Decorating Safely for the Holidays

Decorating for the holidays is one of the most-followed family traditions. Some folks start as early as October, planning for a long-lit display of holiday cheer.

But remember that climbing ladders and working with electricity can be dangerous if you’re not careful. 

Follow these tips from Owen Electric to keep you, your family and guests safe around decorative displays.

• Use only lights, decorations and extension cords rated and designed for outdoor use.
• Plan your display according to the number and location of available electrical outlets, and avoid overloading them.
• Inspect and discard worn or damaged lights, decorations and extension cords.
• Be mindful of overhead power lines and utility poles. Keep yourself, your ladder and your decorations at least 10 feet away to prevent accidental contact.
• Secure cords to ground, buildings or trees with clips, hooks, zip ties or stakes. Don’t use nails, tacks or staples that can damage cords.
• Invest in waterproof cord covers and ensure that all plug connections are away from low-lying areas, to prevent water damage.
• Plug outdoor electric lights into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to reduce electric shock risk.
• Make sure spotlights used to light up decorations are well-ventilated, protected from weather and a safe distance from flammable items.
• Don’t block sidewalks, driveways or entrances with decorations, which can create tripping hazards.
• Take down or secure decorations if severe weather is forecasted.
• Turn off all decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
• Remember all ladder safety precautions when decorating with a ladder, such as three points of contact at all times, not standing on the top or the top rung of the ladder and using the correct size ladder for the job.