Safety A Must When Using Candles Prevent Hazards With These Safety Tips

Whether you’re entertaining guests or quietly relaxing at home during the holiday season, candlelight creates a warm, inviting glow. And scented candles are a wonderful source of aromatherapy, adding to the ambience.

Each year, however, house fires result from candles used in an unsafe manner.

To prevent hazards, heed the following advice:

Store candles in a cool, dry place. Keep tapers flat so they don’t warp.

Don’t use misshapen or damaged candles.

Don’t light a jar candle if the glass is cracked, chipped or scratched.

Avoid candles with multiple wicks that are closely spaced.

When grouping candles, place them at least three inches apart.

Use candles only in rooms containing a smoke detector.

Place candles where they won’t be knocked over. Keep them well out of the reach of children and pets, and be careful not to leave the lighter or matches lying around.

Don’t situate candles near lampshades, curtains or other flammable materials. Never use them on a Christmas tree.

Avoid drafty locations.

Choose nonflammable holders that have a sturdy base, and ensure candles are firmly in place before lighting them.

Always place candles on a heat-resistant surface. Use a heat-resistant plate or bowl to catch dripping wax.

Trim wicks to a quarter of an inch before lighting, and ensure they are centered. If a burning candle starts to give off smoke, extinguish it, allow it to cool and trim the wick before using it again.

Extinguish a taper or pillar as soon as it’s within two inches of the holder or decorations. Stop using votive candles once half an inch of unmelted wax is all that remains in the container. The best way to put out a candle is to use a special snuffer. Otherwise, hold your finger in front of the flame and blow at it. Air will flow around your finger, extinguishing the candle from both sides; this prevents hot wax from spattering.

Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings and matches.

Don’t light candles in a situation where you might fall asleep. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and always ensure adult supervision when children are present.