Safety First – December 2025

Electricity powers modern life, but it is dangerous if not handled carefully. Check back here each month for new tips on how to stay safe around electric power at your home or business.

To ensure that twinkling decorations and the glow of a stockings-adorned fireplace are the only things lighting up your home for the holidays, follow these tips for fire prevention.

• Before you use them, check all lights, decorations, and extension cords for damage.
• Plug outdoor lights and decorations into ground fault circuit interrupter outlets.
• Never use extension cords or decor marked for indoor use outside.
• Never leave space heaters unattended and turn them off when you leave the room.
• Heating pads and electric blankets are cozy, but they cause nearly 500 fires each year, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International. Inspect them for cord damage, look for dark, charred, or frayed spots and never fold them when they are on.