For some, setting up holiday decorations each year is a grandiose and time-consuming tradition. Lights are strung along every roof and porch edge, inflatable holiday figures consume the grass in the yard, and fake icicles are hung from the highest points. Whether you are someone doing this for the first or fifteenth time, setting up your holiday lights and decorations can be dangerous. If you do want to take on the challenge of lining your house with lights for the holiday season, here are some helpful tips to keep it safe.
Don’t do it alone. Whether or not the extra person or people actually help you in your decorating endeavors, it is always smart to have them around in case of emergencies. In the case of a more severe injury or accident, they will be there to take immediate action. Don’t let complacency get the better of you while you hang lights! Ask a friend or family member to be there with you while you work.
Along those lines, have someone spot your ladder. It is unlikely that you will be hanging lights from perfectly stable foundations, and having someone holding your ladder or step stool steady could mean the difference between a successful decoration session and toppling over from your rooftop.
Make sure you have the right equipment. Equipment here means everything from the decorations you are hanging to the tools you use to mount them to the clothes you are wearing. Making sure your decorations are functional, untangled, and accessible will allow for a less stressful time wherever you are decorating. When high up on a ladder, the last thing you want to think about is how to organize your lights. If you choose to use electric tools to put them up, be sure you can use them with ease. Again, dealing with finicky equipment can distract you from staying safe. Without the right clothes, it might be hard for you to move around in as stable of a way as possible. Make sure you have shoes with good traction, especially if you plan to go on a roof.
Lastly, use hooks instead of nails. This will eliminate the need to use a hammer completely and allow you to focus solely on the decorations. Not only this, but while you might find yourself having to pull out hammers at the end of the holiday season, you can easily reuse hooks.
Properly setting up your own Christmas lights will bring joy all season long.
Photo by Adonyi Gábor from Pexels