Article content continued
A few guidelines for ladder safety that I always follow are the rule of three and the rule of four-to-one. The rule of three refers to our points of contact with the ladder. You should always have either two feet and one hand on the ladder, or two hands and one foot. Three points of contact at all times.
The rule of four to one means that for every four feet you need to climb with the ladder, it should be about one foot further from the structure (in this case, your house). And no matter what, always have a second person with you to hold the ladder steady.
Your light strings should be rated for outdoor use – and should be inspected before you hang them. The reverse is true for indoor lighting – some outdoor lights burn to hot to be safely used inside, so keep the outdoor lights out and the indoor lights in.
If after a few years the cords have started to fray, don’t just place some electrical tape on the weak spots, that means it’s time for them to be replaced, others they become a fire hazard.
Decorating Smart
It’s estimated that just shy of 800 fires per year are started by holiday decorations – and that doesn’t even include Christmas tree fires! When you’re putting out your holiday decorations, be smart and fire-safe about it.
