With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away, it’s time to start planning out the decorations for the season. Whether you plan to put lights on your house, a reindeer in the front yard or a tree in the living room it is important to keep safety in mind. Electrical fires and ladder accidents are the most common types of accidents and the easiest to avoid.
When working with a ladder make sure it is set-up properly and on a level surface. Always work with a companion so there is someone to help hold the ladder safely. Never stand on the very top step of any ladder as this leaves you nothing to hold on to if you should lose your balance even for a second.
Before hanging lights check them out thoroughly. Look for exposed wires, cracks, broken or scorched insulation or other signs of damage. Also plug them in to make sure all of the bulbs are working properly and nothing smells funny. (If you smell anything from a strand of lights, discard it. This can be a sign of damage that can lead to serious problems including fires or electric shock.) Also check that when fitting two or more strands of light together they fit snuggly. Loose connections can slip and cause sparks which will ignite anything and everything near it. (Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when connecting multiple strands of lights together. Wire can only handle a certain amount of current, so be sure not to add more strands than the manufacturer suggests.)
If you have small children or expect to have children present at any time while your decorations are in use, make sure to use appropriate protective products such as cord covers and plug cover. Even if you are not expecting small children it is a good idea to consider using a clapper to turn on and off any decorations where cords are hard to get to. This will save you energy as well as lessening the risk that your tree will fall over causing multiple problems.
It is always a good idea to have a companion assist you when setting up decorations so that if something does happen, someone is there to assist you. Make sure ornament hooks are strong enough for the size and weight of the item you are hanging, and always use appropriate hangers for larger objects. If you’re planning to have topiaries or other decorations outdoors, make sure they are weather resistant and well secured. Keep cords and objects away from well trafficked areas to lessen the risk of falls.
We wish you the best this holiday season!
Kristi Bennitt
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