It’s almost Christmas, which means it’s time to decorate for the holidays. Before you grab a ladder and head to the roof, keep in mind health care professionals treat approximately 13,000 people each year due to injuries sustained from holiday decorating mishaps. 

As specialists in building supplies, decks, patios, and porches, Huber Lumber Co. in Cincinnati, OH, understands how dangerous hanging holiday decorations can be. Luckily, you can improve your safety while decorating with these tips.

Safety Tips For Holiday Decorating

Christmas Trees

No matter where you place your family’s Christmas tree, it should be positioned away from fireplaces and radiators. Heated rooms tend to dry out live trees faster, so keep the stand filled with water if you have a live tree. This can cut down on fire risks.

Outdoor Lights

You should only use lights that are labeled for the outdoors, have fused plugs, and have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check the lights for frayed wires, loose connections, and burned-out bulbs. They should only be plugged into grounded outlets or outlets with ground fault circuit interrupters.

Ladders

If you want to apply holiday lights to the top of your porch or roof, you’ll probably need a ladder to reach these areas. Make sure you have a person spotting you while you’re adding lights to the roof. They should hold the ladder still while you’re working. 

Porches, Roofs, & Decks

The most common places to hang holiday lights are roof lines, porches, and deck rails. Before you start hammering or attach clips to these places, check to see if there are any visible signs of rotten or decaying wood. Damaged sections of wood can be unstable, causing the lights or wood itself to fall and hit someone. Replace any areas that cause concern.

No matter where you hang your holiday decorations — the porch, along some deck railing, or the roof — always use caution to avoid injury and fire risks. Need help? Call Huber Lumber Co. at (513) 731-4035 or visit them online to find more information about their building supplies and other services. You can also connect with the company on Facebook and Twitter.