Holiday Decorating & Lighting

1. Use caution with holiday decorations and whenever possible, choose those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant or non-combustible materials.
2. Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible materials, and do not use candles to decorate Christmas trees.
3. Purchase only lights and electrical decorations bearing the name of an independent testing lab, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation and maintenance.
4. Carefully inspect new and previously used light strings and replace damaged items before plugging lights in. Do not overload extension cords.
5. Always unplug lights before replacing light bulbs or fuses.
6. Don't mount lights in any way that can damage the cord's wire insulation (i.e., using clips, not nails).
7. Keep children and pets away from light strings and electrical decorations.
8. Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving the house or going to bed.

More information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.