The Bossier banner., 1922-12-21

| wish to call attention to the following
hazards common to the holiday season.
Remember that evergreen trees used
for Christmas trees are highly infiam-
mable. Keep lighted candles away
from them. Use electric lights. If you
have no electric service, rent battery
Ii is cheaper than the purchase of
coffin or the rebuilding and refurnish-
ing of a new home.
Keep from the. tree infiammable dec
orations. Set the tree securely so that
1t will not topple over, and see that it
is located several feet away from any
heating or lighting fixture. Metal tim
sci with asbestos or mica make excel
lent materials for snow effects and will
not burn. Cotton and paper, on the
other hand, are highly dangerous. The
tree should never be illuminated with
Gil dies. Here is what can happen: A
person will usually climb on chair to
reach some gift or to light a candle. In
reaching, a lighted candle may come i'll
contact with inf1ammable material
which will catch fire and cause other
decorations to ignite. The person will
try to snatch the burning material
from the tree. lose balance and fall
against the tree. causing it to topple
over on to the floor. Result: Clothing
catches fire and there is another
human flaming torch. There are num-
erOus such cases on record. and unless
caution is exercised. if will happen
again and you may be the victim
Ornaments should be of metal or
glass and not Of celluloid. pyralin,
French ivory or other pyroxylin plastic
objects which ignite at comparatively
low temperature.
Toys involving the use Of alcohol,
gasoline or Kerosene should be avoided
and lOW-priced electrical playthings
should lie looked upon with suspicion,
as they are often insecurely wired and
linsily constructed.
An extremely hazardous playtbing Of
comparatively recent development is
the home motion-ricture protector,
using celluloid film and often illumi-
mated with fiinlsy calcium carbide
lamp. 1t would be difficult to place a
mere dangerous combination in the
hands of children.
Santa Claus must he CAREFUL lie
should avoid long cotton whiskers and
should keep away from lights and open
fires. As an additional protection, the
costume used should be partially fire.
proofed with the following solution
Two ounces of carbonate Of soda. two
ounces of ammonia carbonate, two
ounces of boric acid and five gallons of
water. The mixture should be allowed
10 come to boil and should t!ien Ee
strained and SPRAYED upon the material
to he protected. If Santa's clothing or
that Of any one else does catch fire, the
victim should he rolled in rug or
woolen cloth and the flames smotlered.
The flames should be kept away from
the face. A bucket or two of water
and a fire estinguisher should be kept
at hand. Remove all evergreens im-
mediately after Christmas.
Fireworks, sparklers and other pyro-
technics should be studiously avoided.
Beware of the toy pistol. Many tomb
stone bears mute evidence Of its dead
liness.
This year. as in years past. there is
being circulated propaganda encourag-
ing the placing of lighted candle in
the window as an invitation to sereiiad-
ers. BY all means avoid this, for too
often. due to infianmable draperies.
'sct.. the invitation is accepted BY the
fire department
Summing up the entire subject mat
ter. prevent fire, death or injury by
stunning those things which You kn0,U
will cause them. Be safe, not sorry.
Do not take a chance Let this Christ
m lie one Of peace and happiness in
your home. Help your neighbors by ex-
ample and advice. that they, too, may
spend happy Christmas.
Let us join in making this a fire.
proof Christmas.
CONRAD j. LECoo.
Fire Marshal for Louisiana.
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