Are your Christmas Lights Safe?

Your Christmas lights have spent the last 12 months packed away in the attic gathering dust, so there is a high chance that they could be electrically unsafe.

If you are careless with your lights and don’t take the proper precautions, your winter wonderland could turn into a disaster!

Enjoy a safe Christmas and follow these easy checks and precautions:

* Always read and follow the instructions on your Christmas lights
* Always make sure the lights aren’t damaged and keep an eye out for loose wires
* Always replace bulbs with same type and wattage as the originals
* Always turn your lights off before you go to bed or if you leave the house
* Always keep your lights away from any flammable items
* Always use proper extension cords if you need to and don’t overload them
* Always keep the electrical cords away from metal, water and other electric appliances

* Never use Christmas lights outdoors unless the package says they are designed for outdoor use
* Never connect a variety of different lighting sets together
* Never try to fix faulty lights, rather replace them
* Never use lights that you can see are damaged or faulty
* Never insert or remove bulbs when the lights are plugged in
* Never stretch your string of lights as this can cause damage and leads to accidents
* Never overload the wall socket, as this can lead to blown bulbs

Sparkling Christmas lights on your tree is an important part of the Christmas joy and magic. So, make sure you  take the necessary precautions this year...

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