Follow tips to ensure safety during the holidays
 
  By Fire Inspector Eric Crognale
  It is that time of year again and with winter fast approaching Defense Logistics Agency Installation Management Richmond’s Fire and Emergency Services would like to remind everyone of the importance of safety during the holidays. Fire and Emergency Services has prepared the following safety tips to help ensure that your holiday adventures are safe and memorable for the right reasons. Following these basic safety tips will help to ensure you enjoy this wonderful time of the year: **Turkey Frying**
According to the National Fire Protection Association, turkey frying is dangerous as seen in the attached video: Place the fryer on a flat and level surface.
• Use the correct amount of oil, do not overfill.
• Ensure the turkey is completely thawed and dry prior to frying.
• Ensure you are frying the turkey at least 10 feet from the house and have a fire extinguisher at the ready. **Candle Safety Tips**
The NFPA offers these suggestions for maintaining candle safety: • Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep. (More than one-third of home candle fires started in bedrooms. These fires caused 30% of the associated deaths and 50% of the associated injuries.)
• Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that can burn. (Three of every five home candle fires occurred when some form of combustible material was left too close to the candle.)
• Use flameless candles in your home. They look and smell like real candles. (December is the peak time of year for home candle fires. In December, 12% of home candle fires began with decorations compared to 4% the rest of the year.)
• Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.
• Don’t let a candle burn all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container.
• Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home. **Winter Safety Tips**
• Have an emergency kit in your vehicle, i.e. blanket, flashlight, change of clothes, battery booster and chains for tires.
• Be prepared for wintery road conditions; keep your gas tank full, let someone know your travel plans, have your car’s systems checked like heating and wipers, have good tread on your tires and listen to the latest news reports on weather and road conditions. Allow extra time for your commute to work.
• Keep walkways clear of ice and snow. **DSCR Holiday Decorating**
Below are safety tips to consider in work areas: • Make sure decorations comply with DLA Richmond and DLAM 6055.01, Fire Prevention Program guidelines.  (note:  link only accessible for DLA common access card holders)
• No live trees are allowed, all trees must be artificial.
• Decorations shall be made of non-combustible materials.
• Decorations shall not be placed within 36 inches of any heat source.
• Decorations shall not interfere or obstruct building fire protection features including exits, fire doors, signage, fire extinguishers, and automatic sprinkler systems.
• Decorations shall not be attached to fire extinguishers, extinguisher boxes, fire alarm pull stations or sprinkler heads.
• Do not overload circuits with decorations or appliances.
• All decorations will be subject to inspection by installation engineers and DLA Fire Prevention Office. Unsafe decorations will be removed. For additional winter and holiday safety tips you can visit websites by the National Fire Protection Association, Federal Emergency Management Agency, or if you have questions call the Fire and Emergency Services’ Fire Prevention Office at 279-6782 or email  dscr.fireprevention@dla.mil.