risk. After bringing your tree home, make a fresh cut at the base of the trunk before putting it in a sturdy stand. Be sure to water it daily. Additionally, know your tree’s expiration date. After about four weeks, the tree will stop absorbing water and dry out, and should be properly discarded or recycled.
CHECK YOUR LIGHTS, CHECK THEM TWICE: Inspect all of your electric lights and decorations for damage or wear. Cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires and loose connections may pose a fire or shock hazard.
DECORATE WITH A SAFE EYE: Cords should not be run under carpets or tacked up with metal nails or staples. Small decorations can be a choking hazard for small children or pets and should be kept out of reach.
BE FLAME AWARE: Always blow out unattended candles and keep flammable materials “three feet from the heat” of lit candles or fireplaces.
