Holiday lights are a festive and beautiful way to enjoy the holiday season. However, when it comes to tree lights, there are always going to be some risks present. That’s why we’ve compiled our tried and true holiday safety tips.
According to The National Fire Protection Association every 24 seconds, a fire department in the United States responds to a fire somewhere in the nation. If a fire does occur, it is possible to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance agent.
This process will include documenting what happened and determining the amount of damages. Also, if you are negligent by using unsafe methods for lighting your home, you may responsible for the damage.
Do you have the proper coverage in place?
Here are a few holiday safety tips to keep you safe this season:
- Check your ladder: Make sure the rungs are not broken and you do not exceed the weight limit. It’s NOT a good idea to use a ladder alone. Use the 4 to 1 rule: for every 4 feet of height you have to climb, move the base of the ladder one foot away from the wall. Also, have someone hold the base of the ladder.
- Burn candles safely: Make sure candles are not placed near anything that can catch fire such as decorations, furniture, curtains and trees.
- Check the lights before hanging: Toss any frayed or damaged lights. Use as directed. There is a big difference between indoor and outdoor lights. Make sure that you are using the proper light fixtures in the environment that they were made for.
- Be careful with extension cords: Make sure you have sufficient quantity of and length of grounded extension cords. Do not overload the cords with more wattage than they are designed to accommodate.
- Replace your bulbs: It’s important to replace damaged bulbs right away. It is not safe to have light strings plugged in with empty sockets. Make sure the replacement bulbs are the correct wattage.
- Stay in the kitchen when something is cooking: Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires.
- Keep trees fresh by watering daily.
- Do not overload electrical outlets.
Have questions about holiday safety? Get in touch today.