Holiday electrical safety tips to keep in mind

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With many people decorating for the Holidays, the City of St John's is providing some holiday electrical safety tips.

When purchasing gifts or decorations, ensure all electrical products have a recognized Canadian electrical approval mark.

Before decorating, check all electrical decorations for signs of aging, fraying, or damage. Dispose of and replace anything damaged, faulty décor can overheat circuits and start fires and never use or modify an electrical product.

Outdoor-rated products are weatherproof and UV-resistant; they can be used indoors or outdoors. Indoor-rated products should never be used outside. They can degrade and create shock hazards.

Be mindful when connecting light strings together and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Use clips, not staples or nails, to secure lights. These can damage cords and create hazards. Keep bulbs away from cords, wires, cloth, or paper.

Keep all electrical connections above ground and away from water and never remove the third prong on plugs. It’s a critical safety feature.

Avoid overloading extension cords or circuits. Use power bars, not multi-outlet adapters. Never run extension cords under carpets, through windows, or where furniture can damage them. Turn off your lights when you are away.

Keep cords and decorations out of reach and never allow children or pets to play with electrical items.

After the Holidays, take down decorations promptly and store them in a cool, dry place, loosely wrapped and organized.