For Immediate Release
Contact: Mark Hamm
December 10, 2007
Gaffney Electric Co., Inc
608-253-3371
Gaffney Electric Reminds Consumers of
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Most people spend several hours putting up their holiday lighting displays inside and outside their home, said Mark Hamm. I just want to make sure that everyone in our community has a safe and enjoyable holiday season.
To do so, Gaffney Electric reminds you to follow these safety standards when dealing with holiday decorations this winter:
- When you decorate outdoors, be certain to use only lights and decorations that are certified for outdoor use.
- Check each decoration before plugging it into an outlet. Bare or loose wires or loose connections can cause shocks and fires.
- Always unplug any decoration before replacing the bulbs or fuses.
- When mounting lights, never do anything that would damage the cord or its insulation like stapling or nailing lights or cords.
- Don't connect more than three light sets together, and sets with screw-in bulbs should have no more than 50 bulbs in one strand.
- Be careful not to overload your extension cords because this could result in a fire.
- Turn off all decorations when leaving home or before you go to bed.
- If you have a metallic tree, don't use electric lights. Faulty lights can charge the tree with electricity so that it is dangerous to touch.
- When unplugging any decoration, be sure to use the gripping area provided on the plug.
- Be sure to read all of the manufacturer's instructions on any electrical items you use this winter.
- Only use lights that have been certified by a recognized independent testing laboratory such as UL, ETL, or CSA.
- Don't try to repair broken or faulty lights. Discard of them.
If you experience any electrical problem or inconvenience, you can always call your friends at Electric Medic/Gaffney Electric at 608-253-3371.