It’s the season of good cheer and festive gatherings, complete with decorations, lighting, trees and more. While these things help set a jolly holiday tone, they also pose hidden dangers. These tips can help you keep your family and home safe.
As you're sprucing up your home this season, keep an eye out for these common holiday trip-ups, fire hazards, and other safety snafus.
1. Merry and Bright
Carefully inspect holiday light strings each year and discard any with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders, or loose connections. When replacing bulbs, unplug the light string and be sure to match voltage and wattage to the original bulb.2. Lights Out
Always turn off holiday lights when you leave the house unattended or when going to bed.3. Fresh Is Best
Try to purchase a freshly cut tree, as they are more resistant to ignition. Keep your Christmas tree watered and away from open candles.4. Timing Is Everything
Use an outdoor timer certified by CSA International to switch lights on and off. Lights should be turned on after 7 p.m. to avoid the electricity rush hour.5. Check for the Certification Mark
When purchasing light strings, extension cords, spotlights, electrical decorations, gas appliances, or carbon monoxide alarms, look for the certification mark of an accredited certification organization such as CSA International, UL, or ELT to ensure that the products comply with applicable standards for safety and performance.6. One and Done
Never connect more than one extension cord together; instead use a single cord that is long enough to reach the outlet without stretching, but not so long that it can get easily tangled.7. The Great Outdoors
When hanging outdoor lights, keep electrical connectors off the ground and away from metal rain gutters. Use insulated tape or plastic clips instead of metal nails or tacks to hold them in place.8. Climbing Up
Using a ladder when you put up lights? Choose the correct ladder for the job and double check for a certification mark to ensure your portable ladder complies with applicable standards.9. Keep the Gas Behind Glass
Do not use your gas fireplace if the glass panel is removed, cracked, or broken, and only allow a qualified service person to replace fireplace parts.10. Sound the Alarm
Test your smoke alarms monthly to make sure they work, and be sure to install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home -- especially near sleeping areas.11. Filter-Friendly Furnace
To help prevent CO hazards in your home, have a qualified heating contractor perform a yearly maintenance check of your furnace and venting system, and clean or replace your furnace filter frequently during the heating seasons.12. Clean the Clutter
Do not store combustible materials such as gasoline, propane, paper, chemicals, paint, rags, and cleaning products near your gas furnace. Gasoline or propane cylinders should be stored outside the home.13. Security
While you’re busy enjoying holiday events, criminals are busy watching your home. So be extra careful about locking doors and windows when you leave home. You should also:- Leave a radio or TV on so it looks like someone is home.
- Keep indoor lights on a timer.
- Not openly display gifts in front of windows.
- Ask someone to pick up your mail or newspaper if you’ll be gone for longer periods.
- Not hide the spare key in obvious places. Burglars know to look under doormats, rocks, flowerpots and above the door.
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