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Holiday Decorating Safety

Very few things are as unique to the winter holiday season as the custom of decorating your home and yard.

 

Findings from a 2010 ESFI consumer survey indicate that more than 80% of Americans decorate their homes as part of their winter holiday celebrations.  Almost two-thirds of respondents use electric lights in their indoor decorating scheme, while more than half use lighted decorations outside their homes.  More than 70% of those who decorate their homes for the holiday utilize at least one extension cord.


While holiday lighting and electrical decorations do contribute to the splendor of the season, they can also significantly increase the risk fires and electrical injuries if not used safely.  Given these safety hazards, it is crucial that safety is a foremost concern. 

 

ESFI provides these easy safety tips to help you prevent serious electrical and fire hazards while decorating your home and yard this season:

  • Christmas Tree Safety Tips - Follow these basic safety guidelines to help prevent electrical and fire hazards related to the use of Christmas trees.
  • Candle Safety Tips - Candles start almost half of all home decoration fires. Minimize your risk with these candle safety tips from ESFI.
  • Childproof Decorating Tips - ESFI recommends taking the following safety precautions to ensure that this special time of year does not result in a decoration-related tragedy.
  • Outdoor Decoration Safety Tips - Take steps to protect your home and family from electrical and fire hazards related to outdoor holiday decorations with these quick tips from ESFI.
  • Post-Holiday Safety Tips - Start the New Year off right and get a head start for next holiday season with these important post-holiday safety tips.

Check out ESFI's Top 10 Holiday Safety Tips for illustrated holiday safety reminders!

 

Additional information about Fire Safety, Entertaining Safety, Children's Safety, and safety-related Holiday Gifts can be found in the 2012 Holiday Survival Guide and throughout the Holiday Safety section of the website.