Observe holiday safety Everyone enjoys the dazzling beauty of holiday decorations. The beauty need not be spoiled by an accident that could have been prevented. Before you begin decorating inside and out this season, keep in mind these safety tips: * Don’t use strings of lights that have damaged or frayed wires. Throw away these lights so nobody else will plug them in. * Lights on campus must bear the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) seal of approval and must be of miniature size. Do not run wiring through doorways, under carpeting, or through holes in a wall. The use of extension cords should be avoided; rather, a multiple-outlet power strip with an internal circuit breaker is recommended. Always turn the holiday lights off when you leave the building. * Candles, incense, or other devices with open flames are prohibited in dormitories and in campus buildings with the exception of apartment/family housing and for supervised special events. * Decorations should not disguise, cover, or interfere with any safety device, including fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, exit signs, sprinkler heads and piping, and fire alarm pull stations. * Live cut trees on campus must have prior permission from Safety and Environmental Health and have a tag showing that they have been flame-retardant treated. The tag must include the name and registration number of the chemical used, the name of the applicator, and the date of treatment. Keep natural trees in water at all times to slow the natural drying process. * Live trees are not permitted in the residence halls. Artificial trees (with flame retardant rating) are allowed when placement, lighting, decorations, and monitoring rules are adhered to. They must be kept out of corridors and away from doorways and heat sources. * Not all artificial trees are flame-retardant rated. A tag that notes the tree has been flocked and treated should be attached to the tree. Don’t risk using a cheaper tree that is not fire resistant. * Do not place the tree so that it blocks a doorway, corridor, or exit. * After the holidays, the sooner you get rid of your Christmas tree and decorations the better. The longer they stay up, the more of a problem they become. Decorating guidelines for apartment housing can be referenced in the UND Apartment Policy Handbook. If you would like any further information on holiday safety, please contact the UND Safety and Environmental Health Office at 777-3341. Happy Holidays! -- UND Safety and Environmental Health.