Christmas Light Hanging Safety
When hanging Christmas lights, the three main problems to avoid are falling, electric shocks and fires. In Europe, in 2002, more than 300 people received hospital treatment after being injured while hanging Christmas lights, and the U.S. Fire Administration reports that of all the residential fires that occur per year due to home decorations, more than 25 percent occur in December. With a few preventive measures, you can hang your lights safely and successfully. Does this Spark an idea?
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Choosing Your Lights
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Buy your lights from a reputable dealer, not from a dollar store. Keep in mind that filament bulbs aren't as safe as low-voltage LED lights. Make sure the lights are appropriate for outdoor use, and follow all the caution instructions on the package.
Inspect the lights visually before you hang them, checking for defective wires; discard strings that have defective wiring. Make sure you are plugging the lights into an outlet that can handle the cumulative wattage of the light strings.
Hanging Lights on the Tree
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A Christmas tree can be set ablaze in seconds by faulty wires. Electrical lights that short-circuit, along with open flames, cause 200 American Christmas trees every year to start house fires, leading to an average of six deaths and 25 injuries, says the U.S. Fire Administration. You can lessen the chances of your tree catching fire from the lights, it suggests, by keeping the base of the tree adequately watered throughout its time in your home.
Also avoid hanging lights on dry trees outdoors.
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Hanging and Replacing Bulbs
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If you must replace a broken bulb, wear rubber gloves. Use plastic clips to hang the lights to outside walls and gutters, since staples and nails can damage the lights' insulation and create an electrical hazard. Don't hang the lights on a rainy day.
Stabilizing the Ladder
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Be careful when using ladders to reach high places. If your eaves are high, get an extension ladder and put it on flat ground, leaning against the eaves at an angle that will be comfortable. Dan Vendervort, author of the "Home Tips" website, suggests that the distance from the wall to the ladder's base should be roughly one-quarter the length of the ladder. He also recommends extending the ladder "well above the eaves" (at least two rungs), and says that if you must lean the ladder against a gutter, you should reinforce the gutter with a plank of wood. Have someone hold the ladder firmly for you, while you are climbing and when you descend.
Climbing Safety
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To avoid falling, Vendervort warns against leaning out to one side as you climb a ladder: your weight should be centered and your hips between the rails. Don't stand on the top two rungs.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit christmas lights image by Cindy Haggerty from Fotolia.com christmas tree image by Lisa Turay from Fotolia.com house with ladder image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
