The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without the dazzling lights, glimmer or glitz of decorations and festivities, but there’s no doubt that some of the most cherished holiday traditions come with cautionary notes.
Here are some tips from PECO to help keep a safe home this holiday season and still enjoy the dazzling lights, live trees, candles and food dishes that make holiday traditions.
First, when preparing holiday delicacies, never plug more than one high-wattage appliance into a single outlet. It’s also a good idea to make sure a working fire extinguisher is on hand that household members know how to use.
Also, check that smoke detectors are working properly -- switch the batteries if needed. Be sure everyone in the household knows how to respond in case of an electrical accident or fire.
For indoor decorating, be mindful of little ones and visitors who may be unfamiliar with the furniture set-up. Keep candles away from the edges of tables and run electrical wires and extension cords away from high-traffic areas.
Also keep glass and glitter ornaments or figurines out of the reach of children.
Give the tree some space. Keep the home safe and fire-free by moving live trees away from heat sources such as heat registers, fireplaces, radiators and televisions.
Be sure to water live trees frequently and to only use lights that have been safety tested and have the UL label.
Also for the tree, check each light string for broken sockets, frayed cords or faulty plugs. Be sure not to overload the outlets -- use surge protector strips for multiple plugs.
Lighting up outside? When using light decorations outdoors, be careful to staple or nail around light strings -- not through electrical cords.
Also, make sure electrical connections are properly sealed off from water and weather elements.
For more information visit the Web site www.SafeElectricity.org. Happy Holidays!
