The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

(StatePoint) Gathering around the hearth this holiday season? While you may be taking time off from work and school to celebrate, don’t take a vacation from practicing basic safety guidelines. Stay safe with the following tips.

Safety Devices

Before using your fireplace or lighting candles, check all of your home’s life-saving safety devices, including carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms for functionality, and to ensure batteries are still working. You should do this periodically, but especially around a time of year with additional fire risks.

Fireplaces

A cozy, charming fire is the pe...