Christmas Tree Safety Tips (2)

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

18 Dec 2007 07:14 AM

Are you doing everything you can to avoid a Christmas mishap? Take a quick look through our Christmas Tree safety tips to make sure that you have all of your bases covered. And don't forget to check out Christmas Tree Safety tips (1), if you missed this earlier article.

For this article, let's focus on Christmas lights, which are one of the biggest causes of house fires and electrical shocks during the holidays.

Make sure that you only use indoor lights for indoors and outdoor lights for outdoors. Some people will grab outdoor lights and use them indoors, thinking that they are sturdy and can be used indoors. But don't do this. Indoor and outdoor lights are each made differently and for those different purposes. Clearly label your lights or place them in separate containers for storage, so you know which lights are which. All Christmas lights should have the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) label.

Check your lights before you install them. Look for frayed cords, broken sockets, broken bulbs, loose wires, bare wires or loose connections. Replace any strands of lights that have a problem, no matter how minor.

Do not use more than three sets of lights on one extension cord. Place your extension cord against the wall, and tape it, to avoid the corn becoming a tripping hazard. Do not run cords under rugs. Not only can they cause someone to trip, but walking on the cord can damage it and lead to a fire.

Make sure to turn off all of your lights that are on your Christmas tree or indoor decorations whenever you leave the house or go to bed. You never know when a fire may start, so it is best to be safe. Older style lights and large bulbs are especially dangerous, because they can get very warm.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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