Safety First for Christmas Lights

It’s that time of year again; Christmas is in the air! Children are filled with excitement, stores are changing their display shelves to more festive holiday ware, and people are decorating both the interior and exterior of their homes. One of these decorations includes outdoor Christmas lights.

Yes, it wouldn’t be Christmas without the glow of brightly illuminated icicles hanging from the roof, or houses trimmed with green and red lights lending their beauty during the winter evenings. However, studies have shown that more accidents occur during the Christmas holiday due to hanging and arranging outdoor Christmas lights, than any other holiday season. To prevent tragedy from occurring, here are some things that you should do to lower your risk of injury due to faulty outdoor Christmas lights.

It is common practice to store Christmas decorations, including outdoor Christmas lights and use them the next season. This practice should be handled carefully to ensure everyone’s safety. First, when you are looking through your lights, especially those lights, which have been stored away, it is imperative to double-check them. You should look for any missing or broken bulbs and replace them before using.

Checking the wires is also an important step to take before using outdoor Christmas lights. Make sure that none of the strands are cut or frayed. If your lights are damaged, it is wise to throw them away and purchase a new pair. Your safety is worth much more than the cost of Christmas tree lights; your family’s well being should be a priority. When hanging lights, be sure that you use a ladder that is sturdy and durable. Secure the lights firmly to the structure you are decorating to prevent them being blown by heavy winds.

Many people like to string Christmas lights around outdoor trees. However, many experts disagree with this practice. If one of the lights becomes damaged it can cause the entire tree to become an electrical hotbed. There have been cases of people becoming injured from making physical contact with just a branch from the tree. Try using other lights (such as spot lights) aimed at the tree rather than stringing Christmas lights on the tree themselves.

Though you may be tempted to have the most splendid yard in the neighborhood, you should always turn off your outdoor Christmas lights before retiring for the evening. If the lights short out, they could cause a fire so it is best to ensure that all lights are turned off as a preventive and safety measure. Never connect more than three strands of Christmas lights to one extension cord.

In general, remember that children are very curious when you are hanging or displaying outdoor Christmas lights. Make sure that all of your lights are strung carefully and out of children’s reach. Secure all Christmas decorations so that children cannot easily access them as well. You may need to make sure that your gate is locked when you are not home to prevent any curious onlookers from entering your property. Remember to always turn off your Christmas lights when you are not home.

By implementing these safety standards you can ensure that your holiday will not only be joyous and merry, but safe as well.

Tags: christmas lights

Anticipating Santa, Part 3: Christmas & Halloween

When did Halloween become an adult holiday? I was invited, for the first time ever, to an adult Halloween party. No kids allowed. No trick or treating. No candy. Just serious adult Halloween celebration.

What does that actually mean?

Dressing up, of course. And adult Halloween celebration means serious costuming.

After days of discussing it with my wife we have decided on the best of all costumes: I’ll be Santa and she’ll be Mrs. Claus.

We are, after all, the ultimate Christmas freaks. We hang out lights (thousands of them) starting in September. Our tree is the first to go up and the last to come down. We actually go Christmas caroling. We hang stockings, track Santa Claus and put Christmas marshmallows in our Christmas cocoa.

I was tickled recently to see an obvious connection between Halloween and Christmas. Seems that in the old days wassailing was all the holiday rage. In that old world tradition folks would go house to house drinking and singing and seeking treats — all in the name of celebrating Christmas. So of course I can dress up as Santa for Halloween. They go together like peas and carrots.

Besides, everybody loves Santa. I’ve already tried on my costume, you see. A little stroll around the neighborhood brought fans out from all over. Of course, I was approached by every living thing under four feet in height. But I was also equally popular amongst the adults, too. Women hugged me and even men asked to sit on my lap.

I’m going to be the hit of the adult Halloween party. I just know it. Everybody loves the Big Guy and wants a piece of him. Santa, you see, is a serious fantasy for more that just those with sugar plums dancing in their head or for those playing the part for a Halloween party.

Evidently, there are people out there now who want to apply for work at the north pole and wear the red suit. For real.

The mail coming to the north pole now in advance of the season often includes such merry job seekers, Elf Hugo tells me. More than any other question that is asked there is one that is most commonly posed: just what does it take to become an elf and might I have a shot at becoming Santa himself?

Every CEO has people who want to take their job. Even Santa, I suppose.

Hugo says Santa spends a lot of time on this kind of mail. He knows he cannot answer it all. But he does help folks as much as he can. Next week, I’ll share a little more about Santa’s mailing practices as he attempts to reach believers one-on-one.