Follow these electrical safety tips to have a safer holiday season!
Don’t overload outlets with too many cords.
Inspect all holiday decorations that use electricity for damage before use. Look for cracked or frayed cords and loose connections and other damage. Replace damaged decorations.
Inspect extension cords, both indoor and outdoor, for damage before use. Replace damaged cords.
Make sure that power cords used outdoors are rated for outdoor use and are plugged into a GFCI (ground fault circuit interruptor). A GFCI will cut the power if it detects an electrical problem.
Use power strips that contain internal overload protection.
If your family still has light strings with incandescent bulbs, update them the LED light strings. LED bulbs do not get hot like incandescent bulbs, so there is less risk of fire. As an added bonus, LED bulbs are cheaper to operate because they use much less electricity than incandescent bulbs.
Turn off and unplug electrical decorations when you go to sleep at night or when you leave your home.
If your family uses a live tree, make sure an adult keeps it watered to prevent the tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
Make sure your tree is at least three feet away from heat sources. This includes fireplaces, space heaters and heater vents.
If you receive a drone as a holiday gift, read all safety instructions before use. Drones should never be flown near power lines or substations.
Never leave space heaters unattended. Make sure the area around the heater is free of flammable materials such as clothing or curtains.
Holiday Safety Tips
