Keep
your holidays happy by observing these simple safety precautions:
Before stringing outdoor lights, check for overhead power lines.
Don't place yourself or any other object in a position where you or it may
come in contact with a power line, the result may be fatal. Look up
before raising ladders or other objects. keep at least 10 feet away
from overhead lines.
Make
sure lights used to decorate the outside of the house are approved for
outdoor use. never use indoor lights outdoors.
Before stringing lights on outdoor trees, make sure the tree limbs haven't
grown near power lines. Branches, an entire tree, and even the
ground adjacent to a tree can become energized when trees contact power
lines.
Check all light strands for cracked or broken plugs, frayed insulation, or
bare wires. Worn cords can cause fires. Discard damaged sets
of lights.
Route cords inside your home so that they won't trip anyone. Don't
place them under rugs, furniture, or other appliances. if covered,
cords can overheat or become frayed and cause a fire.
Follow the manufacturer's limits for the number of light strings that you
can safely connect together.
Always turn off tree and decorative lights indoors and outdoors when
leaving the house and before going to bed.
Do
not place your tree near a heat source such as a fireplace or heat vent.
The heat will dry out the tree, making it more susceptible to fires caused
by heat, flame or sparks.
Install LED holiday lights. Most LED lights are shatter proof and
shock resistant. Because LEDs produce almost no heat, they are safer
to touch and greatly reduce the risk of fire. LED lights are also
more energy efficient and most can last up to 20 holiday seasons.
Use
only UL-approved (Underwriters Laboratory) lights and extension cords.
Avoid overloading electrical circuits. Connect lights to power strips that
have several outlets and a built-in circuit breaker. Remind children never
to touch lights or plugs with wet hands.
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