Times-Herald

WE warns about electrical dangers when decorating for Halloween

“Christmas is no longer the only holiday that we bring out lights and yard decorations to show our festive spirit,” said Tommy Talley, Woodruff Electric’s Safety and Loss Control Manager.

“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 that may stop by. But, beware of the hidden electrical dangers that could spoil your holiday,” said Talley.

“Many times, we store our annual decorations away in the garage, basement or storage shed and cords can become frayed or damaged in storage from extreme weather or by a mouse that may have found its way into the storage space,” he added.

Woodruff Electric offers these tips to make 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.

• Make sure any lights, animated displays, or other electrical outdoor products are Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved and marked for outdoor use.

Talley also suggests that people should follow the care and instructions that accompany electrical decorations.

“Don’t overload extension cords or allow them to run through water on the ground,” said Talley. “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.”

Talley also reminds residents to keep electrical cords out of walkways to avoid tripping hazards and to turn off all electrical decorations and lights before leaving home or going to sleep.

“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,” said Talley.

“Avoid any dangerous tricks this Halloween by enjoying your treats and decorating safely,” said Talley.

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2021-10-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thnews.pressreader.com/article/281556589024101

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