[cs_content][cs_section parallax="false" style="margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;"][cs_row inner_container="true" marginless_columns="false" style="margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;"][cs_column fade="false" fade_animation="in" fade_animation_offset="45px" fade_duration="750" type="1/1" style="padding: 0px;"][cs_text]Many families have a tradition of putting up lights through their house and their tree. When you are setting up the decorative lights in your house be mindful for electrical safety.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International ESFI offers a number of resources and suggestions for selecting, installing, and maintaining your lighted decorations.[/cs_text][x_custom_headline level="h2" looks_like="h3" accent="false"]Purchasing[/x_custom_headline][cs_text]
- Always buy electrical equipment that displays a label indicating it has undergone independent testing by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Intertek (ETL), or Canadian Standards Association (CSA).
- Be sure to buy decorations according to your intended use outdoors or indoors.
- Consider Light-Emitting Diode (LED) over incandescent holiday lights: LED lights last up to 20 times longer than traditional incandescent lights, generate less heat, and are made with epoxy lenses, not glass and are much more durable. LEDs are initially more expensive, but will recover some of the cost through energy savings.
[/cs_text][x_custom_headline level="h2" looks_like="h3" accent="false"]Wrangling Those Cords[/x_custom_headline][cs_text]
- When using an extension cord, select a cord that is long enough to meet your needs. Never attempt to extend the length of an extension cord by connecting it with another extension cord.
- Should not nail or staple cords to the wall or baseboard which can damage the wire insulation.
- Never remove the ground pin (the third prong) to make a three-prong plug fit a two-prong outlet.
- Do not run extension cords through walls or ceilings. This may cause the cord to overheat, creating a fire hazard.
- Insert plugs fully so that no part of the prongs is exposed when the extension cord is in use.
[/cs_text][x_custom_headline level="h2" looks_like="h3" accent="false"]Packing It All Up[/x_custom_headline][cs_text]
- Holiday decorations are meant for temporary use. Leaving your decorations up for extended periods leaves wires unnecessarily exposed to the elements, which can decrease the product’s shelf life and increase the risk of electrical hazards.
- Always unplug decorations by using the gripping area. Pulling on the cord could damage the wire and present a shock or fire hazard.
- As you take down holiday lights, inspect the wiring and discard any that have cracked, frayed, or appear to have damaged wire insulation.
- Store electrical decorations in a dry area that is not accessible by children or pets.
[/cs_text][cs_text]Think Safety is the best way to have a wonderful holiday and be prepared to keep all family members safe from electrical danger. As for the holidays The Beating Heart Center provides first aid training for you as little as 25 dollars in making sure you are safe for the holidays. [/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]
