With the holiday season upon us, it can be easy to get caught up in the festivities and forget about the basics! Let us help keep your hearth and home safe this year with these 12 simple tips!
1) Before you start decking the halls, inspect your decorations for wear and tear. Any damaged decorations should be discarded for safety.
2) Keep decorations at least 3 feet away from any heat source. And take extra caution around anything with an open flame, like a fireplace or candles.
3) When decorating inside, be careful not to run electrical cords under rugs or furniture. This can be a major fire hazard!
4) If you are using extension cords or adapters to increase your number of plugs, consider calling an electrician to add more outlets to your home.
5) Inside decorations are not waterproof by standard, so only decorate dry areas within your home!
6) If you have a real Christmas tree in your house, be sure to water it regularly. A dried-out tree is kindling for an accidental electrical fire!
7) Check your smoke detectors to ensure they’re working properly. Every home requires one on each level, including the basement.
8) Turn your outside lights and decorations off at night and when leaving the house. Or, set them up on a timer so they automatically turn on and off to your liking!
9) When charging your electronic devices, they should always be on a level surface like your nightstand, rather than between the sheets with you.
10) Take care to switch off your space heater before leaving the room.
11) Properly store batteries in their original packaging and out of reach of any children and pets. Talk about a dangerous choking hazard!
12) Get your loved ones the gift of safety this holiday! Many electrical fires can be prevented by installing an Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter to your breaker or outlets.
Following these few simple tips can both protect your home and give you peace of mind, for you and your kin! Have a safe yuletide & a happy new year!