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Team Fake or Team Real? Electrical Safety for All Christmas Trees

Second, only to the debate about when is the appropriate time to put up Christmas decorations is the debate about whether to have a real or fake Christmas tree in your home. Whether you are on Team Real or Team Fake, it is most important to pay attention to electrical safety when decorating your tree because both kinds of trees can be fire hazards.

Christmas Tree Safety Tips

The most important thing to remember with a real tree is to keep it watered. Dried-out trees are more likely to catch fire and to burn more quickly. If you aren’t chopping down the tree yourself, make sure to look for a fresh, well-watered one at the lot. The American Christmas Tree Association advises looking for trees with green needles that aren’t shedding easily.

Other tips:

-Don’t place the tree near a heat source

-Don’t use real candles on the tree

-Make sure all Christmas lights have been approved by the Underwriters’ Laboratory

-Always turn off the lights when leaving the house or going to bed

Fake Trees Can Be Dangerous Too

Electrical malfunctions are a common culprit of Christmas tree fires for both real and artificial trees. According to The American Christmas Tree Association, “Electrical malfunctions can also ignite plastic artificial trees, and homeowners should take the same precautions in terms of tree placement and decorations as they would with a real tree.”

What Team Are You On?

A recent survey found that people are pretty divided in regard to whether they prefer fake or real trees. Here are a few of the responses:

Fake or Real Christmas Tree and Why?

“Fake, I get skin reactions to the real trees, less to clean up, and pays for itself in a few years. Real trees are expensive!”

“Real! I love the smell and the experience of picking it out with our family. I also have a strange aversion to fake plants of any kind.”

“Fake. It comes with lights!”

“Since I’m living in my own place…fake. I don’t want to clean up the mess!!”

“Real for 30 years, but now fake because it can be up longer without having to worry about watering and needles dropping!”

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