Dazzling Lights - Hidden Danger!

If your like me, you feel like a big kid at Christmas time and love to cover your house and workplace in Christmas lights. Then you need to take a moment to check this out. 

Every year fire fighters are called to fires as a result of faulty or poorly installed Christmas lights. So if you have already installed them its time to check they are installed safely if you plan to start here!

Getting Started

• Check cords, bulbs and plugs for signs of damage before you plug them in
• Turn the power off before replacing bulbs
• Don’t overload power points or power boards
• If your home doesn’t have a safety switch, use a power board with one built in
• Turn your lights off before leaving home or going to bed
• Don’t move or adjust lights while they’re switched on 
• Make sure you have a working smoke detector installed

Christmas Tree

• Lights should go on the tree first followed by other decorations, they should not touch each other.
• Keep tinsel and other decorations away from lights, electrical cords and connections
• Position your tree away from curtains and other flammable furnishings

Outdoor lights

• Only use lights specifically designed for outdoor use
• Attach lights to your home using tape, cable ties or clamps don't use nails
• Take care if you are working at heights or on a ladder
• Switch off your lights when it rains 
• Make sure joins in extension cords aren’t exposed to the weather
• Fully unroll extension cords to keep them from overheating
• Make sure your extension cords don’t create a trip hazard or run across driveways

Finally where possible always use low voltage lights, we have recently replaced all of our Christmas lighting with LED lights which are much safer and more cost effective!

Make sure your lights dazzle this Christmas and avert any hidden dangers by checking your lights today!

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