Happy Holidays, everyone! This is a wonderful time of year when people celebrate and decorate their homes for the upcoming festivities. However, please remember to follow these steps to ensure the safety of your family and friends:
Candles
If you are going to be lighting candles in your home, keep them away from anything flammable. For example, if you place a candle in the windowsill, make sure your window shades or curtains are not close to it, or they may catch fire.
Lights
Hanging up Christmas lights is always fun, but they should be inspected before they are used every year:
• Check the wires and plugs for signs of wear and tear; if they’re frayed, don’t use them.
• Check bulbs for cracks or missing bulbs, and make sure the plug is also free of damage.
• If hanging lights outdoors, make sure the package states that they are for outdoor use; do not use indoor lights for outdoor decoration.
Trees
If using a pre-lit artificial tree, inspect it for the same issues as Christmas light wires. If the tree is real, keep it hydrated. Dry trees have a higher potential for catching fire in the home due to heat given off by the lights attached to them.
Remember to be safe this holiday season and inspect all equipment before use.