By Ken Jackson
Staff Writer

Whether you’ve already spent time up on a ladder stringing lights or in the yard manipulating cords, or are doing so in the remaining weekends before Christmas, the Kissimmee Utility Authority urges safety and caution to all those assembling holiday displays.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that hospital emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people suffering injuries from falls, as well as shocks related to electric lights, decorations and Christmas trees.

In the name of overall safety, KUA urges caution when adding some bright merriment to the holiday. The utility has offered up a list of tips and precautions.

The overriding sentiment is to simply be mindful of what you’re doing, and have a feasible plan of action before ever stepping on a ladder or inserting a plug into an outlet.

Some of the safety precautions include:

• Read the manufacturer’s directions on all electrical decorations before assembling them and plugging them in.

• Pay attention to the certification on lights and electronics; make sure those being used outside are intended for that purpose.

• Carefully inspect each decoration before plugging it into an outlet. Replace damaged, cracked, frayed, loose or bare wires and loose connections that may cause a serious electric shock or could start a fire.

• Always unplug an electrical decoration before replacing light bulbs or fuses.

• Never nail or staple light strings or extension cords or mount light strings that in any way might damage the cord’s insulation. Avoid connecting more than three light string sets together.

• Plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters or surge protectors that are available at hardware stores and other places electrical supplies are sold.

• Be mindful of the electrical load being put on extension cords. Overloads can overheat and start a fire.

• Protect cords and light strings from standing water and other wet weather.

• Use caution when decorating near power lines and other high-voltage sources.

• Avoid using electric lights on a metallic tree, which can become charged with electricity from faulty lights that would subject someone touching it to electrocution.

• Turn off all electrical decorations before leaving home or going to bed.

• Discard broken or faulty lights and decorations. This also applies to Christmas tree ornaments, particularly glass and metal balls, that could break in storage and subject unsuspecting tree decorators to cuts and puncture wounds.