Milford chronicle., 1959-12-18
Prevent Tragedies
This Christmas BY
Preventing Accidents

IItFcifIflhS 1GIhuCakac
Christmas should be one of the
happiest times of the year for
everyone 1t is the season to which
we look forward with anticipation
and Joy. 1t is the time to share
affection and to enjoy the fellow
ship with family and friends.
Christmas should be all of these
things to everyone. However,
Christmas can also be time of
tradgedy as a result of needless
preventable home accidents.
The Christmas Tree serves as a
focal point for the warmth of a
family Christmas. Unfortunately, ii
can sometimes turn into an incend-
larry bomb. Your State Board of
Health I'm cooperation with the
Equitable Life Assurance Society of
the United States and the American
Medical Association offer the fol-
lowing suggestions to assure that
this Christmas will be the happy
and spiritual rewarding family holi-
day it should be.
II you are one of the millions of
Americans who will bring. a Christ
mas Tree into your home this
year, you should know something
about the potential dangers of this
custom. A Christmas Tree is filled
with pitch and resin and is one of
the most flammable objects known.
Once it is ignited, it is almost inn
possible to extinguish. The aver
age size tree can burn down the
precious family home in just few
minutes. One of the most common
reports of Christmas Tree fires
everywhere, as reported by fire
authorities, is the one started by a
carelessly to s e d cigarette or
match. 1t is rather frightening to
think that many children may
spend the holidays in hospitals as a
result of severe burns caused by
an ignited Christmas Tree, flam-
mable costumes, and unsafe toys.
Just last year a young boy, wear
ing q highly flammable costume
called the snowman, resulted in the
destruction of a well known store
and thelives of two persons.
IL flimsy costumes or dresses
must be worn they can easily be
made flame-resistant with solu-
tion made of 8 or, of borax, OF. of
boric acid and 1 gal. of water. The
fabric should be well saturated with
this solution, wrung out by hand
and hung to dry. Fabrics treated in
this manner are flexible, soft and
reasonably safe. This process
should be repeated after every
washing. This mixture can also be
sprayed on flammable holiday dec
orations.
Unfortunately, there is no fool
proof solution for the Christmas
tree. The Christmas tree should be
the last Christmas decoration
brought into the home and it
should be set and properly spotted
In basin of water to delay the dry
ing process
Avoid placing decorations near
chairs or other places where people
may smoke. They should be placed
near the ceiling far above the heads
of any standing person. An ample
supply of ash trays throughout the
home is important.
Lighted candles should never be
placed in windows because of the
danger of setting fire to drapes or
windowshades Any ecorati o n
should be kept at least 6-inches
away from an electric light. Nom
flammable glass or metal decora-
ti0ns and fireprOOf "snow" can be
purchased for decorating Christmas
trees.
All wrapping and packing mater
ials removed from Christmas pre-
sents should be disposed OF quickly.
Care. caution and consideration
should be used to safely purchase
Christmas gifts for children. The
following suggestions are offered
for purchasing appropriate toys for
children of different ages.
Up to Q: Sturdy rattles, large
soft colored balls, washable squeak
toys, stuffed animals and dolls,
blocks with round corners and push
or pull toys.
Beware of: Small toys that can
be swallowed, flammable toys, lead
or other poisonous paints, remov-
able parts that can be swallowed,
animals and dolls with detachable
eyes and sharp edges.
to 3: Sand box toys, large peg
boards, tip-proof kiddie cars and
tricycles. low rocking horse, bright
picture books, and large crayons.
Beware of: Sharp, rough edges,
small removable parts, flammable
toys, marbles, beads, coins that can
be swallowed and lead based or
other poisonous paints.
to 4: Toy telephone, doll with
simple clothing. doll buggy and
furniture, miniature garden tools,
trucks and tractors, non-electrical
train, drum, costumes and building
blocks.
Beware of: Toys too heavy for
child's strength, electrical toys,