Video: Holiday Safety Is Important( ARLINGTON Va. Oct. 29 -- The hol...),Health

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The holidays are a wonderful time of year when families gather together and homes are brightened with the glitter of decorations. In the excitement of the season, however, safety is often overlooked. As decorations go up and households entertain friends and family, people unknowingly put themselves at greater risk to fire and electrocution. This holiday safety program, sponsored by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), illustrates how families can take a few simple steps to stay safe while enjoying the holiday season.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/esfi/29781/

Ignoring the problem won't make it go away:

-- Nearly 130,000 fires will be reported in December alone claiming over

400 lives and causing more than 1,600 injuries.

-- The number of children injured and killed by fires more than doubles

during the holiday months.

-- Yet, more than a third of Americans do not recognize that electrical

products are one of the leading causes of home fires.

-- And while the majority of homeowners have smoke detectors, almost a

quarter (24%) have not replaced their batteries within the last 2

years.

In order to combat these alarming statistics, ESFI encourages families to include safety as part of their holiday plans this year. This comprehensive campaign includes the resources needed to disseminate this important lifesaving message such as: press releases, public service announcements (PSAs), and b-roll.

Incorporated into this year's campaign are the new and startling findings of a national survey conducted by ESFI which reveals just how often consumers put themselves at risk over the holidays. In addition, ESFI is also proud to launch a new holiday website (