Hyun-Jeong Lee & Marilyn E. Swisher

Now it is the Season to celebrate the Holidays!  What do you imagine in pictures of your Holidays? Colorful lights on streets, joyful music and songs, your family getting together to share the happy moments and decorating a Christmas tree together, prettily wrapped gifts, and, of course, wonderful foods!  We want to share some tips to help you make your Holidays healthy and safe for your family and the environment around you.

A Wet Tree Is a Safe Tree!
A test by the National Institute of Standards and Technology shows what happens when fire touches a dry tree. In their test they touched fire to a dry Scotch pine in a home setting. The tree was completely ablaze after 3 seconds and by 5 seconds, the fire extended up the tree and black smoke with searing gases was streaking across the ceiling. The sofa, coffee table and the carpet all ignited prior to any direct contact with the flame because fresh air near the floor feeds the fire. "Flashover" occurred within 40 seconds – the entire room erupted into flames, oxygen was depleted and dense, deadly toxic smoke engulfed the scene. Then the NIST engineers tried to set a green Scotch pine on fire. They trimmed an extra two inches from the bottom of the trunk. You should do this, too, when you buy a tree, to ensure that the tree can take up water. They put the tree in a stand with ample water and filled the basin daily. A single match could not ignite the tree. They lit an entire matchbook. The tree still failed to catch on fire. Finally they took a propane torch and applied an open flame to the tree. The branches did burn briefly, but the fire went out when the researchers removed the torch from the branches. The NIST fire safety engineers say: REMEMBER, A WET TREE IS A SAFE TREE!
Watch Out for Those Pretty Lights

Lead containment can be a problem in products that carry electrical current, and Christmas tree lights are one of the products of concern.  So, please make sure that you and your kids wash your hands after you decorate the tree or if you touch the lights, especially before you prepare food or eat.

A Local Christmas Feast

States further North may outdo us in Florida in the classic white Christmas, but they can’t beat us for the holiday feasts. The fall harvest is long gone in most of the country, but our prime fall production season is well underway. Shop at local supermarkets and your local farmers’ markets for some great fruits and vegetables for your holiday tables. Squash, greens, all of the makings for a great salad, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli and lots of other good vegetables are in season – and the citrus season is just getting into full swing. Visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to learn about the seasonal availability of Florida’s fruits and vegetables.
 

Still Some Problems with Lead in Children’s Toys

There are a number of toys and children’s jewelry that were recalled due to lead hazard. Here is a link to the list of products and a picture of each:

Lead Hazards in Toys

When you check the list, please pay attention to the year at the top of the table and look for the complete list of the products, not just products recalled in 2007. If you find that the item you bought is on the list, please use the contact provided in the table to learn about the appropriate procedures to follow. For more information about lead poisoning and its impact on children’s health, consult this article by Hyun-Jeong Lee.

 
Also, you can get further information regarding lead poisoning issues from website of the US Environmental Protection Agency.

We wish you joyful and “healthy” Holidays!