Safety comes first for holiday, consultant says

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CNN's Miles O'Brien talks to consumer expert about holiday safety Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Fire is one of the biggest risks to home safety during the holidays, says an international consultant in safety matters.

With so many homes decorated with Christmas trees and candles, it is important to be vigilant about the potential for fire, Nancy Harvey Steorts, former chairwoman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, told CNN.

The Christmas tree is a good place to start. Make sure the tree is fresh, and keep it well-watered to prevent dry needles, Steorts said. Position it away from heat vents or fireplaces. "Use new lights," said Steorts. "Only put three strands of lights into any one outlet." She also recommends keeping a fire extinguisher nearby.

Never leave a burning candle unattended, Steorts said. "In my own home I almost lost my living room about 10 years ago when the candle burned down and caught the artificial greens on fire," she said.

Always have a smoke detector in a room with a Christmas tree or burning candles, Steorts advised.

Steorts also had these safety tips for the holidays:

• Defrost a turkey in the refrigerator.
• Cook meat and poultry to a specific temperature; use a meat thermometer.
• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
• Don't leave food out on a buffet longer than two hours.
• Put leftover food in the refrigerator right away; it does not have to cool down. Bacteria will start to form if it's left out. It also helps to put leftovers in small containers so the food can cool faster.

For additional safety tips, call the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-CPSC.

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