Holiday Lighting Safety Tips
Safe Electricity shares the following tips for those who are undertaking outdoor lighting and decorating projects to help them do safely:
- When decorating outside, look up and look out. Never throw holiday lights or other decorations into trees near power lines.
- Be especially careful when working near power lines attached to your house. Keep ladders, equipment, and yourself at least 10 feet from power lines.
- Use only lights, cords, animated displays, and decorations rated for outdoor use according to manufacturer’s instructions. Use plastic or insulated hooks to hang lights.
- Cords should be plugged into outlets equipped with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). Use a portable GFCI if your outdoor outlets are not equipped with them.
- Do not staple or nail through light strings or electrical cords, and do not attach cords to utility poles.
- Outdoor holiday lights are for seasonal use, up to 90 days.
- Avoid decorating outside on windy or wet days.
More at SafeElectricity.org.
Winter Holiday Fire Safety
Did you know? Nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source. It’s fun to decorate for the winter holidays, but holiday decorations can increase your risk for a home fire. As you deck the halls this season, be fire smart.
- Inspect holiday lights each year before you put them up. Throw away light strands with frayed or pinched wires.
- Water your Christmas tree every day. A dry tree is dangerous because it can catch on fire easily.
- Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles.
- If you do use lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be knocked down easily.
More at www.usfa.fema.gov.
