Page 6 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 131
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6 Issue #131 December 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com
Cornwall Fire Services with Deputy Chief Leighton Woods
Nothing says the holiday season quite like a nice drive around town to admire all the gorgeous lights.
Before you start decorating your own home with holiday lights, make sure that the ones you buy have the mark of an accredited
certification agency. You should also check the most recent recalls of products to ensure that you’re not buying something that
could put you and your family at risk.
Always make sure that you choose the right lights for the job. Some light strings are for indoor use only. If you buy lights that
are only supposed to be used indoors, make sure that you only use them… indoors.
Dispose of any light strings or extension cords that are frayed, have exposed wires, loose connections of broken light sockets.
Don’t run any extension cords through doorways — where they may be pinched — or under carpets, where they may overheat.
I I I know that it might be tempting to cover your entire house with lights but be sure to avoid plugging too many of them into an outlet. Overloaded
circuits can overheat and start a fire.
Another safety tip I always recommend is to use ground fault circuit interrupters outlets when plugging in outdoor lights. You should also always turn
off your holiday lights when you go to bed or leave your home.
Speaking of the holidays, you can bet your bottom dollar that there are quite a few Christmas trees in quite a few living rooms right now.
Some of us still prefer having a real tree this holiday season. Although you’re free to do what you want, I must warn you — a real tree poses safety risks.
When choosing to buy a real tree, make sure that it’s fresh — you can tell if the needles are hard to pull off. Make sure to water the tree daily once
you bring it indoors to decorate.
When deciding on where to put your tree, always remember to keep it away from vents, stoves, radiators, burning candles and of course, fireplaces.
In controlled tests, fire researchers have found that a dry Christmas tree can become engulfed in flames in less than 10 seconds.
All this to say that I want you to be merry, but also safe this holiday season.
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