Safety Tips for Holiday Lights
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Safety tips for outdoor lights

Use Canadian Standards Association (CSA)-approved lights, cords, plugs and sockets that are marked for outdoor use or wet locations.
Avoid using extension cords by installing a separate weatherproof circuit for holiday lighting. Place the circuit under the eaves, with a switch at your door.
Make sure outdoor circuits are equipped with an approved, weather-proof ground fault circuit interrupter.
Ensure the circuit breakers and fuses on your holiday lights circuit are no larger than 15 amperes.
Do not overload circuits. Have no more than 1400 watts on a circuit. If other lights in the house dim when the holiday lighting is turned on or the plug is very hot when unplugged, your circuit is overloaded. To figure out a circuit’s load, multiply the number of bulbs by the watts per bulb, and add any lamps, appliances or other equipment on the same circuit.
Before you put light strings on a shrub, tree or your house, check for breaks or signs of insulation deterioration. Frayed cords or loose connections indicate that the wiring is poor. Replace any defective sets.
Never install lights with the power on. Test lights first, then unplug to install.
Keep electrical connections off the ground. Use eave clips or insulated staples, rather than nails and tacks, to hold light strings in place.
Keep wiring clear of metal parts such as ornamental railings and drainpipes, to prevent any risk of shock from an electrical current.Do not leave any light sockets empty if you want sections in your light string unlit. This can create a fire hazard or could be fatal if someone touches the inside of the empty socket. Instead place a burned-out bulb in the socket. This will not affect the other lights on the string.
Be sure to turn off your holiday lights before going to bed, and never leave lights on when you are away from home, unless they are connected to a timer or photocell.
Do not leave your outdoor lights up year-round. Cords and bulbs will deteriorate, reducing their safety and shortening their life.

Safety tips for your tree

Keep your tree at least three feet away from heat vents, baseboards and fireplaces.
Secure your tree so pets and children cannot knock it over.
Use holiday LED strings inside, reducing the risk of fire.
Replace broken bulbs and light sets that have cracked or corroded sockets, frayed plugs, bare wires or loose connections.

Real trees

Keep your tree fresh by sawing off an inch or two from the trunk base at an angle. Immediately place the tree in a waterfilled, no-tip stand and regularly check to make sure the tree stand always has plenty of water.
Unplug lights before watering the tree.
Keep cords and light sets away from the water.
Keep a fire extinguisher handy and your smoke detectors in good working order.
For added protection, have your tree treated with fire retardant.