Holiday safety, photo: APS
Outside, if you’re still putting up holiday lights, make sure your ladder is stable and fully functional. Have someone at the bottom of the ladder to help steady it and spot you when you’re climbing and descending.
“When stringing lights, use a dry wooden or fiberglass ladder and be sure to stay away from overhead power lines,” Haberlein says. Aluminum ladders conduct electricity.
“Avoid stringing any outdoor lighting or electrical cords where the water from irrigation or sprinklers may be present. Water and electricity do not mix and can cause serious injury or even death in these conditions.”
And, use only strings of outdoor lights, spotlights, sockets and three-pronged extension cords approved by the Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL). Ensure, too, they are not frayed or damaged, Haberlein says.
GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupters) reduce the risk of electrical shock, so make sure that this protection is provided for outdoor outlets. Test the GFCIs this month and every month (Test and Reset buttons are built in) to make sure they’re working properly.
If GFCI receptacles are not available, you can use portable GFCI equipment. “The Consumer Product Safety Commission advises that more than two-thirds of the 300 annual electrocutions nationwide could be prevented with the use of GFCI protection,” she says.
Relatedly, use more than one circuit to avoid overloading household wiring and follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for the number of light strings that can be connected safely.
Think sustainably, too, as you celebrate the season: Use LED (light-emitting diode) holiday lights; they run much cooler than their traditional counterparts, are less of a fire risk and use much less energy.
Inside, your home should have a smoke detector on every level and outside every sleeping area. Have smoke detectors installed properly and tested to ensure they are in working condition.
Also, have at least one Class ABC extinguisher placed in an easily accessible area. An extinguisher with an ABC classification puts out all three types of fires: combustible-liquid; wood, paper and cloth; and electrical.
“It is important to check the pressure in the extinguisher every month and refill or replace if it’s low,” Haberlein explains. “Know how to properly use the extinguisher.”
And, of course, turn off holiday lights before going to sleep or leaving the house unattended. Hardware and other stores have inexpensive appliance timers to help you manage holiday lights.
Have a safe and happy holiday season.
Arizona Structures (azstructures.com) serves the East Valley, Arcadia, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. This is the final of a 10-part series on your home and was assisted by David M. Brown (azwriter.com).
