Extension cords are out of the box and pressed into service in a big way this time of year. Holiday lights and ornaments will be twinkling away in and outside our homes. Carelessness with extension cords and other electrical items will produce a fire somewhere.
During the “holiday season fires claim the lives of over 400 people, injure 1,650 more, and cause over $990 million in damage,” according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA).
Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance defects, but many more are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances, incorrectly installed wiring, and overloaded circuits and extension cords.
Choose the right extension cord from the start. Not every cord is the right one for the job. There are heavy duty and light duty cords and those made for interior use and those for outdoor use. Interior cords are generally not insulated for use in wet weather.
Plugging one extension cord into another is something we all do but it really is risky. Doubling up on the extensions reduces the current carrying capacity of the cord which could make it overheat, cause a fire and or damage the appliance that is plugged in.
To find out what extension cord you need read the usage labels. Read and match the UL ratings and usage labels attached to the cord and the appliance it is powering.
Plug safety tips
>>Plug in safely to electrical outlets
>>Assure outlets are grounded. One with three holes suggests it is grounded but have an electrician check for certain.
>>Don’t overload outlets with multiple plug-ins and adapters.
>>Don’t force a three-prong plug into a two-prong cord.
>>Safeguard equipment from sudden power spikes and outages with a surge protector power strip.
>>Avoid piggy backing by plugging in multiple extension cords.
>>Choose the right extension cord. Length should not be the only criteria. Read the cord’s UL label for gauge, capacity, use and wattage rating.
>>Use a rubber strip to cover any cords strung across a walk area to avoid tripping or damaging the cord.
>>Small, crawling, curious children around? Invest in safety power strip covers.
>>When plugging in Christmas trees, raise up the connection between tree lights and the extension cord to keep it from resting on carpet, tree skirt or any potentially flammable surface.
More holiday tree and light tips from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).
>>Inspect lights beforehand for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up.
>>Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
>>Do not overload electrical outlets.
>>Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires – they should not be warm to the touch.
>>Do not leave holiday lights on unattended
>>Use only nonflammable decorations. All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.
>>Never put wrapping paper in a fireplace. It can result in a very large fire, throwing off dangerous sparks and embers and may result in a chimney fire.
>>Artificial Christmas Trees. If using a metallic or artificial tree be sure it is flame retardant.
>>Select fresh green trees with branches hard to pull back. The trunk should be sticky to touch and no needles should fall off when bounced.
>>Do not place your tree close to a heat source such as a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
>>Never dispose of the tree in a fireplace or wood burning stove.
>>Never put lit candles on a tree. Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame, candles, lighters or matches.
>>When using candles make sure they are in a sturdy holder. Do not leave lit candles unattended.
>>Be prepared. Make sure all smoke and fire alarms are armed with fresh batteries and fire extinguishers are up to date. Check escape routes such as windows to make sure they are unblocked and easily operable. Review your fire escape plan with family members and if you don’t have one yet create it now.
