Be safe when decorating with lights

Holiday lights can look great on the tree and adorning a home's exterior, but safety should be at the top of the list when decorating.

During the holidays, many people put themselves at increased risk of fire and electrocution.

Each year holiday decorations and Christmas trees account for almost 2,000 fires and cause more than $41 million in property damage.

Many of these fires could be prevented.

Almost a quarter of all Christmas tree fires are started because a tree was placed too close to a heat source.

According to a recent study by the Electrical Safety Foundation International, more than 20 percent of Americans do not take the simple step of turning off lighted decorations before going to bed.

Follow this important safety advice when decorating for the season.

•First read and follow the manufacturer's instructions concerning installation and maintenance of all electrical decorations.

•Inspect each decoration before plugging it into an outlet.

Cracked, frayed or bare wires and loose connections may cause a serious electric shock or start a fire.

•Prevent shock by plugging outdoor decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters.

•Avoid plugging in too many holiday lights and other decorations into a single outlet.

Overloaded outlets can overheat and cause a fire.

•Be careful not to mount or hang light strands in any way that might damage the cord's insulation.

•Use only lights and electrical decorations that have been certified by a recognized independent testing laboratory such as UL, CSA or ETL.

•Before using electrical products outdoors, make sure the product is approved and marked "for outdoor use."

•Send warranty and product registration forms to manufacturers.

That way, consumers can be notified promptly in case of a recall or safety concerns.

•Turn lights and other decorations off when leaving or going to bed.

Good safety habits are still the best prevention against electrical hazards all year long.

For more holiday electrical safety information, visit ESFI at www.holidaysafety.org.

This story is provided by State Point Media.