Welcome to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Podcast for December 11, 2006.

CPSC recently issued a warning of fires and other hazards related to holiday decorating. Holiday decorating is often depicted in movies by characters that fall from ladders or rooftops for comic effect. Unfortunately, these types of incidents really happen and are usually no laughing matter. In fact, each year it is estimated that about 12,500 people go to hospital emergency rooms for falls, cuts, shocks and burns related to holiday decorating, according to CPSC statistics.

Christmas trees are involved in about 300 fires each year, and there are nearly 15,000 candle-related fires.

Follow these safety tips this holiday season:

• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators so it won’t dry out quickly, and keep it watered to stay fresh longer.
• Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory. Use only newer lights that have thicker wiring and are required to have safety fuses to prevent the wires from overheating.
• Check each light set for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out old and damaged sets.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• When using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
• Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
• Keep burning candles within sight, and extinguish all candles when you go to bed or leave the house.
• Keep lighted candles away from items that can burn easily, such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains and furniture.

Go to CPSC’s Web site, www.cpsc.gov, for more information.

In recall news, CPSC announced the recall of about 51,600 Children’s Mood Necklaces and Diva Necklaces imported by Really Useful Products Inc.

The recalled jewelry contains high levels of lead.

The recalled Mood Necklaces are multi-colored pendants shaped as hearts, moons, shamrocks, spiders, butterflies and lizards that hang from a black chord.

Take this jewelry away from children immediately, and return the recalled jewelry to the store where purchased for a refund or contact Really Useful Products at (888) 484-3444 for information on how to receive a full refund.

For more on these items and other safety news, you can visit our Web site at www.CPSC.Gov.. And, until next time, stay safe.

End.