Safely brighten your holidays

by Chase Ogoshi | Dec. 15, 2020

With Thanksgiving in the books, it can only mean one thing — my favorite time of the year, Christmas! That means spending time with ohana (safe and socially distanced), watching NBA and NFL games at home, drinking hot cocoa, giving gifts and putting up holiday décor.

For some people, Christmas decorations have been up since the end of November — and you may see more homes lit up this year as families try to lift their spirits after a long, tough year.

Whether you’re an early bird decorator such as my parents and girlfriend, who had our lights up on Nov. 1, or last-minute decorator like me, safety should always be a priority when dealing with decorations that draw electricity. Decorative lighting that is improperly used or overloading an outlet can result in home fires, property damage, injuries or worse — death. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas lights cause 40 percent of Christmas tree fires. So below are some of the best holiday lighting safety tips to help keep you and your family safe this holiday season and those to come.

1. Inspect your lights. First things first. Before you dust off and plug in your lights, be sure to dispose of any damaged or frayed lights. Damage to cords or bulbs could cause an electric shock when plugged in or start a fire. It’s cheaper to replace lights than your entire home. Also, be sure to replace all your old Christmas lights with LEDs (light emitting diodes) as they use less electricity and will help keep your electric bill from seeing a significant increase. That reminds me, don’t forget to turn your holiday lights off when you aren’t home or sleeping!

2. Installation. Always make sure that someone is watching you while you are installing your lights, especially when using a ladder to reach the roof or a tall Christmas tree. When using a ladder, make sure that it is secure on all four legs. Do not overreach, climb to the last step or jump off a ladder. When fastening your lights, use clips instead of nails to avoid puncturing cords. Make sure that cords are not pinched in doors or windows.

3. Outlets. Make sure lights are connected to outlets that have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) installed, which reduce the risk of shock. It’s critical to never overload your electrical outlets, especially if you are using over-the-top decorations. If you are looking to save money, consider using a timer.

4. Christmas trees. Keep your tree away from any source of fire/heat and be sure to avoid overdecorating. For a live tree, keep it hydrated and refill the water every day — a dry tree is more flammable. Did you know that it’s actually safer to purchase an artificial tree, which is made of fire-resistant materials?

We also offer additional electrical safety tips to keep you safe during the holidays on our website.

Even though the pandemic has put a pause on many of our holiday plans, it doesn’t mean that we should be complacent and forget about safety as we “deck the halls.” As you make your final holiday preparations, be sure to use these tips to safely brighten your holidays.

Mele Kalikimaka!

Chase Ogoshi is a digital communications and social media specialist at Hawaiian Electric.