Marilu Trainor
Each year holiday decorative lighting is responsible for many injuries, numerous fires, and property damage across the U.S.
“We respond to calls that involve falls from ladders and overloading of electrical outlets each year,” said Mario Santos, a captain/paramedic with the Goodyear Fire Department. “Putting holiday safety first means you can deck the halls while you safely enjoy your special times.”
Data from the National Fire Protection Association indicates Christmas trees, holiday decorations, cooking, and baking present potential fire hazards that contribute to an annual increase in U.S. home fires during the winter months. There are 770 house fires a year caused by Christmas lights. Nearly 1 in 5 Christmas tree fires are caused by decorative lights.
“We want everyone to have a happy and safe holiday season. It’s important to remind our communities of the dangers we see around this time of the year with a little added safety awareness and planning,” said Santos.
During this holiday season, consider these safety areas to avoid any unwanted hazards:
Smoke Alarms
* Replace your smoke alarm batteries so they’re ready to work for your home.
Electrical Outlets
* Don’t overload outlets with too many devices.
* Use a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet for all outdoor lights. GFCI prevents electric shock from electrical systems that could be exposed to wet conditions.
Lights
* Inspect your indoor and outdoor lights and replace old or damaged strands.
* Switch to LED lights—they are cool to the touch, use less electricity, and save you money.
* Check the strand’s wattage and the maximum watt capacity of the plug. Most holiday lighting manufacturers caution that plugging in more than three sets of holiday lights into a single extension cord may cause problems.
* Carefully consider where you put the lights, especially in areas where there will be kids and pets.
* Never leave the house or go to bed at night with temporary lighting turned on. To make it easier, purchase a light timer to start or stop your seasonal lights.
* Store lights properly until next season. Wrap all outdoor and indoor Christmas lights into a ball shape and put into a well-sealed container to prevent water damage and rodent access.
Extension Cords
* Invest in heavy-duty extension cords that are UL-listed for outdoor use.
* Keep cords out of water and away from metal objects.
* Know the power limits for your extension cords. Match your lights’ power needs (amperage) with the amperage rating of extension cords.
* Never run cords under rugs or coil them tightly around themselves, which can cause them to overheat.
* Do not run cords through doors or windows—you can cause a fire.
Ladders
* Use ladders appropriately. Falls are the highest emergency room-related injury during the holidays.
* Work with a spotter to hold the ladder for stability.
* Use a wooden or fiberglass ladder to prevent an electric shock.
These safety tips will only work when they are followed carefully for a fire-free holiday season.