Check the Halls: For Holiday Safety!

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This year, decorate your home in the right light by following these tips from Preferred Mutual so that you can live assured.

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Did you know that over 12,500 people are sent to the emergency room every year because of holiday decorating, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission?

It’s time to start thinking about how you can better protect yourself and your family, as we begin our descent into the holiday season!

According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 1000 home fires are caused by holiday decorations each year! Follow these steps to ensure you decorate your home with yuletide and safety in mind during the winter holidays.

Holiday Lighting and Ladder Safety

While Hollywood has made falling off a ladder and dangling by a stapled sleeve from a gutter a comedic accident, it really is no laughing matter. Accidents happen, but if you’re stringing lights around your home, pay attention to:

• Extension cords and electrical decorations are marked for proper use.
• Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters.
• Inspect all lights, decorations and extension cords for damage before using.
• Exercise caution when decorating near power lines. Keep yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet away.
• Turn off all indoor and outdoor electrical decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many decorations or electrical devices. They can overheat and cause a fire.
• Never decorate alone or in severe weather.
• Place your ladder on level ground.
• Keep both feet and ladder.
• Follow all warnings on your ladder, especially for weight-bearing specifications and how to properly lock your ladder while in use.

Prevention – The Gift That Keeps on Giving!

There’s no ignoring it! The twinkling light and tinsel troubles are all around!

• Keep decorations, or any other flammable items, at least 3ft away from open flame and heat sources.
• Ensure your smoke detectors work!
• Inspect all decorations to ensure they do not have any frayed or pinched wires. Discard worn decorations.
• Ensure multiple extension cords are never strung together or run under rugs, carpets, or furniture. Ensure shoe used outdoors are labeled as such.
• Never leave your space heater unattended and turn it off when leaving the room or going to sleep. Keep your children and pets safe, too, but ensuring they stay away.
• Never leave cooking equipment unattended, and turn burners off if you have to leave.
• Water your Christmas tree daily, and discard trees if they begin to drop too many needles and become dry and brittle!

This year, decorate your home in the right light by following these tips from Preferred Mutual so that you can live assured.

This information is intended for educational purposes only and is not legal advice and/or an authoritative guide.