Holiday Electrical Safety

My favorite part of decorating for Christmas is the holiday lights. We have, in my opinion, a gorgeous tree and a beautiful outside with a bungalow front porch and entry.

However, with little ones, I also know that I have to be very careful with the electricity because of the fire hazards and the electrical shock risks that can happen if I am not careful.

Home Safety Council has plenty of safety tips for you and your family during this time of the year. They recommend taking the following precautions when putting up decorations:

• Inspect holiday lights and extension cords before decorating.
• Check for red or green UL marks on all light strings and extension cords. The green holographic UL Mark means the light strings should be used only indoors.
• Follow manufacturer’s guidelines for stringing light sets together. As a general rule, UL recommends using no more than three standard-size sets of lights together.
• Hang or mount light strands carefully to avoid damaging the cord’s insulation.
• Do not overload extension cords or electrical receptacles.
• Unplug all holiday lights when you go to sleep or leave home.
• Plug outdoor decorations into outlets protected by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent shock.
• Automatic lighting timers can be used to ensure that lights are not left on. These are available for both indoor and outdoor use.
• Roll up excess electrical cords and keep them away from high traffic areas. Do not run electrical cords under rugs.
• Never keep an extension cord plugged in when it is not in use.
• When replacing a light bulb, be sure to use the correct bulb size (wattage) that is right for the fixture.
• Use safety caps to keep children from putting things into electrical receptacles outlets.