‘Tis the season to celebrate safely

Ready to get your jingle on and celebrate the holiday season? These tips will help you and your family safely enjoy the most wonderful time of the year.

Outdoor lights

If your goal is to build the best holiday decoration display in the neighbourhood, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Replace old or frayed wired lights with new CSA-certified, energy-saving lights.
• Turn off the main electricity supply to the outdoor lighting when replacing bulbs.
• Use extension cords safely and avoid overloading.
• Connect outdoor wires to a grounded, weather-protected outlet.
• Use a sturdy ladder and have someone hold it for you when installing lights.

Indoor ambience

When creating a holiday atmosphere in your home, it’s important to:

• Use good quality, certified lights and replace wires that show signs of fraying.
• Discard damaged extension cords. Never run an extension cord through walls, doorways, ceilings or floors and don’t attempt to extend a cord with another cord.
• Use a timer to save energy and offer a myriad of on/off settings, so you don’t have to remember to turn the lights off before leaving the house or going to bed.

Candle care

Candles are one of the major causes of home fires, especially during the winter and Christmas season. Here’s how to safely enjoy the holidays by candlelight.

• Consider using flameless candles; they look and smell like the real thing.
• Always keep a burning candle within sight and extinguish it when leaving a room.
• Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire.
• Don’t burn a candle all the way down.
• Place candles in sturdy, burn-resistant holders that can collect dripping wax.