Nearly every household uses extra electricity during the holidays—for cooking, decorating and heating. Take extra care to use electricity safely and to ask family members and houseguests to do the same.
Some tips:
Stay in the kitchen when broiling or doing any stovetop cooking.
Keep children well away from kitchen appliances while in use.
Keep towels, pot holders and curtains away from hot surfaces.
Don’t overload electrical outlets. A power strip does not add any extra juice to the electrical circuit that powers the outlet.
Check decorative lights for damaged cords, plugs and sockets. Replace anything that’s frayed, cracked or broken. Buy cords that are certified by UL Solutions or another certified lab.
Don’t run extension cords under rugs, carpets or baseboards—or anywhere they can be a tripping hazard.
Only use decorations and cords outdoors that are properly rated for outdoor use.
When you put up outdoor decorations, do not string lights in trees near power lines.
Fasten outdoor lights carefully and securely with clips—never staples, nails or tacks.=
Keep lights away from decorative metal trees.
Keep light strings and other decorations away from pets so they don’t get tangled in them or chew the wires.
Keep decorations—and everything else—at least three feet away from heat sources such as fireplaces and space heaters.
Always turn off your decorations when you leave home and when you go to sleep.
Make sure smoke detectors are present and working properly.
Use space heaters properly and safely. Keep them out of high-traffic areas and at least three feet from anything that can burn.
Turn off space heaters and unplug them when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Never leave an open flame, including your fireplace or a candle, unattended.
