The festive season is upon us! We are pleased to receive the grace of the holiday season, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or all four.
It’s easy to get caught up in the celebrations, and when you’re busy decorating your house, we frequently overlook the safety precautions since we’re in such a joyful attitude.
Many of us do a lot of decorating, both inside and outside. As you begin to decorate the tree and deck the halls, it is critical to ensure that your Christmas traditions remain safe and healthy.
According to a recent survey, over the years ‘2011 to 2015,’ US fire departments responded to an estimated average of 840 house structure fires per year that originated with decorations, excluding Christmas trees.
In addition, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported 15,000 accidents connected to Christmas decorations in 2012.
Here are some ideas to keep your house secure this holiday season to guarantee you enjoy a safe, healthy, and joyful holiday season with your friends and family.
Table of Contents
When Using Candles, Observe Caution
According to the US Fire Administration, two out of every five houses had fires caused by decorating candles, and these incidents were at their peak on Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
When you leave the house, make sure to blow them out and keep them as far away from your décor as possible. Another option is to convert from traditional real candles to flameless candles.
Keep Your Tree In Good Condition.
A genuine Christmas tree smells and looks wonderful, but it takes a huge amount of maintenance.
Keep it in a safe location, keep it hydrated, keep it away from heat, and make sure the lights you hang on it are in fine condition.
Furthermore, a dried-out tree might catch fire faster than an adequately hydrated tree. So, to guarantee appropriate hydration, check the water level every day.
Keeping this in mind, always choose a green tree that does not dry out fast, providing you a decent return on investment.
Keep A Close Watch On The Lighting.
Use only lights that have been safely evaluated by a nationally recognized Testing Laboratory, such as UL or ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories). Additionally, lights with the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) label would have passed certain safety criteria.
A green label indicates that the lights are intended for indoor use, but a red label indicates that the lights may be used both inside and outdoors. Lights with damaged or cracked sockets, frayed or exposed wires, or loose connections should always be replaced. Electric lights should never be used on a metallic tree. Because it may be charged with electricity from defective lights, and anyone who comes into contact with it can be electrocuted. Throw away the damaged ones, and never put your safety at risk.
To ensure safety, take the help of experienced outdoor lighting services who can design outdoor lighting spaces according to your custom needs.
Limit Extension Cords
During the holidays, we will all be using extension cords, so please be extra cautious. These extension cords not only cause power overloads, but they may also create tripping hazards throughout your home.
So, when you leave the house or go to bed, make sure you turn out all the lights. Because these lights have the potential to produce a short and cause a fire. String lights via hooks or insulated staples rather than nails or tacks to keep them in place. To remove lights, never pull or tug on them. If you’re going to utilize an extension cord, be sure it’s rated for the job.
Be Safe When Installing Decorations
Before you begin putting decorations, make certain that you have checked all of the safety regulations, which includes reading all of the labels and cautions.
Be extremely cautious when climbing a ladder to hang lights, whether indoors or outside. Wear traction-enhancing shoes and make sure you have someone covering or spotting you. Because the last thing anyone wants to do over the holidays is end up in the emergency room.
You may always ask your neighbors for help if you don’t have the necessary materials. Also, in the enthusiasm of cramming as many decorations as possible into your home, it’s all too simple to accidentally obstruct a doorway or exit.
Final Thoughts
Always keep in mind that in an emergency, every second counts. Make sure that your decorations do not obstruct your path or exit so that you may leave your home swiftly and effortlessly.
Follow all of the safety precautions listed above, and you will be able to enjoy your vacations with a greater sense of security.