The holidays are a time for happiness, festivities, and family time. It may, nevertheless, also pose certain safety risks. There are numerous possible risks that could make a joyous celebration a disaster, ranging from cooking to decorating.
Holiday decorations and sparkling lights can provide the perfect festive touch to combat the winter blues. However, these same objects may potentially provide a fire risk. To make sure you can spend the holidays safely, consider these tips.
Before installing
- For both indoor and outdoor lights, take the time to untangle and examine the quality of your extension cables and light strings. Replace any that are frayed, worn, or otherwise damaged.
- Choose energy-efficient, more recent CSA-certified lights, and take into account LED lights for trees because they emit less heat.
- Make sure to turn off or unplug from the main electricity source before replacing any burned-out or damaged bulbs.
Plug in safely
- Make sure your exterior outlets are weather-protected and grounded, and that any lights you wish to install outside are designed for outdoor use.
- Make sure your cords are as dry as possible, high, and out of the way of water and snow. An extension cord that becomes wet might cause fire or electric shock.
- Keep your electrical outlets from becoming overloaded. Before plugging in any high-draw devices, such as space heaters or other small appliances, make sure to verify the available amperage, distribute electronics across your house to draw from various circuits, and think about using surge protectors.
Unplug mindfully
- Enjoy the lights, but only while you’re awake and at home. Purchasing a timer or unplugging before bed or leaving the house can help you conserve electricity and keep your house secure.
- Extra caution should be used by anyone decorating a real holiday tree. In Canada, 200 fires are started by Christmas trees each year, and the risk rises as the tree dries out.
- Don’t let anything fool you. Many of us use extra heating appliances to stay warm as the weather becomes worse. Avoid leaving them unsupervised, keep them away from clothing, blankets, and holiday trees, and unplug them when not in use.
You can safely enjoy a little additional sparkle all winter long with these tips, in addition to typical fire precautions like having a functional fire alarm system and an easily accessible fire extinguisher.
Learn more at: https://newscanada.com/en/tips-to-avoid-a-holiday-safety-disaster-139532
Reference: https://newscanada.com/
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