HALLOWEEN
LIGHTING TIPS - LIGHTING SAFETY
Halloween haunts usually mean
strings of decorative lights, fog machines, strobe and black lights, animatronics,
electrically powered decorations and the list goes on. These things all add to the
ambience of your haunt, but they also create the added dangers of fire,
electrocution and
other nasty and potentially disastrous accidents. It is very important that you look for
and eliminate potential dangers from your Halloween lights and decorations that could lead
to fires and injuries.
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. Discard damaged sets and buy new.
Fasten
outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to
protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold
strings in place, not nails or tacks. You can also run strings of lights
through small hooks (available at hardware stores). 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 shock or fire.
Don't overload extension cords or allow them
to run through water or snow on the ground. Before using any light strings, animated
displays or other electrical products outdoors, make sure the product is approved by a
nationally recognized certification organization and marked "for outdoor use",
it should be UL Rated.
Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension
cord. Don't use electrical decorations or light strings on materials that could catch
fire. It is important to turn off all electrical light strings and decorations before
leaving home or going to bed. Follow the use and care instructions that accompany your
electrical decorations. Most light sets and props will include how many
can be safely strung together.
Rule of thumb, most household circuit
breakers are rated to ten or fifteen amps (you can tell by looking at the breakers
themselves), and household current is generally 110 volts. Amps times volts equal the
amount of watts that a breaker can handle without tripping off. With caution, learn what
breakers protect each section of your home and label them. Don't overload your circuit
breakers/fuses or you could cause them to over load and shut down.
For added
protection against electric shock, plug
outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit
interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies
are sold. GFCIs can be and should be installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified
electrician. Inside the home, they come in handy for appliances such as
blow driers, irons and any household appliance that pulls a lot of
power.
Lastly, turn off all lights when you go to bed or
leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire as you
sleep or while you are gone. Always have at least one
fire extinguisher available and know how to use it. In homes with small children, take
special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable.
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