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Make sure to use your holiday lights safely

The BC Safety Authority (BCSA) is reminding everyone to protect themselves and their homes at Christmas by following a few basic lighting safety tips. First, keep small children away from the lights and watch pets, too, as they can be fascinated by a hanging cord.

Faulty wiring of seasonal lights can create electrical hazards and result in injury or property damage and it's also a good idea to turn off all electrical lighting and decorations before leaving the house or going to bed. Check to make sure you've got the right cords for the job, too. Many people have already switched to LED lights which produce less heat and reduce the risk of fire.

An important thing to remember indoors is never yield to the temptation to run cords under rugs where people will walk over them or through doorways or windows where they may become pinched. Breakage of pinched wires can cause a fire.

And while they're talking about breaking and pinching cords, the BCSA reminds everyone not to use staples or nails to attach cords to walls or roofs