How To Decorate Safely During The Holidays

When the holidays are near and it's time to decorate, help your family enjoy the season safely.                  

• If you find frayed cords or wires, broken fuses or cracked light bulbs, throw away the strand and get a new one
• Never use nails or staples to attach a string of lights or a cord
• Choose extension cords that are certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as UL, CSA or ETA
• Don't overload: limit yourself to three strands of lights per outlet
• If your holiday tree is real, keep it well-watered, and keep electrical cords far away from the tree stand's water pans
• Lighted candles are beautiful, but keep them far away from holiday trees and decorations
• Unplug decorative lights when you leave home or go to bed

After the holidays, there's a safer way to remove and store lights and decorations.

• Unplug decorations, lights and extension cords before removing them
• Don't tug on electrical cords; there's a risk of tearing the insulation and exposing wires
• Outdoors, keep ladders, long-handled tools and dangling light strands far away from overhead power lines, service drops and pole-to-house connections
• Follow manufacturers' and your city's directions for safely disposing of worn or broken lights and decorations