(Estherville)– Many people will use the extended holiday weekend to put up Christmas lights and decorations. Terry Bruns of Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative in Estherville urges everyone to exercise safety when doing so and offers several tips.
Bruns says you should be sure not to overload electrical outlets; closely examine electrical cords for any signs of fraying or nicks or cuts; and use outlets that have ground fault indicators for items in high moisture areas or near water.
Other tips: make sure your lights or decorations are safety certified with the UL or CSA label; keep decorations and ladders away from overhead electrical lights and power lines; and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how many strings of lights can be safely connected together.
You should also be sure to unplug lights when you go to bed at night or if you’re going to be away. Using a timer is also a good idea. Don’t leave extension cords in the open or at levels where small children or pets can come in contact or chew on them; and don’t run extension cords across sidewalks or driveways. Also, don’t use metal staples or nails as fasteners for lights. They can damage the protective insulation covering the wires, possibly causing a short.
When it comes to Christmas tree shopping, select a tree that’s nice and green that has needles that bend but don’t break. When you get the tree home cut a notch in the trunk a couple of inches or so high. Then be sure to put it in some water and make sure it has plenty of water at all times.
