Lifetime of Safety - November 2008

Lifetime of Safety

Additional Lifetime of Safety Resources

Oncor Tips to Survive the Holidays

Lifetime of Safety gives 10 easy-to-follow guidelines for decorating indoors and out.

Across Texas, stores are getting out displays of new items for approaching holiday season. Before you head out to purchase new decorations or start unpacking the ones from last year (and the year before that and even the year before that), go over Oncor's tips for a safe holiday season.

Ignoring electrical safety rules or thinking, "That won't happen to me," can result in home fires, electrical shock and even death. Following these tips adds only minutes onto your holiday to-do list and can help save your home and your family's lives:

  1. First things first—check light strands, extension cords and any holiday decorations with an electrical cord for fraying, cracks or cuts along the cord. If any damage is found, do not use it.
  2. Plug in the light strands before hanging to check for missing or burnt out bulbs. If any bulbs need to be replaced, be sure the replacement is of equal or lesser wattage than that recommended by the manufacturer.
  3. Never use electric lights on a metal tree and do not use candles on any tree.
  4. Don't overload electric outlets with lights or decorations or run extension cords under rugs, carpets or furniture where they can overheat.
  5. Never connect more than three strands of lights together and never string extension cords together.
  6. Before starting to decorate outdoors, check the tags on the lights and extension rating. Only use decorations outdoors that are specifically rated for outdoor use.
  7. When using ladders to hang lights and decorations, always make sure to have a spotter with you and always check for low, overhead power lines when walking with or standing on ladders.
  8. If you use spotlights to highlight decorations, keep then well-ventilated and was from anything flammable.
  9. Keep dry leaves swept away from outdoor lighting, outlets and power cords to avoid a fire hazard.
  10. Unplug all holiday lights when going to sleep or leaving home. Not only does this save energy, it also keeps your home and family safe from accidental fires.

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