It’s Decorating Time Again – Be Safe!

It’s that special time of year again for most of us which we love to celebrate with elaborate decorations and lights all around our homes, offices and outdoors. While these decorations bring joy and beauty to the island, there are dangers associated with these celebrations, which you can mitigate by being vigilant. Here are some tips to help you to be safer this Christmas season.

1. Don’t put electric lights on a metal tree. The risk of electrical shock and fire goes up with this combination.
2. Don’t leave lights on when you’re away from the property or overnight. Make sure that you unplug Christmas tree lights when you’re going out or going to bed. Make it a habit.
3. Keep trees and decorations away from lit candles.
4. Always check to ensure that your decorative lights have a product safety logo from Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) or Intertek (ETL Semko).
5. Use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors. These lights are not interchangeable and should only be used for the indicated purpose. Indoor lights are not shielded from the elements and are usually only safe on your tree, indoors, and away from the weather.
6. Before you put up your lights, check them for signs of fraying or damage. Don’t use them if you see signs of damage.
7. The use of extension cords should be avoided, if possible, and permanent electrical outlets installed in the locations where power is needed. If you are using extension cords, check them for damage and make sure that you don’t overload them. You’ll also want to place the cords out of the way so that they are not a tripping hazard and potentially can topple your tree.
8. Staples, tacks, and nails can pierce Christmas light strands and create a potential electrical shock. It’s best to use plastic holders designed to hang Christmas lights.
9. Don’t plug in your tree lights with an empty socket. It is recommended that you test your blown bulbs with a bulb tester, if available.
10. The rule of thumb on stringing together strands of lights for traditional incandescent lights is that you shouldn’t do more than recommended by the light manufacturer. More than that is dangerous. If you’ve made the switch to LED mini-lights, then you can relax – as the number of lights that can be safely strung together should increase, as per the manufacturer’s recommendation.
11. Always keep your real tree hydrated. A dry Christmas tree is a fire hazard.
12. Use GFCI Outlets for Outdoor Lights - A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) reduces the danger of deadly shock from faulty plug-in cords and devices. It will detect dangerous ground faults and immediately turn off the power.
13. Don’t run lights through windows or doors – the closing of the opening on the cords can damage them and create a dangerous electrical situation.

We want you to enjoy the holiday season safely and in the best way for you and your family. Follow these tips to help make that a reality.