Each year, fires occurring during the holiday season claim the lives of more than 400 people in the United States and cause nearly $1 billion in damage, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
Be safe this holiday season. Take these simple steps to reduce the chance of an accident in your home:
- Before putting up your holiday lights, inspect them for frayed wires, bare spots, broken or cracked plugs and excessive wear. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
- Do not link more than three light strands unless the directions indicate it is safe to do so. Connect strings of lights to a power strip before plugging the strip into an outlet. Periodically check that the wires are not warm to the touch.
- Do not leave holiday lights on unattended.