Dodgy Joe is spilling the beans: Keeping your home safe this Christmas

Ho ho ho! It’s the holidays, folks; the festive season is in full swing. This is the most wonderful time of the year when families across Australia resurrect twinkle lights, ornaments, and motorized Santas from garages, and get ready to tackle that favourite December pastime: decorating.

We’ve outlined some common activities that may be putting you and your family in danger, with some electrical tips to help you stay safe at home this Christmas.

Prepare for the party

Half of the Australian women have panicked that they’ve gone out and forgotten to turn straighteners off.

Ladies, ladies, follow my advice – switch them off and put them away!

Deck the halls

Christmas lights brighten up homes across Australia but can be an electrical safety risk. Give the lights a break – switch them off when you’re not there to enjoy them. Ensure that the wattage rating matches that of the light strand whenever you want to replace a bulb.

Negligence to this can cause the light string to overheat, creating a fire risk.

Watch those extension cord and plugs

When hanging Christmas lights, ensure you use ladders made of non-conductive materials like wood or fiberglass-reinforced plastic to reduce your risk of electric shock. Be careful not to overload extension cords. Check the wattage rating of your extension cord, before you start plugging in. Furthermore, confirm the power requirements of any lights or decorations you’re planning to plug into it.

Setting up your Christmas tree

The way your Christmas tree is set has a big effect on how safe it will be to have in your home. Your tree should be positioned a minimum of 3 feet away from candles and other heat sources. It’s imperative to check that light strands, and other electrical decorations are free from fraying wire, insulation cracks, or damaged bulbs and plugs before decorating your tree with them.