Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

Follow the guidelines below to keep your home, family and guests safe this holiday season.

• Select decorations made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible materials.
• Inspect electrical decorations before using them and replace any that are damaged.
• Keep trees (both live and synthetic) at least 3 feet from heating sources – especially fireplaces.
• Never leave lit candles unattended.
• Never use more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
• Consider using LED lights, which use less energy than incandescent bulbs and emit less heat, making them safer to touch and to use on trees.
• Keep all extension cords and light strings clear of snow and standing water.
• If using a ladder to decorate, carry it parallel to the ground to prevent it coming into contact with power lines, and keep yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet from lines.
• Turn off all decorations before going to bed or leaving your home.