Contact: NOVEC Public Relations, 1-888-335-0500, customerservice@novec.com
NORTHERN VIRGINIA ― Halloween witches, ghosts, and goblins scampering in your neighborhood on Oct. 31 will be among a record 170 million Americans who plan to celebrate Halloween in 2012 according to a National Retail Federation survey. NRF claims that seven in 10 Americans plan to participate in the event – the most in the Federation’s 10-year survey history.
Whether participants decorate their homes, wear costumes, or offer treats, they are expected to spend, on average, close to $80 on Halloween in 2012. NRF says the total amount spent on All Hallow’s Eve could reach $8 billion.
When making Halloween purchases, the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative wants consumers to consider electrical safety. NOVEC advises adults and parents to follow these do’s and don’ts:
- Make sure electrical decorations are approved by a nationally recognized certification organization, such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL).
- Make sure decorations used outdoors are marked for outdoor use.
- Inspect light strings for dangerous cracked, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out dangerous strings.
- Look for light-emitting diode (LED) lights. They pull so little electricity that they are unlikely to overload circuit breakers or fuses like old-fashioned light strings can do.
- Don’t place cords in snow or water.
- Plug lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground-fault circuit interrupters. Purchase portable outdoor GFCIs at electrical, hardware, or home supply stores.
- If using incandescent holiday lights that produce heat, or if using candles, keep them away from dry leaves or children in costume. LED holiday lights don’t produce heat and are much safer.
- Have a fire extinguisher available and know how to use it.
- Turn out all lights and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
