TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR HOLIDAY FREE FROM ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
The holiday season is one of the most exciting times of the year. However, for many families the excitement of the season will come from events they never anticipated. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 130,000 fires will be reported in December alone claiming over 400 lives and causing more than 1,600 injuries.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International invites you to help make this holiday season a memorable one by making safety a priority. Here are a few simple steps that you can take to keep your family and home safe this year.
Indoor Holiday Lights: Brighten your home the safe way
• Before you begin, read and follow the manufacturer's instructions concerning installation and maintenance of all electrical decorations.
• Inspect each decoration before plugging into an outlet. Cracked, frayed, or bare wires and loose connections may cause a serious electric shock or start a fire.
• Connect a maximum of three light strands together.
• Be careful not to mount or hang light strands in any way that might damage the cord's insulation.
• Turn lights and other decorations off when you leave or go to bed.
Christmas Trees: Know the risks
• Strands of lights can add greatly to the beauty of your live tree, but in the right conditions they can also pose a serious electrical fire danger. When selecting a tree, check for freshness to minimize fire hazard of dry needles.
• When it is time to put the tree up, lower the risk of an electrical fire by cutting the base of the tree so it can absorb water and by remembering to fill the stand daily.
• Whether artificial or freshly cut, a tree should be kept at least 3 feet from all sources of heat.
• Be sure that smoke detectors are installed in your home, and use the holidays as an excuse to change their batteries.
Extension Cords and Decorating Outdoors: Never take electricity for granted
• Before using electrical products outdoors, make sure the product is approved and marked “for outdoor use.â€
• Check to make sure electrical cords are in good condition. Cracking and fraying are signs that the electrical cord needs to be replaced.
• Keep all outdoor extension cords and light strands clear of snow, standing water, and well protected from the elements.
• For electric shock protection, plug outdoor lights and electric decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). A GFCI should be used as additional protection in any area where water may come in contact with electrical products.
• To avoid overheating extension cords, make sure that they do not run under furniture, carpeting, or behind baseboards.
• Do not place extension cords across walkways or other high traffic areas.
Kitchen Safety: Prevent electrical fires in your home
• To be electrically safe while you are cooking, remember to keep an eye on what you are doing. Ranges and ovens are the leading cause of home fires.
• Never leave a child unsupervised while cooking or when an electric or gas stove is within reach.
• Make sure you have a fire extinguisher and that it is easily accessible.
Space Heaters: Give them enough space
• Plug portable space heaters directly into an outlet; do not use an extension cord.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from any combustible materials.
• Don’t use space heaters in rooms where children are unsupervised.
• To prevent shock, plug space heaters into ground fault circuit Interrupter (GFCI) type outlets. A GFCI should be used in any area where water may come in contact with electrical products.
• Check the cord before plugging in the heater, if frayed, worn or broken, do not use.
• Keep all heaters out of high traffic and exit areas.
Children: Plan for safety
• Avoid putting tree lights, ornaments, and other small “mouth-size†decorations near the ground or
on the lower limbs of a Christmas tree where they can easily be reached by a child.
• When visiting friends and relatives, remember that their homes may not be child-proofed. Look around to make sure that there are no obvious hazards to your child.
• To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
• Remember, there is no substitute for common sense. Look for and eliminate potential danger spots near candles, fireplaces, trees and electrical outlets.
Counterfeit Goods: Not all products are what they appear
• Counterfeit electrical products may look just like other decorations we buy, but their similarities end there. Counterfeits are not made to the same high standards and DO NOT offer the protection from fire and shock that certified products do.
• Avoid no-name electrical products or products sold at “deep discount stores.â€
• Check to see if the packaging contains contact information for the manufacturer. Reputable companies are proud of their product and will provide a phone number or address.
• Examine the warning label. It should be free of grammatical errors and not conflict with information elsewhere on the package.
• Buyers should beware of bargains that seem too good to be true. Products may be cheap because they are counterfeit or defective.
• Look for the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), or Intertek (ETL-SEMKO) Certification marks. If you have concerns about the marks, contact the certifier.
Generator Safety
• Never operate generators in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. Generators can produce high levels of carbon monoxide very quickly, which can be deadly.
• Make sure the generator is properly grounded.
• Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to help prevent electrical shock injuries.
• Keep the generator dry.
• Make sure extension cords used with generators are rated for the load, and are free of cuts, worn insulation, and have three-pronged plugs.
• Do not connect generators directly to household wiring without an appropriate transfer switch installed.
Post Holiday Safety: Pay attention even after the holiday’s
• Holiday electrical decorations are meant for temporary use. During the 1st week of January, ESFI encourages you to take down, inspect and store all decorations for next season.
• Use the gripping area of the plug when unplugging lights and appliances. Yanking or tugging on the cord could damage the wires and insulation, possibly leading to an electrical shock or fire.
• Separate and label outdoor from indoor decorations.
• Discard broken or faulty lights.
• Store decorations away from children, pets and water.
• Send all warranty and product registration forms to manufacturers. That way, they can notify you promptly in case of a recall.
• Post-holiday sales are a great time to purchase fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International wishes you a very happy holiday season and hopes that your new year will be a safe one!
ESFI reminds everyone that electricity is a powerful tool. It can also be a lethal hazard. Better safety standards have reduced electrical hazards that cause deaths, injuries and property damage. But good safety habits are still the best prevention against electrical hazards.