La Jolla Senior Care News

Christmas Light Safety Tips

Elder Care Tips Pacific Beach CA

Keeping your parents safe is one of the most important focuses of your elder care journey with them, and while some of your efforts will remain the same throughout the year, there are some seasonal changes you will need to make in order to ensure that your loved ones stay safe, healthy, and secure at all times. Many of these additional safety considerations come into play during the holiday season when a combination of decorations, busy schedules, and potentially hazardous weather conditions can combine to pose a wide variety of health and safety risks.

One exciting event that you may be planning for this winter is putting up Christmas decorations with your loved ones. Bedecking the house inside and out with strands of lights is a fun, traditional way to bring a festive touch to the home and make everyone who passes by feel a bit more of the holiday spirit. These lights, however, can be dangerous if you do not take the time to understand them and be sure you are putting them up, and maintaining them, properly.

Use these tips to help make putting up your parents’ Christmas lights, and keeping them going throughout the holiday season, a fun, memorable, and safe experience for all of you:

  • Use the right lights. Before you get started stringing up the lights around the house, make sure that you have selected the right type of lights. Some lights are specifically for indoor use, while others can be used outside. It is fine to use outdoor rated lights inside, but you do not want to try to use inside rated lights outdoors. These lights do not have the insulation to withstand exposure to the elements, which can create a fire hazard.
  • Use ladder safety. Your aging father might want to have the most impressive home in the neighborhood, but it may not be a great idea to send him up a rickety old ladder. If you want to access the upper areas of the home to add lights, choose a stable ladder with a firm upper step, and make sure that there is someone at the bottom spotting you and stabilizing the ladder. Never let a person with mobility issues or balance challenges climb a ladder.
  • Avoid old lights. A family tradition is not a holiday joy if it puts you at serious risk. Old strands of lights do not have the fused plugs that today’s modern lights do, meaning that they could spark in the event of a shorted circuit, leading to a serious fire risk. Toss out old lights, or look for a recycling plant that will recycle them, and invest in some good quality LED strands with fused plugs for safer, more energy-efficient lighting throughout the holiday season.
  • Do not leave them burning. Do not leave outdoor or indoor lights on while you are sleeping or while you are away from the home. While they look beautiful, if you are not awake or present, you cannot respond quickly to a short circuit, an overheated outlet, or other problem, potentially leading to serious issues.

For information about how Right At Home can help your family with elder care in Toccoa, GA, call 770-535-3007. We provide quality and affordable home care services for seniors, veterans and the disabled in our community.

Brittnei Salerno

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