The holidays will be here before you know it. If you're going to be decorating your home or having guests staying with you, it's important that you take some precautionary measures to avoid electrical hazards. Here are three important steps you should take to prevent electrical emergencies this holiday season.

Cover the Outlets

If you're going to be hosting small children during the holidays, it's time to child-proof your home. This is particularly important if you don't have small children of your own – you might not have thought of child-proofing before this. Little one's love to investigate the world around them, which includes your electrical outlets. According to research, about 2,400 children are injured each year from electrical outlets. Before your guests arrive, install outlet covers throughout your home. This will prevent children from shoving things into your electrical outlets.

Inspect Your Extension Cords

While you're child-proofing your home, look at your extension cords. Extension cords can pose several different safety hazards for both children and adults. First, make sure that your extension cords are free from damages. Frayed or exposed wires can cause electrical fires. They can also cause electrical shocks if small children touch the exposed wires. Second, make sure that your extension cords are not extended across walking paths – they can lead to trip and fall accidents. Finally, never place rugs over your extension cords. Your guests may step on the cord, causing damage to the wiring. If that happens, you could be at risk for an electrical fire.

Keep the Tree Away from Outlets

If you're going to have a Christmas tree during the holidays, be careful where you place it. Setting it up too close to the electrical outlets could increase your risk of fires. This is true whether you'll be using a fresh tree or an artificial tree this year. The branches could extend into the outlets and start an electrical fire. It's also important to note that, if you're going to be using lights on a fresh tree, you'll need to keep the water reservoir full. As your lights heat up, the increased heat could ignite dry pine needles, causing a fire to erupt.

Now that the holidays are almost here, it's time to plan for the family get-togethers. Make sure your home is ready for guests and free from potential electrical hazards by following the simple tips provided here. Be sure to talk to an electrician like Sun Coast Electric & Networking Inc for other ways to protect your home and guests this holiday season.