APS Offers the 12 Safety Tips of the Holiday Season

December 9, 2008

The ambitious among us decorated their homes as soon as the Thanksgiving leftovers were put in the fridge, while the procrastinators still have to get into the attic to see if the strings of lights still have any life left. Either way, the holiday season is here.

As this always is a time of celebration, it also should be one of making safety a priority. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 12,500 people go to the emergency room each year due to holiday-related incidents, including electrical contact involving lights and decorations. These accidents shouldn't be an annual tradition.

"We want our customers to enjoy themselves this season, but we also urge them to use extreme caution around electricity," said APS Public Safety consultant Ed Ramirez. "Contact with electricity can result in serious injury or even death. In addition to potential contact, the risk of fire is always present, especially here in Arizona."

To help make this the safest holiday season possible, APS offers the 12 electrical safety reminders of the season:

1. Turn off holiday lights before going to sleep or leaving the house unattended. An appliance timer can help manage holiday lights.
2. When stringing lights outside, use a dry, wooden or fiberglass ladder and be sure to stay away from overhead power lines.
3. Use only strings of outdoor lights, spotlights, sockets and extension cords approved by the Underwriter's Laboratories (UL). Ensure they are not frayed or damaged.
4. Before putting up lights, check wires, plugs and sockets for wear or damage. If damaged, either repair or discard them.
5. Use more than one circuit to avoid overloading household wiring. This generally means no more than three light strings connected together.
6. To reduce the risk of electrical shock, make sure that GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupters) protection is provided for outlets at outdoor receptacles and test the GFCI monthly to make sure it is working properly. If GFCI receptacles are not available, portable GFCI equipment may be used. The Consumer Product Safety Commission advises that more than two-thirds of the 300 annual electrocutions nationwide could be prevented with the use of GFCI protection.
7. Do not use candles near flammable materials or where they can be knocked over or reached by small children or family pets.
8. Do not hang lights on a metallic tree. The danger of shock is great. Instead of hanging lights, use a spotlight to illuminate metallic trees.
9. There should be a smoke detector on every level of the house and outside each sleeping area. It also is important to have detectors installed properly and tested to ensure they are in working condition.
10. If using a live Christmas tree, make sure to check the water level in the tree stand on a daily basis. If the tree appears to be losing a large amount of needles, or if the needles become brittle, do not turn on any electrical lights used for decorations. The heat from the lights may cause a fire.
11. Avoid stringing any outdoor lighting or electrical cords where the water from irrigation or sprinklers may be present. Water and electricity do not mix and can cause serious injury or even death in these conditions.
12. As a precaution, all homes should have at least one class ABC extinguisher, placed in an easily accessible area. An extinguisher with an ABC classification puts out all three types of fires: combustible-liquid fires; fires from burning wood, paper and cloth; and electrical fires. It is important to check the pressure in the extinguisher at least every month and refill or replace if it's low. Know how to properly use the extinguisher.

APS, Arizona’s largest and longest-serving electricity utility, serves about 1.1 million customers in 11 of the state’s 15 counties. In 2008, APS won its second Edison Award in recognition of innovative leadership and operational excellence in the electric industry.  Given annually by the Edison Electric Institute, the Edison Award is considered the industry’s most prestigious honor. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW)

Damon Gross, Media Contact
(602) 250-2269