With Thanksgiving just a couple of weeks away, many Longmont residents have already started to plan their holiday decorations. And by making sure to include safety in those plans, the season can truly be a joyful one, city officials said as Longmont Power & Communications (LPC) shared its annual decorating safety tips.
Decorating Christmas Tree
“Every year, this community outdoes itself with its beautiful and brilliant displays,” LPC interim executive director Darrell Hahn said. “We love to see all the wonderful ways that Longmont’s homes and businesses decorate for the season, and hope that these simple reminders help us all enjoy it in safety.”
Nationwide, there are about 160 decorating-related injuries per day during the holiday season, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The National Fire Protection Association also estimates that about 860 home fires are caused by holiday decorations each year with an additional 210 caused by Christmas trees.
To help prevent accidents, LPC suggested the following tips:
1) Lock your ladder in place when you put up decorations, face the ladder as you work and follow any instructions from the manufacturer. About half of decorating-related injuries result from falls. 2) Retire any decorations that have become worn – frayed wires start fires.
2) Retire any decorations that have become worn – frayed wires start fires.
3) Use indoor and outdoor extension cords in the right place, don’t overload them, and keep them away from standing water.
4) Don’t pinch electrical cords in a door or window or under furniture.
5) Keep your tree at least three feet from any space heaters, fireplaces, or other heat sources. 6) If you have an unmetered porch light from the City, don’t plug your decorations into it – that beautiful display can burn out the small fuse.
LPC also had some additional advice for homes that have a pedestal light, the small “lamp posts” that also contain an electric meter:
1) Avoid wrapping lights around the body of the pedestal light; it makes it difficult for meter technicians to open the door for
repairs or maintenance.
2) Never cover the meter window (it makes the meter hard to read) or the photocell, which can cause the light to stay on during the day.
3) Older pedestal lights may have outlets, which should have a locked or sealed flap protecting them. Do not open the flap or use the outlet.
4) The lamp’s LED bulb should not be replaced with a tinted one. The bulbs are chosen for long life and effective illumination of the neighborhood.
“We hope everyone has fun and stays safe,” Hahn said. “We’re looking forward to seeing just how dazzling Longmont can be this year!”