Safety & Security

For Your Home

Holiday Lighting and Decoration Safety

Think safety...before decorating with lights for any of the holidays. Use the following common sense and safety practices to avoid an electrocution, fire or accident: Inspect all lights, cords and electric decorations beforehand to make sure that they are in good operating condition. Throw away and replace any electrical cords that are bare, frayed or cracked. The use of black electrical tape to make repairs is not recommended or considered a safe practice. Only purchase or use decorations, lights or extension cords that carry the UL (Underwriters Laboratory) seal of approval. Never leave the lights on when you go away or retire for the night. Use timers and be safe. Make sure that you use lights and decorations that are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. If they are designed for indoor use only, do not use them outside. When decorating both inside and outside, be careful and use a ladder or step stool. Don’t overload circuits with too many strings of lights, decorations or appliances. Lights that dim, plugs and cords that are warm or hot to the touch; and power outages caused by blown fuses and breakers are signs of an overloaded circuit. Use only sockets and outlets that are dedicated for your lights and decorations. Never plug them into an outlet or extension cord that has other electric appliances plugged into it. Do not exceed the designated wattage of the extension cord. When plugging in multiple cords, safely use a power strip with a breaker to prevent overloads. Limit the use of extension cords. Outside, only use extension cords that are designed for use outdoors. Never cover extension or regular electric cords with a rug. Keep cords safely out of doorways. When using lights on decorations, make sure that all holiday decorations are fireproof. Make sure that all Christmas trees and boughs are fresh and not dry or brittle. When they start to shed needles, dispose of them. Limit or avoid the use of candles in your holiday decorations. Never use lights on aluminum Christmas trees. Instead, use a spotlight. Keep all cords and electrical appliances in a moisture-free environment. Never put any lights below downspouts or use them in areas that are wet. Use only grounded outdoor outlets or Grounded Fault Circuit Interrupters for outside lighting. Use only electrician staples or specially designed plastic hangers for lights. Never use regular staples or nail over or through wires. Avoid placing outdoor lights in trees that are near overhead power lines. Use extra caution when working near the electric service lines attached to your house. When changing burned-out bulbs, turn them off or unplug them to avoid electrocution. Never leave an empty socket. If you don’t have a replacement bulb, leave the burned-out bulb in the socket. Limit or avoid the use of lighting and decorations on handrails and banisters. Keep small children and pets away from any cords, lights or other electrical decorations and appliances. Look for Holiday Lighting and Decorations when purchasing your holiday needs.

Copyright © Aclara Technologies LLC. All Rights Reserved.