PAGE FOUR
DECEMBER 10, 1954
GOOD RULES—
FOR A FIRE-SAFE CHRISTMAS
“Every year, from a few days before Christmas to the week
following New Year’s Day, a plague of fires rages up and down
the country,” comments the National Fire Protection Association.
“Little careless acts that seem so unimportant at the time cause
these holiday fire tragedies.”
To impress the truth that Christmas is the time to be extra
careful, the National Fire Protection Association lists the following
rules to help make your Christmas fire-safe:
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
Cut a growing tree or try to buy one that hasn’t dried out from
prolonged storage. When too dry, tree branches are brittle and
shed the needles.
Stand the tree in water or snow outdoors until you’re ready to
use it indoors. Bring the tree indoors just before Christmas and
take it out as soon afterwards as possible. December 26 is recom
mended.
The larger the tree the greater the hazard, so don’t get one
any larger than you need.
Just before setting up the tree saw off the trunk at an angle at
least one inch above the original cut. Place the freshly cut tree trunk
in water and keep level of water above the cut the entire time the
tree is indoors. Check the water level at least once a day for
absorption and evaporation.
Support the tree well. Don’t put it near sources of heat, or
where standing or fallen, it could block the way out of a room and
out of the house in case of fire,
LIGHTING
Do not use candles on the tree or nearby where there is any
chance for an open flame to contact the tree or combustibles piled
beneath the tree. Use only electric lighting sets that bear the UL
(Underwriters’ Laboratories) label. Check lighting sets each year
before using for frayed wires, loose connections, and broken sockets.
Be sure the fuse on the electrical circuit you use is not over 15
amperes. Cord sets with a fuse on the plug, bearing a UL label,
are available.
If any extensive holiday wiring is planned, call a competent
electrician; don’t try to do it yourself unless you are so qualified.
Don’t plug too many cords into one outlet. Make certain that
all tree lighting is turned off before retiring or leaving the house.
DECORATIONS AND WRAPPINGS
Don’t let Christmas wrappings accumulate in the house; place
them in your metal covered trash barrel or burn them in your
incinerator as soon as possible.
Use non-combustible material—metal, glass, asbestos, etc.
to decorate the home for Christmas wherever possible. When you
must use combustible materials, be sure they are “flameproofed,”
particularly if they are to be anywhere near the tree. Untreated
cotton batting, paper and certain cloth costuming will ignite easily
and burn with great intensity unless they are “flameproofed.” Santa
Claus whiskers have caused tragedies; be sure they’re “flame
proofed,” too.
GIFTS
Don’t buy pryoxylin plastic dolls, toys or non-flameproofed
cowboy suits, etc. Toys operated by alcohol, kerosene or gasoline
are especially dangerous; they may upset and set fire to children’s
clothing, the tree, or to the house itself. Look for the Underwriter’s
Laboratories label when buying electrical toys. This means they have
been tested for fire and shock hazards and may be considered safe
if properly handled and maintained.
Don’t set up electric trains or spirit-fueled toys under a
Christmas tree.
OTHER REMINDERS
Don’t allow smoking near the tree amidst decorations or piles
of wrappings. Have plenty of safe ashtrays around and use them.
Plan on what you must do if fire breaks out.
Guard against flying sparks from a fireplace, with a substantial
screen and don’t use the fireplace to burn up wrappings and deco
rations.
Keep matches, lighters and candles away from tiny hands. Have
water-type fire extinguishers that work, buckets of water or even
your garden hose connected to a faucet, within reach of the tree.
Unless you can put a fire out immediately, call your fire depart
ment at once.
During Christmas, smoking and inflammable decorations in
public buildings are a dangerous combination. Waste should be re
moved, aisles, exits and firedoors must be kept clear and usable.
Exits should be plainly marked and easy to reach. Report any
blocked exit or fire hazard in public buildings to your fire chief.
You can render a good service by helping to discourage the use of
wax candles at church candlelight services. Electric candles are
safer. !
For Your Safety On The Roads. .
Motor Vehicles Department Offers
Winter Driving Suggestions
“I didn’t see,” is the most over
worked excuse for automobile acci
dents, according to assistant com
missioner Joe W. Garrett of the
North Carolina Motor Vehicles De
partment.
