Keeping Holidays Bright and Safe
Posted on November 23rd, 2022
The days are counting down until family and friends arrive for holiday celebrations. There may be a number of items left on your “to do” list before the decorating is complete and you are ready to entertain guests, but be sure to keep safety at the top of that list at all times.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 14,000 people in 2019 were treated in emergency rooms due to injuries related to holiday decorating.
These simple safety tips can help keep your family safe this holiday season:
- Carefully inspect each electrical decoration. Cracked sockets, frayed, bare wires and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire.
- Always unplug electrical decorations before replacing bulbs or fuses.
- Be mindful where you place extension cords to avoid potential tripping hazards. Never run extension cords under rugs or furniture.
- Turn off all indoor and outdoor electrical decorations before leaving home or going to bed. Use a timer to help control your lights.
- Plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent electric shock.
- Before using any electrical decorations outdoors, make sure products are approved for outdoor use.
- Use ENERGY STAR® qualified LED products instead of incandescent light strands.
- Always look for the Underwriters Laboratory(UL) or other testing agency label when shopping for new electronic devices.
- Place fresh-cut trees away from heat sources such as fireplaces or space heaters. Water fresh-cut trees frequently.
12 Days of Energy Efficiency for the Christmas Season
Day 1: Use energy-saving LED holiday lights to decorate your home.
Day 2: One of the best ways to save energy is using a timer to control your holiday lighting.
Day 3: Having company? The additional people in your home will create more warmth, so go ahead and lower that thermostat!
Day 4: Close your damper if a fire isn’t burning, and keep cold outdoor air where it belongs!
Day 5: You’ve been really good this year, so you deserve a fancy new smart thermostat that also saves energy!
Day 6: Heading out of town? Don’t forget to unplug appliances and electronics that consume energy when not in use.
Day 7: Give the gift of efficiency with ENERGY STAR® rated electronics!
Day 8: Use weather stripping and caulk to seal leaks around the house. Your cold-natured family members will thank you!
Day 9: Let the sunshine in! Natural sunlight can add plenty of warmth to your home on colder days.
Day 10: Rechargeable batteries and chargers are environmentally friendly and make great last-minute stocking stuffers!
Day 11: If possible, don’t open the oven door to check that dish’s progress! Use the oven light instead.
Day 12: When your tree lights are on, turn other lights off to save energy and create a cozy ambiance.
For more information on electrical safety, visit SafeElectricity.org.