Things change quickly. The time changed, leaves change and the seasons change. I know many of you are changing to a holiday mindset and getting ready to decorate.
Fire safety is not often top of mind during the holidays, but with roaring fires, candles, potentially flammable decorations (including the family Christmas tree) and electric light strings, the threat of disaster is always present. You’ve got enough to worry about to get everything done in time for the holidays. But follow basic safety guidelines and you should have nothing extra to worry about.
Decorative lights you use both indoors and out can be potential fire and electrical hazards. Use only indoor lighting for your holiday lights inside your home. This may seem like obvious advice, but people often don’t know there’s a difference. Holiday lights are rated for indoor or outdoor use and must be used in their intended settings.
For example, outdoor lights burn brighter and thus create more heat, which increases the chance of a fire if they are used inside. The same goes for extension cords. For outdoor lights, only use heavy-duty extension cords rated for outdoor use.
Check your light strings for fraying, breaks or tearing. Before you hang them, check each bulb and the entire wire for any kind of damage. Look specifically for places where bare wires are exposed. If you see extensive damage, the strand needs to be replaced.
Whether you are hanging lights indoors or outdoors, don’t use staples, nails or other sharp objects to hang them. You risk damaging the wire, which can then potentially cause a fire or electrocution. Use insulated holders specifically manufactured for hanging holiday lights. Don’t hang indoor lights near your fireplace.
Be sure your holiday lights are UL-approved. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) evaluates thousands of products each year for safety and assurance. Products that bear the UL mark have passed stringent tests and meet high safety standards. Check the packaging to see if the UL stamp is present. If it is, the product is very safe to use as long as it’s used properly.
If you haven’t already done so, change to LED lights. They burn brighter, use much less electricity and last longer than the old type.
Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind.
•Unplug all holiday lights before leaving home or going to bed.
•Keep all cords out of the way in high-traffic areas in your home.
•To add protection against electric shock, outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets.
Wishing you a bright, beautiful and safe holiday. Remember, help is just around the corner at your local hardware store.
