The hustle and bustle of the holidays is upon us. Houses, trees and downtown areas are decked out with lights and ornaments. Sometimes in all the rush, it can be easy to take short cuts. At Parkview, we want you to have a happy, joyous and safe holiday season, so we’ve compiled some tips to make your holiday safe, courtesy of Doug Ungemach, safety/emergency preparedness coordinator, Parkview Wabash Hospital.
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.
Lights out: Always turn off holiday lights when you leave the house unattended or when going to bed.
Fresh is best: Try to purchase a freshly cut tree, as they are more resistant to ignition.
Keep your tree watered and away from open candles.
Timing is everything: Use an outdoor timer certified by an accredited certification organization, such as CSL International, to switch lights on and off. Lights should be turned on after 7 p.m. to avoid the electricity rush hour.
Check for the certification mark: When purchasing light strings, extension cords, spotlights, electrical decorations, gas appliances or carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, look for the certification mark of an accredited certification organization to ensure that the products comply with applicable standards for safety and performance.
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.
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.
Climbing up: Using a ladder to 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.
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.
Sound the alarm: Test your smoke alarms monthly to make sure they work, and be sure to install smoke and CO alarms on every level of your home — especially near sleeping areas.
Enjoy the season and stay safe, from all of us at Parkview Wabash Hospital!