Safety Tips For Outdoor Displays: Halloween And Beyond

PEARL RIVER, NY — October is Fire Prevention Month. So it's a perfect time to get smart about lighting and decorative displays around your house for Halloween (and then for Christmas).

With Halloween becoming more and more elaborate across the Hudson Valley, with props ranging from pumpkin-shaped lights to giant-sized animated figures, electricity plays a prominent role in the celebration. So it's not just a question of safety on the ladder, it's about safety plugging everything in.

O&R offers these safety tips:

• Make sure that all Halloween lights carry the seal of approval of a recognized safety-testing laboratory such as “UL” and “FM”.
• Carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety precautions when installing lights or assembling displays.
• Prior to re-using electric devices that you have kept in storage, inspect for worn or frayed areas, breaks or brittleness, particularly at plugs and connections. Replace defective lights and cords.
• To avoid electric overloads, use extension cords sparingly.
• Use only exterior-rated extension cords when connecting outdoor displays, including fixtures, cords and bulbs.
• Avoid running cords under rugs, through doorways or near furniture where they may be stepped on tripped over, frayed or broken.
• Do not place cords around or near metal pipes, appliances or anything that is damp or metallic.
• Disconnect electric cords before replacing burned-out bulbs or making any adjustments.
• Do not turn on lighting or other electric displays or leave them on without the supervision of a responsible adult.

You'll find all of these tips excellent guidelines for your next venture into outdoor seasonal decor, too!

Photo by imageBROKER/REX/Shutterstock

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