12 Months to Personal Preparedness - November

CANDLE WITH CARE
Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Practice safe candle use:

• Use candle holders that: are sturdy, will not tip over easily, are made from a material that cannot burn, are large enough to collect dripping wax.
• Place candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface - away from edges and any place where they could be knocked over by children or pets
• Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and loose clothing away from the flame.
• Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch.
• Extinguish candles when they burn down to within two inches of their holder or any decorative material.
• Extinguish candles carefully. Do not leave the room until wicks have stopped glowing.
• Do not leave young children unattended in a room with a candle.

Candles and holidays
During December, there are nearly twice as many candle fires as are averaged during the other 11 months.

• Keep candles away from natural and artificial Christmas trees.
• Keep candles away from all holiday decorations.
• Place burning candles where they cannot be bumped or brushed against.
• Arrange table candles safely away from flammable centerpieces and hanging decorations.

During power outages
Avoid using candles for emergency lighting.

• If your electrical service goes out, use flashlights and battery-powered lamps, when possible.
• Do not carry lit candles.
• Do not use a candle for light when adding kerosene or any flammable fuel to a heater, lantern, or other device. The flame could ignite the fumes.
• Extinguish all candles when you leave the room or go to sleep.

Candles and children

• Supervise children who are in a room with burning candles.
• Store candles, matches, and lighters up high and out of children's sight and reach.
• Do not allow children or teens to burn candles in their bedrooms.
• Do not let children play with candles or dripping wax - or with combustible material near candles.

Reducing the risk

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Extinguish all candles when you leave the room or go to bed
• NFPA discourages the use of candles in bedrooms and sleeping areas.
• Keep candles a least one foot from anything that can burn, like bedding, curtains and blinds, wallpaper, upholstered furniture, piles of clothing, newspapers, and magazines.
• Keep candles away from flammable liquids.
• Place lit candles away from windows and doorways, where drafts could bring combustibles in contact with the flame.