November 29th

By Mutt Mulligan

Holiday decorating safety tips

‘Tis the season to deck the halls and the exterior of your home. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, about 2,500 people are injured every year hanging holiday lights.

To stay safe while decorating outside this season, follow a few common-sense tips.

1. Know your limits. If you have a bad back or bad knees, consider hiring a professional to string lights rather than climbing a ladder to do it yourself.

2. If you decide to string the outdoor lights yourself use a sturdy ladder and wear non-slip shoes. Don’t climb to the top rung of the ladder and never lean out over the ladder to hang something. Instead, climb down, reposition the ladder and climb back up.

3. Make sure the natural light is sufficient to see well when you’re stringing your artificial lights.

4. Connect your outdoor lights to a grounded outlet and don’t string multiple extension cords together.

5. Use clips instead of nails to secure the lights to your house.

By following these simple steps you can safely decorate your home for the holidays!

Please share your holiday decorating masterpieces here and on the TurfMutt Facebook page.