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 Before rushing through decorating to enjoy a well-lit
house or yard, take time to plan out the job safely. “Unfortunately,
every year people are hurt in decorating accidents, including
mishaps or serious accidents that involve electricity,” says Erin
Hollinshead, executive director of Safe Electricity. “We tend to get
eager to finish decorating so we can enjoy the lights, but it’s best
to take your time, think before you start, and don’t forget to put
safety first."
The U.S. Consumer and Product Safety Commission reports that 14,700
to 18,100 people were treated in emergency rooms in recent years due
to holiday-decorating injures. Those injuries include those caused
by falls, cuts, and back strains, as well as injuries from
electrical hazards.
Be on the lookout for damaged lights, plugs, and electrical cords,
and especially be aware of overhead power line locations when
carrying or using ladders or when stringing lights, Hollinshead
says.
Safe Electricity provides these additional holiday decorating safety
tips:
Decorating and lighting
• When using holiday lights, whether indoors or out, look for
certification by an accredited independent testing laboratory, such
as UL.
• Make sure the lights are properly rated and only use light rated
for outdoor when placing outside.
• Before hanging your lights, check the strands for broken bulbs as
well as fraying or bare wires that could present electrical hazards.
Always discard damaged strands.
• Turn off all lights before leaving home or going to sleep or
ensure they are timed to do so.
• When securing light strands, never staple or nail them into place;
instead use plastic hooks.
• Many of today’s light strands made of LED lights,
which produce light without the heat of conventional incandescent
bulbs. They are popular for good reason, since the lifespan of LEDs
is 25 times that of incandescent lights. They also are much more
energy efficient than traditional bulbs.
• When decorating outside, always be sure to look up
and out for overhead power line locations. Make sure that you and
any equipment you are using, such as a ladder or a light strand,
stay a minimum 10 feet away from overhead power lines.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the
number of light strands you can strand together.
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Extension cords and outlets
• Check that the extension cord you use is rated for its intended use,
especially if used outdoor.
• Never run extension cords under carpets, through doorways, or where they could
be damaged by furniture.
• Lights and decorations that are used outdoors should be plugged into an outlet
with ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection. GFCIs detect and
prevent dangerous situations where an electric shock could occur.
• Puppies and other pets love to chew on electrical cords, including light
strands and extension cords. Keep cords out of sight or hidden with a cord
cover. Provide teething or play alternatives.
• Be careful when using extension cords around crawling babies and toddlers.
Check for long electrical cords that span the floor and secure them with cord
covers to avoid trip/crawl hazards.
Tree selection and placement
• When selecting your tree, make sure that you consider the safest option for
your home.
• If you are decorating with an artificial tree, make sure you choose one with
fire resistance protection.
• With a real tree, make sure that the needles are green and sturdy with a trunk
that is sticky with resin. These are indicators that your tree is well-hydrated.
• Keep your real tree stand filled with water so that the tree does not become
overly dry and present a fire hazard.
• Always consider the optimal placement of your tree. Ensure that your tree is
placed at least 3 feet away from heat sources such as fireplaces or radiators
and on a stable platform.
Safe Electricity hopes your season will be safe, merry and bright. For more
information on electrical safety, visit SafeElectricity.org.
[Source: Erin Hollinshead, Executive
Director, Safe Electricity
Writer: Ann Augspurger, Communications Director, Safe Electricity]
Safe Electricity is the award-winning, public awareness program of
the Energy Education Council, a 501(c) 3 (not-for-profit
organization) established in 1952 on the campus of the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. With offices located in Springfield,
Ill., Safe Electricity operates under the University of Illinois
Extension and is led by the EEC Board of Directors. Since the Safe
Electricity program was created in 2001, it has provided thousands
safety-minded resources to its more than 500 utility members from
across the country to help save lives and reduce injuries. |
