It’s that time of year when people are
beginning to decorate for the holidays. Many of us will be using the standard
incandescent bulbs to “deck the halls” but are you using them safely?
According to FEMA, although Christmas tree
fires are uncommon, when they do occur they are very serious and 1 in every 32 home
Christmas tree fires results in death. To help avoid a tragedy, use the
following steps to ensure your holiday lighting is safe for use:
- Carefully examine lights
before extended use - You will want to make sure
that there are no exposed wires or any other potentially damaged areas.
Although it may be slightly more cost effective to fix the broken lights,
rather than purchase a new strand it is more likely that a new strand is
more reliable and safer.
- Replace older strands of
lights with new - String lights can be used
reliably for 5 years if stored adequately. Purchasing new lights every 5
years will help to prevent any potential short circuiting.
- Limit strands per outlet
- A
standard outlet can handle a maximum of 3 strands of lights. If additional
strands are needed, consider using a surge protector or power strip that
is designed to assist with protection for the needed wattage.
- Organize your electrical
cords - You’ll likely need extension cords to
meet your lights to your outlets. Make sure your cords are out of reach of
children and pets. Also, make sure to keep strands close to walls so they
are not easily tripped over or pulled out.
- Know the material of
your tree - This applies to artificial Christmas
trees, but if you opt for a shinier aluminum or metallic tree avoid adding
string lights to it as metallic trees are easily charged by electricity,
which can more easily create sparking and result in fire.
- Keep your tree hydrated
- If you instead
opt to cut your own tree be sure to keep it watered. Creating a watering
schedule is a helpful tool in ensuring your tree is properly hydrated,
which will in turn make it less flammable.
- Keep indoor lights
inside and outdoor lights outside - Indoor lights
although often cheaper, are made to use solely inside as they do not have
the same moisture seal protection as that of outdoor lights.
- Keep lights on a timer -
Unattended lights are unsafe lights. Adding a
timer for your lights is a helpful tool in ensuring the safety of your
home and family.
- Consider other lighting
options - Battery operated lighting and LED
lighting are both energy efficient options. LED lighting although more
expensive, lasts much longer, and is much safer than the standard incandescent
strands.
- Use candles sparingly
and with supervision - Candles emit a wonderful
fragrance, yet create potential danger when not supervised appropriately.
When using candles in your home be wary of nearby children and pets, and
keep away from flammable materials like curtains, and other Christmas
decorations.
A happy holiday is a safe holiday. To ensure a
happy holiday for your friends and family be sure to check the holiday lighting
in your home early this year.
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