How to Safely Put Up Christmas Lights and Decorations

The Thanksgiving turkey is gone—or at least stashed away in the refrigerator—which for many people means it's time to hang up holiday lights and decorations.

Whether you're getting your house ready for Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, the following safety video from Fire Capt. Justus Norgord should come in handy.

Norgord, captain of the "A" Division at in Rancho Bernardo, talks about the proper way to climb a ladder, what to wear while doing so and which types of cords should be used.

Safety Tips:

• Wear closed toe shoes with rubber soles when climbing the ladder to avoid slipping.
• Read the safety stickers on the ladder that describe how much weight the ladder can hold and how high to climb. A rung near the top should have a "Danger" sticker telling you not to climb any higher.
• Read the directions on the holiday lights box, which will tell you how many strings of lights you can safely put together—usually two or three. If you don't have enough extension cords or plugs for all of the lights you want to use, don't string more together than the directions permit. Buy more cords or a surge protector with additional outlets.
• Use grounded extension cords. These have three holes for plugs, as opposed to two. Two-hole cords are more dangerous.
• Have someone help you by holding the ladder and handing you supplies. If you are decorating alone, make sure you have a cell phone so you can call for help if necessary.
• Make sure the ladder is on a solid platform. Wet, mushy grass can make the ladder sink and become unstable. 
• Don't overload outlets with too many plugs, as this is a fire hazard.
• Look for a UL—Underwriters Laboratories—sticker on lights packages and surge protectors, which is a safety indicator.