Remember! With Christmas lights it's safety first, second and last

After 12 months packed away in the loft, Christmas lights can easily have become electrically unsafe.

To help prevent the most common electrical problems with Christmas lights, and to enjoy a safe and happy festive season, we recommend the following simple precautions and checks.

Electrical Safety First is the UKs leading electrical safety charity and they have issued Christmas lights safety guidelines: 

Always

read and follow manufacturers' instructions

Check your Christmas lights are undamaged and not broken before you use them use and watch outlook for loose wires

Only use replacement bulbs of the same type and rating as those originally supplied with the lights

Ensure all outdoor lights are connected using a 30mA RCD protected socket

Replace failed lamps immediately to prevent any risk of overheating

Make sure plugs and transformers are plugged in indoor outlets, even if the lighting is suitable for use outside

Switch your lights off and always unplug them before you go to bed or go out

Keep lights away from flammable decorations and materials that can burn easily

Never

Use lights outdoors unless they are specifically designed and rated for use outdoors

Connect different lighting sets together

Connect lights to the supply whilst still in the packaging

Remove or insert lamps while the chain is connected to the mains supply

Overload sockets, -try to avoid the use of extension leads or adaptors whenever practicable

Attempt to repair faulty lights. Always replace them

Use lights that are damaged or faulty

And That's Christmas joins Electrical Safety First in recommending the use of  LEDs over traditional filament Christmas lighting because:

They operate at extra-low voltage which significantly reduces the risk of electric shock.

They use much less power, generating little heat and so reducing the risk of fire and burn injuries, thus making them safer to use.

They are estimated to use 80-90% less electricity than filament lamps so are much cheaper to run and typically last up to 60 times longer, too.

They are more durable. Because LED lights are made of a special plastic and have no filament, there are no glass lamps to break.

They are a great deal more efficient to run and good at saving energy so are more environmentally friendly.

To learn more about electrical safety please visit https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk.

(Image courtesy of  Sergei Akulich and Pixabay)