SDEA Encourages Homeowners to Safely Decorate for the Holidays
The San Diego Electrician’s Association (SDEA) is calling on homeowners to be aware of the safe practices in decorating for the holidays. Home fires due to electrical issues largely take place during the holiday season where electrical overloads are likely to happen. According to the SDEA one of the culprits of overloads are holiday decors that homeowners put up.
Citing government data on Holiday home fires, the SDEA says it is important that households become conscious of possible electrical issues that might spring up due to hazardous decors.
The Electrical Safety Foundation has shared staggering statistics on electrical fires and injuries that root from holiday decors.
“Holiday decoration and Christmas tree fires, in particular, are substantially more damaging than other fires. These fires result in twice the injuries and five times the fatalities per fire as the average winter holiday home fire. During 2004-2008, an average of 260 home fires each year started with Christmas trees. Another 150 home fires per year were caused by decorative and holiday lights.”
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Observing safe practices in decorating for the holiday season
The American Academy of Pediatrics has come up with safe decorating tips for households especially those with children. In their list of tips they mentioned that homeowners should check the decorations they have purchased, especially those that need electricity to ensure that they are safe to use.
“Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use. To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them. Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.”
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The SDEA says there is a lot that homeowners can do to prevent home fires during the holiday season. They can always consult their trusted electrician about safe decorating tips, and if their outdoor display will not cause electrical overloads. Moreover, they can ask for professional help in installing additional outlets in or out of their home.
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