Put Safety First When Decorating for the Holidays
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Holiday lights make the season festive and bright, but they can also increase the chance of fire and compromise safety if installed or operated incorrectly.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an estimated 250 home fires involving Christmas trees and another 170 home fires involving holiday lights and other decorative lighting occur each year. Together, these fires result in 21 deaths and 43 injuries on average.
Many avoidable electrical fires can be traced to misuse of electric cords, such as overloading circuits, poor maintenance and running the cords under rugs or in high-traffic areas.
In addition to visually inspecting lights and decorations, we recommend the following tips to help put your family's safety first during the holiday season:
Stay away from downed power lines.
Always keep electric cords and appliances away from water or wet surfaces.
Focus your eyes on the sky when hanging outdoor holiday lights and carry ladders parallel to the ground to avoid coming in contact with a power line.
Exit the area safely and quickly if there is an electrical fire.
Take some time to inspect each string of holiday lights for broken sockets, frayed cords or faulty plugs before using them inside or outside your home.
You should remember to call 911 and KU if you have an electric emergency (LG&E if you have an electric or natural gas emergency.)
Find a second wall socket or an extension cord if you are plugging multiple electrical cords near the same location to avoid overloading your electrical outlet.
Immediately replace worn, old or damaged appliance cords.
Regularly inspect electrical appliances, decorations and wiring.
Secure all curtains, decorations and cloth materials at least three feet away from heat sources.
Take a moment to ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.
December is the most dangerous month for electrical fires due to more indoor activities and our increase in use of lighting, heating, and appliances. Visit our website for more information on electric safety.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an estimated 250 home fires involving Christmas trees and another 170 home fires involving holiday lights and other decorative lighting occur each year. Together, these fires result in 21 deaths and 43 injuries on average.Many avoidable electrical fires can be traced to misuse of electric cords, such as overloading circuits, poor maintenance and running the cords under rugs or in high-traffic areas.
In addition to visually inspecting lights and decorations, we recommend the following tips to help put your family's safety first during the holiday season:
Stay away from downed power lines.
Always keep electric cords and appliances away from water or wet surfaces.
Focus your eyes on the sky when hanging outdoor holiday lights and carry ladders parallel to the ground to avoid coming in contact with a power line.
Exit the area safely and quickly if there is an electrical fire.
Take some time to inspect each string of holiday lights for broken sockets, frayed cords or faulty plugs before using them inside or outside your home.
You should remember to call 911 and KU if you have an electric emergency (LG&E if you have an electric or natural gas emergency.)
Find a second wall socket or an extension cord if you are plugging multiple electrical cords near the same location to avoid overloading your electrical outlet.
Immediately replace worn, old or damaged appliance cords.
Regularly inspect electrical appliances, decorations and wiring.
Secure all curtains, decorations and cloth materials at least three feet away from heat sources.
Take a moment to ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.
December is the most dangerous month for electrical fires due to more indoor activities and our increase in use of lighting, heating, and appliances. Visit our website for more information on electric safety.
