The holiday season is full of cheer and lovely family moments we hold on to for the rest of our lives. But to a small group of consumers across America, the holiday season is also the time of the year that families remember tragic incidents that could have been prevented.
During this time, families often gather to put up the holiday decorations. Part of this drive involves using electrical devices like Christmas lights. In order to make this part of your holiday celebration a safe one, experts are putting together some tips that could help you to avoid fiery incidents until 2016 is here.
According to a series of reports, electrical fires are one of the main causes of home fires in the United States. Every year, electrical fires impact between 45,000 to 55,000 homes. Between 2007 and 2011, nearly 500 deaths were linked to these types of home accidents while 1,500 injuries were also linked to the same type of incidents in the same period.
To avoid damage, injuries, and deaths, consumers should make sure they have smoke detectors on every level of their homes. One should be located in the sleeping area. Also, when picking a set of holiday lights, make sure to find a set that has been approved by a nationally recognized testing organization.
When decorating a real tree, make sure to water it every day to keep the needles from drying. Also, do not let the lights touch the branches.
If you’re using an artificial tree this year, check if the product is fire resistant. Also look for the label of a nationally recognized testing organization that has approved the product and vouched for its safety.
When putting up outdoor decorations, only use lights that were approved for outdoor use. And before actually putting any light up, make sure you have inspected the lights entirely for any missing bulbs, frayed wires, or broken sockets.
When not in use, holiday lights should be turned off. Having a timer attached to the lights may help to avoid keeping the lights on for an unnecessary amount of time.
Many accidents involving house fires during the holiday occur during the night and because the lights remained on while nobody was paying attention. If you’re serious about safety, make sure to avoid ignoring these tips while decorating.
For more tips on how to keep your home safe while putting up your lights, follow this link.
