The Right Light: Holiday Lighting Safety Tips

When planning and implementing your lighting design, keep these holiday lighting safety tips in mind to help reduce your risk of property damage, injury or death.

• Unlike incandescent bulbs, which generate most of their energy in heat, LEDs are cool to the touch—which also indicates greater energy-efficiency.

• LEDs are made with epoxy lenses, not glass and are much more durable.

• When hanging lights outdoors, use a wooden or fiberglass ladder.

• Turn off all indoor and outdoor holiday lighting before leaving the house or going to bed.

• Never drape anything over a light bulb or lamp shade.

• Avoid using candles when possible. Consider using battery-operated candles in place of traditional candles.

• Never leave an open flame unattended. Keep burning candles within sight.

• Extinguish all candles before you leave the room or go to bed.

• Place lighted candles away from combustible material and areas where they might be knocked over.

• Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens.

• Keep candles away from other decorations and wrapping paper. Do not burn wrapping paper as a means of disposal.