Garrett said that expert drivers
know that operating a moving ve
hicle in modern day traffic calls
for full attention to the job at
In the Tire Assembly Department at Akron, Mr. Tubman and
Mr. Firestone examine a green tire just removed from a tire-building
machine, preparatory to being placed in a bagomatic mold.
The four Firestone brothers and other Company officials were
hosts to President Tubman and his party at a luncheon in the Re
search Building of the Firestone Company in Akron. On the terrace
of the building, from left, are: Raymond C. Firestone, Lee R. Jackson,
Clarence L. Simpson, Liberian Ambassador to the United States;
Harvey S. Firestone, Jr., Mr. Tubman, Leonard K. Firestone and
Roger S. Firestone.
various messages on road signs,
he will wear glasses. And he will
avoid driving when his eyes be
come tired.
Obscured vision, Garrett pointed
out, was responsible for 143 of
North Carolina’s 977 fatal acci
dents last year,
“These death dealing mishaps
were caused for the most part by
rain or fogged and dirty wind
shields,” he recalled. Other ob
structions to clear vision like
signboards, buildings, parked ve
hicles and trees accounted for only
39 of the fatal accidents.
The assistant commissioner re
peated a suggestion the Motor Ve
hicles Department has offered
North Carolina drivers many times.
It is more important now than
ever to have headlights and wind
shield wipers in good working
order,
“A dependable defroster is an
other item necessary for safe
winter driving,” he said.
“And to assure visibility to the
rear, the rear window should be
cleaned off frequently,”
Garrett concluded his recom
mendations for winter time driving
by stating that the driver who
conscientiously makes an effort to
see danger in time to avoid it
will insure his own continued safe
ty on the road.
President Of
Liberia Visits
Firestone
The University of Akron (Ohio)
has bestowed its highest honor—
the honorary degree of doctor of
laws—on William V. S. Tubman,
President of the Republic of Li
beria. This honor came to Mr,
Tubman when he was guest of the
city of Akron and The Firestone
Tire & Rubber Company for a day
long visit in late October, Mr.
Tubman and his party, including
the Liberian Ambassador, Clar
ence L, Simpson, were greeted at
Union Station by Mayor Leo A.
Berg and his official party to start
the day’s activities.
After a motor tour of the city,
the President and his party went
to Firestone for a tour of one of
the plants, where Mr, Tubman
watched the processing of Liberian
rubber as it was converted into
tires.
The party then visited the Har
vey S, Firestone Memorial and
after a tour of the Research
Building, a luncheon was held in
the Exposition Hall of the Re
search Building where Company
officials acted as hosts to the
group.
During the afternoon at a special
convocation, the University of
Akron bestowed the degree on the
Liberian President. Lee R, Jack
son, President of the Company and
chairman of the board of trustees
at the University, introduced Mr,
Tubman to Dr, Norman P. Auburn,
President of the University, who
bestowed the degree.
In his talk, Dr. Auburn said that
he was bestowing the degree on
‘‘an inspiring teacher, respected
legislator, courageous soldier, dis
tinguished jurist and devoted pub
lic servant.”
President Tubman paid tribute to
Ohioans who have aided his country.
He singled out Harvey S. Fire
stone, Founder of the Company.
“It cannot be denied that the Fire
stone Plantations Company, which
he founded, has played an incom
parable role in the economic and
social development of Liberia and
in further strengthening of mutual
friendship between the United
States and Liberia,” he said.
During the evening. President
Tubman was guest of honor at a
private reception and dinner given
by Harvey S, Firestone, Jr., a
long-time friend of the President.
Attending the dinner were
Governor Frank J. Lausche, Con
gressman William H. Ayers, Mayor
Leo A, Berg and many other civic
and business leaders of the com
munity.
FIRESTONE TEXTILES
P. O. BOX 551
GASTONIA, N. C.
hand, “Effective vision begins in
the driver’s head. When a motorist
is mentally alert he notices things
other drivers may not see, and he
is ready instantly to exercise good
judgment in whatever action may
be necessary,” he said.
The wise motorist also takes
good care of his eyes, Garret not
ed, If he needs glasses to catch the
SEC. 34.66 P. L. & R.
U. S. POSTAGE
PAID
GASTONIA, N. C.
PERMIT NO. 29
Form 3547 Requested