The Staten Island Board of Realtors (SIBOR) wishes everyone a safe holiday season. With this in mind, we recommend the following article. Please share it with friends and neighbors.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The law firm of Jonathan D’Agostino & Associates hopes everyone an enjoyable and safe holiday season.

“Unfortunately, experience tells us that safety concerns are too often overlooked by busy families and individuals at this time of year,” said personal-injury attorney Jonathan D’Agostino, founder of the Eltingville-based law practice that bears his name.

Personal-injury attorney Jonathan D’Agostino

Annually, during the two months surrounding the holiday season, more than 14,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms due to injuries related to holiday decorating.

In addition, Christmas trees are involved in hundreds of fires resulting in an average of 15 deaths and millions of dollars in property damage annually. Candle-related fires lead the list of hazards averaging more than 12,000 a year, resulting in 150 deaths and nearly $4 million in property damage.

This is why Jonathan D’Agostino & Associates believes it is essential to share the following 10 tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for keeping your holiday home free from fire and injury:

Trees and Decorations

  1. When purchasing an artificial tree, DO look for the label “Fire Resistant.” Although this label does not mean the tree won’t catch fire, it does indicate the tree is more resistant to catching fire.
  2. When purchasing a live tree, DO check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers. The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
  3. When setting up a tree at home, DO place it away from heat sources such as fireplaces, vents, and radiators. Because heated rooms dry out live trees rapidly, be sure to monitor water levels and keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic, and do not block doorways.
  4. In homes with small children, DO take special care to avoid sharp, weighted or breakable decorations, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children who could swallow or inhale small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.

Lights

  1. Indoors or outside, DO use only lights that have been tested for safety by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory, such as UL or ETL/ITSNA.
  2. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets. DON’T use electric lights on a metallic tree.
  3. If using an extension cord, DO make sure it is rated for the intended use.
  4. When using lights outdoors, DO check labels to be sure the lights have been certified for outdoor use and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected receptacle or a portable GFCI.

Candles

  1. Keep burning candles within sight. DO extinguish all candles before you go to bed, leave the room or leave the house.
  2. DO keep lighted candles away from items that can catch fire and burn easily, such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains and furniture.

About Jonathan D’Agostino & Associates

Jonathan D’Agostino & Associates is one of New York and New Jersey’s leading law firms with an emphasis on personal-injury cases.

Established in 1991, the firm has a well-deserved reputation for excellence, and a diligent team of 30 legal professionals who are trained to work knowledgeably and aggressively on behalf of clients.

Jonathan D’Agostino & Associates is headquartered at 3309 Richmond Ave., in the Staten Island, N.Y., community of Eltingville, with additional offices in Manhattan; Brooklyn; Redbank and Freehold, N.J., and Tompkinsville, Staten Island.

In addition to personal injury, Jonathan D’Agostino & Associates expertly handles Social Security disability hearings and appeals; worker’s compensation third- party claims; medical malpractice; no-fault matters, and criminal defense.

For additional information, Jonathan D’Agostino & Associates may be reached at 800-245-2924 and visited online at www.daglawteam.com.

About The Staten Island Board of REALTORS® (SIBOR)

The Staten Island Board of REALTORS® (SIBOR) is the largest not-for-profit trade association in Staten Island, N.Y.

SIBOR exists to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business successfully and ethically; and to promote the preservation of the public’s right to own, transfer and use real property.

Comprised of over 1,600 members, SIBOR serves real estate agents, brokers and affiliated professionals throughout the borough and surrounding areas.

SIBOR is the provider of the Staten Island Multiple Listing Service Inc. (SIMLS), which works as a clearinghouse through which more than 250 local real estate firms exchange information on properties they have listed for sale. Together, its members participate in over 3,000 real estate transactions every year.

All SIBOR members belong to the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

SIBOR may be reached at 718-928-3220 and viewed online at http://siborrealtors.com. SIBOR may also be visited on Facebook at “Staten Island Living,” on Twitter via @SIBOR, and on YouTube at the Staten Island Board of Realtors and RelevantPR channels.

 


Media Contact: Barton Horowitz

Relevant Public Relations, LLC

Headquarters: 718‑682‑1509

Mobile: 917‑715‑8761

Email: [email protected]