10 Holiday Safety Tips For Preventing Fire and Electrical Hazards

The holidays are all about resurrecting ornaments, twinkling lights and motorized Santa’s. While holiday decorating is all about fun, sparkle, and warmth, it’s important to remember that many of our favorite decorations carry the risk of fire or electrical injury if not used carefully. Holiday safety is important, follow the tips below to stay safe this season.

 

1  When shopping for lights and electric decorations purchase only UL-listed.

2  For exterior lighting only use lights that are outdoor listed

3  If your not sure if lights are indoor or outdoor use, check the color-coded UL mark on the product. Green UL is indoor only while red indicates that the product could be used for both indoor and outdoor use.

4  Before using lights, electrical decorations and extension cords make sure to inspect them. If the products are damaged, discard and replace the decoration.

5  When changing bulbs or making repairs make sure to unplug.

6  If you need to replace a bulb in a string of Christmas lights, make sure that the wattages rating of the replacement bulb you are using matches that of the light strand. If the wattage is too high, it can cause the light string to overheat and create a fire risk.

7  Do not overload extension cords.

8  Always turn off all Christmas lights and decorations before going to bed or leaving the house.

9  When buying a Christmas tree make sure the needles are fresh, green and firmly attached to the branches.

10  If you plan to get an artificial tree instead, be sure that it’s flame retardant.

 

Don’t let a preventable accident take the enjoyment out of your holidays, whether you’re excitedly preparing for Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa.
Have a happy and healthy and safe holiday season!

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