Xmas Safety Tips

Bright Ideas for Lights

•  Indoors or outside, always use lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory that indicates conformance with safety standards.
•  Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.
•  Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
•  Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
•  Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
•  Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).
•  Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.
•  Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.