Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce, December 2005

Do you remember when you were a kid and Christmas was just around the corner? Dad was stringing lights on the eaves of the house and mom was hanging decorations just about everywhere? When I was a kid, it was my job to make sure that all of those large colored bulbs actually worked before we put them up. One year, I decided to do a repair on several strings that had broken wires (even though my dad had told me not to!).
I almost learned the hard way that you can't splice that many bare wires together, wrap them in duct tape, plug them in, and expect to have a merry Christmas.

In the excitement of the Christmas season, it's easy to forget to take basic safety precautions when decorating your home. Did you know that slips, trips and falls account for 20,000 deaths and 30% of all emergency room visits to hospitals nationwide? Some simple reminders include; climbing on a chair or onto the top rung of a ladder to hang a decoration can become an accident instead of an enjoyable endeavor. Be careful of overloading electrical outlets with excessive load demands. One power strip per room is a good guide to follow. Avoid setting combustible materials near all natural gas burning appliances, fireplaces, and candles. Shovel snow away from entry doors and walkways as soon as possible and watch out for ice buildup in the same areas.

As it turned out- my older brother stopped me from plugging my tangle of wires, bulbs, and duct tape into the wall socket just in time. And my dad never did find out.

My family and I wish you all a very merry and safe Christmas.

Remember- Life is better… Close To Home!

If you need a home inspection or know someone who does, Larry can be reached at 336-7507. He's Local, Fast & Friendly!