Gifts that may save lives

The three most dangerous days of the year for home fires are Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

NFPA has a list of gift ideas to show you care about safety. These are good gifts for those who are hard to shop for; one size fits all. i Smoke alarms. Having a smoke alarm cuts the chance of dying nearly in half. For elderly relatives who are deaf or hard of hearing, smoke alarms can be purchased with strobe lights. All smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years. i Carbon monoxide alarms. Often called the

silent killer, carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas formed when fuels such a natural gas, oil and wood burn incompletely. i Flashlights and batteries for emergency lighting instead of candles to avoid the risk from an open flame. i Portable fire extinguishers with clear instructions on how to use them. i Large house numbers so firefighters can locate a home quickly during an emergency.

NFPA also provides a child-friendly website to entertain kids who are out of school for the holidays: www.sparky.org. While playing games and doing activities with the firehouse Dalmatians, kids learn about fire safety.