Empire District Electric Company is urging people to take down their Christmas lights and holiday decorations during the first week of January to avoid serious dangers of electrical shock and fire over time.
“Perhaps you enjoy the sight of the decorative displays, or you simply don’t seem to find the time to remove them,” said Emily Stanley, spokeswoman for Empire District. “Regardless of the reason, by keeping decorations up for extended periods of time, you may increase the risk of electrical hazards, such as shock and electrocution.”
Stanley said holiday decorations are intended for short term temporary use only. Keeping decorations up for weeks, or months, at a time leaves wires unnecessarily exposed to the elements, increasing the danger of electrical shock and fire.
She added the Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends taking down, inspecting and storing all decorations during the first week of January in order to make sure they are safe for next season.
Stanley also advised people use the following guidelines to stay safe while removing and storing holiday decorations:
• Use the gripping area of the plug when unplugging lights and appliances. Yanking or tugging onto the cord could damage the wires and insulation, possibly leading to an electrical shock or fire;
• Separate outdoor from indoor decorations. Label them accordingly.
• Discard faulty or broken lights;
• Store decorations away from children, pets and water.
• Make sure all electrical lights, toys and appliances bear the seal of a nationally recognized certification agency, such as Underwriters Laboratories;
• Send warranty and product registration forms to manufacturers so that they can notify you promptly in case of a recall;
• Check to make sure all electrical cords are in good condition and are not frayed or cracked;
• Inspect ladders for loose or missing screws, hinges, nuts and bolts;
• Post-holiday sales are a great time to purchase fire extinguishers and smoke detectors.
Joplin, Mo. —
