Brighten The Holiday Season with Safety in Mind

With the holidays fast approaching, Rock Energy Cooperative would like to remind you to not let the bright and colorful sparkle of the season distract you from taking the precautions that you need to stay safe when decorating. So, before you begin decking the halls, please keep in mind these useful tips on safe holiday decorating.

• If you are decorating with an artificial tree, make sure you choose one with fi re resistance protection. With a real tree, make sure that the needles are green and sturdy with a trunk that is sticky with resin. These are indicators that your tree is well-hydrated. Keep your tree stand filled with water so that the tree does not become overly dry and present a fire hazard.
• Make sure the lights you’re using are rated for the location in which they will be used — whether indoors or outside. Before hanging your lights, check the strands for broken bulbs as well as fraying or bare wires that could present electrical hazards. Always replace damaged products.
• If you use an extension cord, never run it (or any other cord) under carpets, through doorways, or where they could be damaged by furniture. Also make sure it is rated for outdoor use if that is where you are using it.
• When decorating outside, always be sure to look up and double check that you and any equipment, such as a ladder or a light strand, are a minimum 10 feet away from overhead power lines. When securing light strands, never staple or nail them into place, as this could damage the product.
• Never place your tree near to heat-emitting devices, such as space heaters or radiators, which can become fi re hazards. All lights should have a label indicating that they have been certified by an accredited independent testing laboratory.
• Outdoor lights and decorations should be plugged into an outlet with ground fault circuit interrupter protection. GFCIs are inexpensive electrical devices that can be installed in a home’s electrical system or built into a power cord to protect against electrical shock. A GFCI constantly monitors the flow of electricity through a circuit and will shut the circuit down if it senses a ground fault.
• Be sure to turn off all lights before leaving your home or going to sleep. A timer can help you do this.