Shedding Some Light on Candle Safety

Only a few generations ago, the indoor world was lit by candles. Today, though electric light has long since made them obsolete, candles are making a comeback. Not only is the use of decorative candles growing, a boom in the aromatherapy business has combined the visual appeal of candles with exotic scents.

There’s something undeniably appealing about the soft, flickering light of a candle. Candlelight can be relaxing. For years, hypnotists have used it to sooth their subjects into a subconscious state. Candlelight can help to create a romantic mood, or even enflame passions. It’s no coincidence that candles are often at the centerpiece of a dinner for two.

Candles are also a special part of holiday traditions in many homes. They seem to heighten the sense of celebration and deepen our appreciation of it. Perhaps candles satisfy some ancient need of ours to shine a light during the longest nights of winter.

Of course, (and you knew this was coming, didn’t you?) candles can also become a serious fire hazard if proper care is not taken. To make sure you enjoy the holidays without burning down the house, here are some safety tips to follow for this season and all year:

General Safety Tips

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Keep lit candles away from children and pets.
• Use an appropriate, nonflammable candleholder.
• Place candles on a safe, dry, heat-resistant surface.
• Don’t let wick trimmings, matches or any foreign material collect inside the wax pool.
• Burn candles away from drafts, other heat sources and all flammable objects or materials.
• Never allow the candle flame to touch any glass surface.
• Avoid walking with lit candles. Don’t use candles for emergency light. Keep a flashlight handy for power outages and other emergencies.
• Remove and discard all packaging before lighting any candle.
• Keep wicks trimmed to an 1/4 inch or less.
• Do not use a jar candle if the jar is cracked, chipped or scratched.
• Stop using jar candles when less than an inch of wax remains.
• Extinguish all candles before going to bed. Extinguish jar candles before putting on a lid.
• Use a candle snuffer to extinguish the flame. Blowing out a candle can splatter melted wax on your furniture.

Safety Tips for Candle Makers

Not only are more people using candles, more people have taken up candle making. Here are some additional safety tips for candle makers:

• Never melt wax over direct heat; always use a double boiler.
• Never attempt to melt wax in an enclosed area such as an oven or microwave.
• Never leave melting wax unattended.
• Keep melting wax out of the reach of children and pets.
• Always have an ABC-rated fire extinguisher in your candle-making area.
• Never use water to put out a wax fire; it will spread the fire. If you can’t reach your fire extinguisher quickly, use baking soda.
• Remove melting wax from heat immediately if it begins to smoke. Wax will not boil, but it can smoke and catch fire if it gets too hot.
• Never pour wax near the stove or any flame, or down the sink drain.
• If you get hot wax on your skin, do not wipe it. Wiping the hot wax will spread the burn. Rinse it immediately in cold water. Treat the burn after soothing it with cold water.
• Never let water drip into melting wax. It can cause it to sputter and pop.

Check out our selection of fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors. For more information on fire safety and fire prevention, visit the National Fire Protection Association Web site at: www.nfpa.org.