Outdoor Christmas Light Safety

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By Megan Peterson Morrow, eHow Contributor

Outdoor Christmas tree lights should be hung with care. Only safety-approved lights and extension cords designed for outdoor use should be used outdoors. Likewise, homeowners should inspect their ladders before climbing on and make sure someone else is outside for help. Finally, anyone using outdoor Christmas lights should replace any blown bulbs each year, inspect all wiring to ensure it’s not frayed and avoid placing wires on any sharp objects.

While they look beautiful, Christmas tree lights come with a few potential dangers. Many injuries happen before lights even go up due to faulty ladders. In addition, children should never touch the lights due to burn risks. Likewise, faulty wiring can lead to shorts and fires, and many unsuspecting homeowners have been shocked when replacing bulbs while the string of lights was still plugged in. The safety issues are serious enough to warrant care when putting up lights, replacing bulbs and taking lights down at the end of the season.