New Brunswick Burn Injury Lawyers: Holiday Decorating Safety

One of the things that makes the winter holidays so special is the tradition of decorating our homes and yards with lights and decorations. According to an ESFI consumer survey, over 85 percent of Americans decorate their homes for the holidays. However, holiday lights can pose a serious risk of fire and electrical injuries if appropriate safety precautions are not taken.

Here are some tips for safely decorating your home over the holidays.

• Read the manufacturer’s instructions for all decorations and accessories, including extension cords and power strips. Follow all recommended guidelines to avoid overloading circuitry.

• Check holiday lights for frayed wires or cracks.

• Make sure that every socket on a strand of lights has a bulb.

• When putting lights on your house, keep ladders and decorations far away from overhead power lines.

• When attaching lights to walls or roofing, do not hammer nails directly into the cord. Use clips to attach the lights to your home.

• Make sure that all lights are approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). All light up or motorized decorations should have tags clearly displaying the “UL” insignia. Note that Red “UL” marks mean lights are indoor/outdoor. Green “UL” marks mean that lights can only be safely used indoors.

• Use heavy-duty extension cords.

• Plug outdoor inflatables and lights into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI).

• Avoid using old-fashioned flame candles—candles start almost half of all holiday fires.

• Try not to over-decorate your home. Clutter combined with overloaded electrical sockets is a dangerous combination.

• Put lights on a timer before going to bed to avoid overheating.

• Make sure that indoor lights do not touch any fabric, drapes, furniture, or carpeting.

• Place safety caps on all electrical outlets if you will have children in your house over the holidays.

• If you have an artificial tree, make sure that it is fire resistant.

• If you are using a live tree, make sure that it is fresh and watered. Dry trees are notorious fire hazards.

New Brunswick Burn Injury Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Pursue Compensation for Victims of Fires and Burn Injury

It is easy to become wrapped up in the joy of the holidays, and forget to ensure that our homes are safe from fire hazards. If you have suffered a burn injury due to another’s negligence, the experienced New Brunswick burn injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr can help. We have extensive experience in determining the cause of the fire, whether it is a faulty light manufacturer, or negligent neighboring tenant. Protect your rights by calling us today at 732-537-8570. You can also contact us online. With offices located in Middlesex County, New Jersey, we proudly serve injured victims throughout the region.