’Tis the season to decorate safely for the holidays. While shopping can be stressful at this time of year, the sight of festive decorations around the house helps keep you in the spirit of the season. However, it’s important to decorate safely. According to the most recent statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, holiday decorations cause fires in nearly 800 homes in an average season. The overwhelming majority of these incidents can be avoided by following some proven steps. To make sure the season’s inspirational and fun for all, we have some suggestions to decorate safely.
- Don’t overload electrical circuits. A typical home’s electrical circuit may not be rated for the addition of extra lights and other electric decorations. Plan the placement of decorations so that the electrical load is divided among different circuits so that none are overloaded.
- Only use lights that have been certified for safety by reputable laboratories, such as Underwriter Laboratories (UL).
- LED holiday lights run cooler and are less likely to cause a fire and/or overload electrical circuits.
- Before usage, check all holiday lights and other electric decorations for bare wires, cracked sockets, and other defects that could cause a fire or shock hazard.
- Plug outdoor lights into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) to reduce the possibility of shock in conditions that are wet or otherwise hazardous.
- Turn off lights and other electric decorations before going to bed or leaving the house.
- Candles are a major cause of holiday fires. Choose battery-operated electric candles instead of traditional candles to eliminate fire hazards. If you must use traditional candles, never leave a lit candle burning in a room that is unoccupied.
- If you prefer an artificial tree, make sure it is classified as “fire-resistant” and keep from heat sources.
- If you purchase a live tree keep it from heat sources such as fireplaces, heaters, vents, direct sunlight and remember to check the water level each day to avoid it from drying out to quickly.
- Nearly half of injuries that occur during holiday decorating are due to falls. If you’re stringing lights or installing other decorations up high, make sure you use a sturdy ladder that is approved for this purpose, which will help you decorate safely.
For all your indoor comfort needs, contact the professionals at Jackson & Sons.
