10 Christmas Holiday Safety Tips

​Well, the holidays are here again. And with the arrival of the season, come the tendencies to want to decorate. As you're sprucing up your home this Holiday Season, keep an eye out for some of these common mistakes, which can create fire hazards, and other safety shortfalls. Here's 10 important tips on how to keep your home and your family safe from fire and injury this Holiday Season.

​#1. Carefully inspect holiday lighting each year and discard any light strands with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders, or loose connections. When replacing bulbs, unplug the entire light string and be sure to match the voltage and the wattage to the original bulb.

#2. Always turn off the holiday lights when you leave the house unattended or when going to bed.

#3. Use an outdoor timer certified by CSA International to switch your lights on and off. Lights should only be turned on after 7 p.m. to avoid the electricity rush hour

#4. Purchase a freshly cut tree, as they are more resistant to ignition

#5. If you have a live Christmas Tree, keep it watered and away from open fireplaces and candles

#6. Never connect more than one extension cord together; instead use a single cord that is long enough to reach the outlet without stretching, but not so long that it can get easily tangled.

#7. Always use a GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) plugged in at the source. 

#8. When hanging outdoor lights, keep electrical connectors off the ground and away from metal rain gutters. Use insulated tape or plastic clips instead of metal nails or tacks to hold them in place.

#9. Using a ladder when you put up lights? Choose the correct type of ladder for the job and double check for it for proper certification and rating. Inspect ladders thoroughly before each use. And make certain to use fall protection when working at heights.

#10. Test your smoke alarms monthly to make sure they work and be sure to install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home -- especially near sleeping areas

With just a little bit of planning and a little attention to common household Christmas hazards can help ensure that this Christmas Season goes off without any hick-ups. All of us at Kelley Integrity Safety Solutions hope this year's Holiday Season is truly one to remember.