Holiday Safety Tips

Have Yourself a Safe Little Christmas

Keep your holidays happy by following these easy safety tips:


It's that time of year again. Time to deck the halls, hang the stockings and create your very own winter wonderland. However, before you jingle your first bell, you should develop a holiday safety plan for your family and home.
Your plan should start with your tree. If its a natural Christmas tree, keep it away from heavy traffic it won't be bumped into. Make sure the tree is protected from heaters, stoves and fireplaces, and never use lighted candles to decorate a live or artificial tree.

Before you hang Christmas lights, make sure all the strands and extension cords are manufactured and approved for outdoor use. Examine each strand for damaged bulbs or worn areas. If you discover a string of lights with exposed wires, throw it away and buy a new set.

Christmas light safety

When decorating your tree, use only CSA-approved lights, which signifies the lights have been properly

tested and meet specific safety regulations. Use no more than three strands of lights linked together and avoid placing paper ornaments on tree lights. Over time, the bulbs can become hot enough to light thin paper ornaments on fire.
If your decorating ideas include plants to add holiday color to your home, bear in mind that several holiday-associated plants like mistletoe and poinsettias are poisonous to small children and pets. Be sure to keep the plants up high where curious snoopers can't reach.

Outdoor decorating
It's important to use caution and common sense when decorating the outside of your home for the holidays. Always use a sturdy ladder and watch your footing. If possible, have someone help you put your festive accessories in place.




When connecting strings of lights to your home, use plastic or rubber clips to keep the wires from touching metal objects. Make sure the bulbs are facing down so moisture won't get into the sockets. If you combine two or three strands of lights, you can weather-proof the connections by wrapping the plugs with plastic bags and all-weather tape.

It's best to avoid placing statues or figurines on your home's roof. High winds, driving sleet or heavy snow can rip the figures from their foundations and damage yours and nearby homes or injure neighbors.
Follow these tips and you can concern yourself with more pleasurable pastimes such as visions of sugarplums and sneaking kisses under the mistletoe.

Have a Safe and Happy Christmas Season!