Christmas is no longer the only holiday that we bring out lights and yard decorations to show our festive spirit. Halloween has become a time to string up lights, plug in fog machines, light up those electric-powered decorations, and create a yard that is scare-worthy to any trick-or-treater who may stop by. But beware of the hidden electrical dangers that could spoil your holiday.
People often store annual decorations in the garage, basement, or storage shed. The cords can become frayed or damaged in storage from extreme weather or by a mouse or other hungry rodent that might have found its way into the storage space.
Valley Rural Electric Cooperative and Safe Electricity offer these tips to make your Halloween safe and fun.
- Carefully inspect each electrical decoration. Check for cracking, fraying, or bare wires; they may cause a serious shock or start a fire.
- Replace any damaged decorations.
- Make sure any lights, animated displays, inflatables, or other electrical outdoor products are Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved and marked for outdoor use.
- Follow the care and instructions that accompany your electrical decorations.
- Don't overload extension cords or allow them to run through water on the ground.
- Plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into outlets protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). If your outlets don't have them, either contact a qualified electrician to install them or use portable GFCIs instead.
- Keep electrical cords out of walkways to avoid tripping hazards.
- Turn off all electrical decorations and lights before leaving home or going to sleep. Consider using a timer.
- When decorating outside, always make sure to look up and check that you and any equipment, such as ladders, are at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines.
Avoid any dangerous tricks this Halloween by enjoying your treats and decorating safely. Get more safety tips at SafeElectricity.org.
Article and image courtesy of SafeElectricity.org with modifications by Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.