| Holiday Electrical Safety Tips |
 |
Carefully inspect each electrical decoration. Cracked or frayed sockets, loose or bare wires and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire. |
|
Don't staple or nail through light strings or electrical/extension cords - you could damage the wire or insulation, which could lead to an electrical fire or shock. |
|
It is important to turn off all electrical light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed. |
|
Watch for flickering lights, sparks from appliances or wall outlets, warm plates, plugs or outlets and dimming lights or television screens. These signals are potential danger spots that could cause an electrical fire. |
|
Make sure there is a bulb in each socket. If a bulb is burned out, leave it in until you have a replacement. Immediately replace any broken bulbs that have exposed filaments. |
|
Don't run extension cords under rugs, around furniture legs or across doorways. Put safety covers on unused receptacle outlets and extension cords to prevent children from inserting their fingers or other conductive materials into these openings. |
|
Use only extension cords that have been listed by a registered certified organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL). |
|
Keep your natural tree well watered to prevent bulbs from igniting dry branches. Never use electrical decorations on metal trees. Instead, place colored spotlights beside or above the tree. Check to make sure artificial tree is non-flammable. |
|
Outdoor lighting should have insulated electrical cords and be plugged into a Ground Fault Interrupter-protected receptacle only. Keep all plugs and connectors off the ground, away from puddles and snow. |
|
Don't ignore switches or receptacle outlets that don't work. If you are ever unsure about your home's electrical safety, call a Quality Connection contractor. |
| Circle of Lights Trivia |
|
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument has been decorated with the Circle of Lights® holiday display since 1962. |
|
There are 52 garland strands with 4,784 colored lights, strung from the top of the monument to its base. |
|
There are 26 toy soldiers and 26 peppermint sticks that encircle the monument. |
|
The annual lighting ceremony draws a crowd of 100,000 people and is broadcast live to more than 100,000 central Indiana residents. |
