Safety tips

During this holiday season, UL and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offer these safety tips for seasonal decorating:

Christmas trees

• Regularly check your tree for fresh, green needles. Trees that have dried out over several weeks burn faster than fresher, well-watered. Remember to keep your tree watered at all times.
• Make sure your tree stand holds at least 1 gallon of water. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of trunk diameter. The average 6-foot tree has a 4-inch diameter trunk and can consume as much as 4 quarts or 1 gallon of water per day.
• Keep your tree at least 3 feet from fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, heating vents and other sources of heat. Don't place the tree where it blocks an exit.

Lighting

• Look for the UL Mark on light strings, electrical decorations and extension cords. The UL Mark means that UL engineers have tested representative samples of the product for foreseeable safety hazards such as fire and electric shock.
• Ensure outside lights, decorations and extension cords are rated for outside use. Lights intended for indoor-only use bear green holographic UL Marks. Light strings intended for indoor and outdoor use bear red holographic UL Marks.
• Carefully inspect each electrical decoration - new or old - before plugging it in. Cracked sockets, frayed, bare or loose wires can cause a serious electric shock or start a fire. Replace damaged items with new, UL-Listed decorations.
• Don't use staples or nails to hang light strings. Instead, purchase plastic hooks or clips designed for hanging light strings.
• Check packaging to determine the maximum number of strings that may be connected or use this rule of thumb: Connect a maximum of three midget (push-in bulbs) light strings or up to 50 bulbs of light strings with the screw-in bulbs (C7s and C9s).
• Don't overload extension cords by plugging in too many decorations.
• Turn off all electrical lights and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
• Read and follow the manufacturer's instructions for electrical decorations.

Candles

• Keep candles away from combustible materials, such as decorations, paper, wreaths and boughs.
• Place candles away from places that could be knocked over by a person or pet.
• Use sturdy, non-combustible candleholders that can collect dripping wax and won't tip over.
• Extinguish a candle when 2 inches of wax remains or a half-inch if the candle is in a container. This prevents heat damage to the surface and stops glass containers from breaking.
• Always keep candles, as well as matches and lighters, out of the reach of children, and don't leave children unattended in a room with lit candles.
• Never use lit candles to decorate Christmas trees.
• Extinguish candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.

Ladders

• Use wooden or fiberglass ladders when near power lines and electrical wiring. Metal ladders conduct electricity.
• Use the right ladder for the job, ensuring it extends 3 feet over the roofline or working surface.
• Set the ladder on a firm, level surface and avoid soft or muddy ground.
• Never exceed the ladder's weight limit or the maximum load rating.
• Never stand on a step ladder's bucket shelf. Read and follow the warning stickers for highest standing levels.
• Only one person on the ladder.
• Don't carry equipment while climbing. Wear a tool belt or have someone hand equipment to you.
• Face the ladder when climbing up or down, keeping your body centered between the side rails.

For more holiday decorating tips regarding tree fire prevention, electrical safety, ladder safety and candle safety, please log on to the Web at www.ul.com/newsroom or www.nfpa.org.