Safety and Cost Savings Tips for the Holiday Season

While I realize I should have written this blog a month ago, I hope it is still valuable in 2020 and for years to come.

Your Tree

Artificial Trees

Make sure you purchase one that is tested and labeled as fire resistant
Select pre-lit trees that have been certified with the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) mark or ETL (Intertek)
Each light string should have the UL mark near the plug. Green means approved for indoor use and red indicates outdoor use.

Real Trees

Look for a well hydrated tree and be sure to keep it watered
Make sure your tree stand is big enough to hold enough water to keep your tree healthy
A sticky sappy tree indicates a healthy tree

General Tree Safety Tips

Inspect light strings for frayed or loose wires before hanging
Remember that it isn’t just the tree starting a fire, but how fast a tree can accelerate a fire from another source
Don’t have candles near your tree and make sure candles are displayed safely and never left unattended
Turn off all tree lights and holiday decorations when you go to bed at night or leave the house
When purchasing lights or other decorations, make sure you send in any warranty info so you are notified immediately of any product recalls
Make sure you purchase any electrical holiday decorations from reputable retailers
Don’t overload outlets
Don’t put cords under rugs or furniture

Cost Savings Tips

LED lights are more expensive but they last 20 times longer
Artificial trees cost 70% less over 10 years according to the American Christmas Tree Association
Purchase lights, trees and decorations AFTER Christmas when everything is on sale!
Here are some fun Christmas decoration savings tips

Childproofing for the Holidays

Decorations

Make sure electrical cords are out of the way of children and supervise small children carefully around Christmas trees and electrical cords
Cover unused outlets with proper safety covers
Make sure tiny ornaments and metal hooks are kept on the top of the tree and out of the reach of small children as they can pose a choking hazard
Also try to keep glass or breakable ornaments toward the top of the tree
Be aware that strings of garland, lights or other decorations can be a strangulation hazard
Try the battery operated candles for a safe lit look
Pay attention to any age recommendations on large decorations such as trains or moving santa’s

While I’m sticking to home issues, check out 8 Tips to Help You Pick Out Safe Christmas Gifts for Kids

Outdoor Decorating

Just like with indoor lights, inspect them for damage and missing bulbs
Outdoor lights should have the same UI labels as indoor lights and will be marked red
Don’t hammer nails or tacks into cords when hanging lights – using clips is the safest
Only use outdoor extension cords and lights
Don’t overload extension cords – Only 3 light strings per cord is recommended
Use proper GFCI protocol – it is against code to use non GFCI outlets for outdoor lights (read more about GFCI Safety)
Be safe when using a ladder to hang lights and decorations – be sure it is on sturdy ground and don’t get it near power lines
Keep all outdoor decorations away from power lines
Turn off lights when you go to bed or put them on a timer

General Holiday Safety

Have an up to date fire extinguisher in a easy to find place and make sure everyone in the house knows how to use it
Check all smoke detectors and Carbon Monoxide alarms
Make sure you keep walkways, driveways and stairs shoveled and iced as to prevent and slip and falls
Be sure your fireplace flue is clean and never leave fires unattended
Don’t drink and drive and make sure your guests are safe to drive as well

For a more on how to have a happy and healthy holiday, read Holiday Safety Tips: A Comprehensive Resource

I hope these safety tips help keep your family safe during this holiday season and for many more to come. From my family to yours, Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas and Your Home