Ah, Christmas, it’s the one time of year that you can have flamboyant yard-art and extravagant lighting without receiving strange looks from your neighbors. It’s the holiday season and the lights are starting to go up, the mechanical waving Santa is out, and everyone is getting into the decorating spirit. But, did you know that about 12,500 people visit the hospital each year for Christmas decorating related injuries? According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), most of these injuries include being electrocuted by Christmas lights and falling off a ladder, roof, or tree. Here are a few helpful holiday safety tips that might help keep you from being a part of this statistic.
Outdoor Lights
Inspect all lights for loose connections, exposed wires, or broken bulbs before putting them up.
Only use lights that are certified for outdoor use.
Plug all lights and electrical features into a GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter).
Stay away from power lines going to the rooftop (older homes).
Make sure your ladder is in good operating condition.
Use a safety harness if necessary.
Be careful of frozen roofs.
Do not use a staple gun to hang your lights. This is the number one way light strands become faulty.
Yard Ornaments
Keep all wires and cords off major walkways to avoid tripping hazards.
Turn off or redirect sprinklers away from ornaments.
Make sure the gardener is aware of wires and cords.
Run your electrical plugs through a surge protector to keep from overloading the circuit.
In General
Turn everything off when no one is home or when going to bed.
Make sure all electrical connections are weatherproofed.