Hilton Head Monthly Magazine

SERVPRO owner offers tips on enjoying a safe holiday.

It’s that festive time of year when we begin to celebrate the holidays and “deck the halls” — but be careful not to start a fire in the halls, advises Justin Neumann, owner of the local SERVPRO of Beaufort County.

In recognition of the holiday season, Neumann is encouraging the community to take precautionary steps to prevent fires in their homes and businesses as they put up decorations this season.

SERVPRO of Beaufort County is part of a leading national franchise organization that provides fire, water, mold and other specialty cleanup and restoration services. It responds to property damage emergencies, from multi-million dollar disasters affecting entire communities to those suffered by individual businesses and homes.

However, SERVPRO’s primary concern is the community’s safety.

“People don’t necessarily think about fires starting in their homes, it’s often something that people say ‘won’t happen to me,’ but it is a very serious issue and can happen to anyone — especially during this time of year when there are a lot of electrical decorative items being used to celebrate the holidays,” Neumann said. “Therefore, we at SERVPRO of Beaufort County have compiled a list of tips that we think will help the local community in preventing fires and holiday disasters.”

Neumann suggests the following safety precautions:

• Purchase a fresh tree. Selecting a fresh Christmas tree is one of the most important things to do in preventing a fire. The needles on fresh trees are usually a true green color and difficult to pull back from the branches.

Usually, the needles are harder to break from fresh trees. Old trees, on the other hand, are dry and brittle with needles that easily break. Keep your tree well-watered.

• Don’t go overboard on electrical cords. If you’re putting up lots of decorations you will likely need several electrical outlets. Neumann says to connect lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the electrical outlet. Also, refrain from linking more than three strands of lights together and be sure to check the wires frequently to make sure they are not overloaded.

• Candle safety. Candles are always popular during the holidays; they give a special sparkle in the home, they oftentimes leave festive scents, and many are used for celebrating religious traditions, such as Hanukkah.

However, it’s vital that lit candles are monitored and are away from flammable items, especially trees.

• Turn holiday lights off when not home. Many people place their trees adorned with beautiful lights right at a window where outsiders can view them. But unattended holiday displays can be a bad idea, Neumann said. Be sure to turn the lights off when you’re not home so that they don’t cause electrical hazards.

• Smoke detectors are vital. Be sure you have working smoke detectors throughout your home on every level of your home.

For more information, contact Justin Neumann at (843) 815-6923.