Hundreds of fires and injuries occur each year from holiday decorations, so add this safety checklist from Idaho Power to your list of pre-holiday preparations.

• Use LED lights, which are more efficient and safer than incandescent bulbs because they produce less heat.
• Use battery-operated, flameless candles instead of traditional candles.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct number of light strands to connect.
• Inspect power/extension cords and light strings, and replace anything that’s damaged or frayed.
• Don’t place cords where they can be damaged by walking on them, where people can trip on them, or where damage can go unnoticed — like under rugs, through windows, or on the sidewalk.
• Don’t overload outlets or power strips, and don’t plug electric heaters into power strips.
• Plug outdoor lights (rated for outdoor use) into ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected outlets.
• When hanging holiday lights using a ladder, have a spotter and always maintain three points of contact.

For more seasonal safety tips, visit idahopower.com/safety.

Maria Willacy
Communications Specialist
mwillacy@idahopower.com
208-388-5978