News

The days are counting down until family and friends arrive for holiday celebrations. There may be a number of items left on your “to do” list before the decorating is complete and you are ready to entertain guests, but be sure to keep safety at the top of that list at all times.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), more than 14,000 people in 2019 were treated in emergency rooms due to injuries related to holiday decorating.

These simple safety tips can help keep your family safe this holiday season:

• Carefully inspect each electrical decoration. Cracked sockets, frayed, bare wires and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire.
• Always unplug electrical decorations before replacing bulbs or fuses.
• Be mindful where you place extension cords to avoid potential tripping hazards. Never run extension cords under rugs or furniture.
• Turn off all indoor and outdoor electrical decorations before leaving home or going to bed. Use a timer to help control your lights.
• Plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent electric shock.
• Before using any electrical decorations outdoors, make sure products are approved for outdoor use.
• Use ENERGY STAR qualified LED products instead of incandescent light strands.
• Always look for the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or other testing agency label when shopping for new electronic devices.
• Place fresh-cut trees away from heat sources such as fireplaces or space heaters. Water fresh-cut trees frequently.

For more information on electrical safety, visit SafeElectricity.org.

From all of us at Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative, we wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season. May it be merry, bright … and safe.