safety Archives - California Apartments Blog

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Part of the magic of the holidays is decking your home out with lighted displays of splendor. As much fun as holiday decorating is, it can turn into disaster when safety is an afterthought. During this time of year, people get electrocuted, they fall from high places and their homes burn to a crisp because they are not careful while putting up their lighted displays.

Say bye-bye to ragged cords

Plugging in decorations that have frayed or damaged cords is a fire hazard waiting to happen. If you find lights with damaged cords, don’t try to rewire them or fix them with tape. These measures will not make the lights useable. Rigging the electrical cords on your decorations will only increase the potential for fire or electrocution. Do yourself a favor. If you find cords that look like rats have nibbled on them, put them in the trash.

Broken bulbs beware

If you find lighted decorations with broken or blown bulbs, replace them with bulbs of the same wattage. If you can’t find bulbs to fit your decorations, call the manufacturer and they can either send you the right bulbs or tell you where to buy them. Always unplug the lights before you replace the bulbs. Just because the light is not working doesn’t mean it won’t electrocute you.

Get grounded

Plug all your outdoor lights into a GFIC or ground-fault circuit interrupter. This device looks like a regular electrical outlet, but it is designed to protect you from electrical shock. An electrician can install one for you or you can buy a portable unit at a home improvement store.

No substitutes

There are different types of lights for indoor and outdoor use. Do not try to substitute one for the other. If the package says “interior use” the product is for indoor use. If the package says “exterior use” the lights are for outdoor use only. Unless otherwise noted on the package, indoor and outdoor lights are not interchangeable.

Outdoor lights are designed to hold up to cold and wet weather and they get hotter than indoor lights. Indoor lights are safety tested for use on holiday trees. If you use them outside, they might break down and become a fire or electrocution hazard. If you are using lights from last year and are not able to determine whether they are interior or exterior, don’t use them.

Grab a partner

If you are hanging your lights in high places, have someone hold the ladder for you. When you have someone assisting you, he can call for help if you have an accident while you are hanging your decorations.

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to get wrapped up in decorating and forget about safety. Although holiday lights are beautiful, being careless or hanging them improperly can lead to disaster. While you are decking out your tree, house and yard with festive lights, follow the above tips to stay safe.

+Paul Reichman is the founder of BedBathStore. Using decades of experience in home fashion, Paul offers quality bed, bath and home furnishings at affordable prices through www.bedbathstore.com.

Moving can be emotionally draining, but it can also take a toll on your body. When your body undergoes a lot of stress, you risk the chance of suffering from minor to severe injuries. From properly lifting boxes to the appropriate footwear, here are six tips to ensure a safe move:

Box Weight

When packing up your belongings, be mindful of the weight. To prevent injury, make sure all boxes weigh less than 50 pounds. If you’re unsure what the box weighs, try lifting it. You should be able to lift each box without too much strain. Remember, the proper way to lift a box is by squatting down and lifting with your entire lower body. Never bend over to pick up an item. And, don’t forget to recycle your boxes!

Rent Proper Equipment

When it comes to moving heavier objects, you should consider renting the proper equipment to prevent injury. This includes a dolly or hand truck. Straps are also helpful for securing boxes and items to the dolly or to assist with lifting larger items. Using equipment will save you both time and energy.

Wear Proper Clothing

On moving day, it’s important you wear the right clothing and footwear. For example, wearing loose clothing offers the risk of getting snagged on furniture. Instead, wear something comfortable that will not get in the way when your lifting objects. You should also wear durable, supportive footwear. These shoes should also have good grip, particularly if surfaces become wet. If possible, avoid wearing open-toe shoes or sandals.

Occupy Children and Pets

If you have children, for their safety make sure they are occupied. It would probably be best to hire an off property babysitter to keep children entertained. Similarly, you don’t want to worry about your pets getting in the way. Keep pets locked up in their crates or in an empty room in which movers don’t need to enter. Trust me, it will be less stressful for them to be away from the noise and confusion anyway.

Provide Food and Water

Moving is typically an all day event. And with all the chaos of the day, you do not want to forget to eat. Pack plenty of food and water for the day. If you have friends or family helping you, consider ordering a pizza to take a lunch or dinner break. Have a pot of coffee available at all times. This will keep people’s energy levels up in order to power through the rest of the moving day.

Emergency Kit

Keep an emergency kit on hand at all times. This kit should include Band-Aids, aspirin and medicated ointment. Also, you should point out where the house telephone is located. Nowadays, most people have cell phones, but not everyone’s is fully charged. Having a emergency contact list on hand is not a bad idea either.

Jackie Ryan is a freelance writer and young professional. Jackie recently moved into a beautiful studio apartment in the city. To help with larger objects, she rented hand carts which made the move easier. Her moving day went off without a hitch!

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5 Tips For Safe Holiday Lighting Decorations