I know our lives get busy and hectic especially this time of year, however you must take the time to read this month's newsletter.
We have shared the most tasty recipe for some Gingerbread Men Cookies.
Our main focus at professional electrical is always on your homes electrical safety as well as your family's safety. In this issue we will be sharing how to keep your home safe when decorating this holiday season. The do's and don'ts as well as some helpful tips to keeping your home and family safe this holiday season.
Gingerbread Men Cookies
Fun & Easy for Kids to Make with You
(Recipe and photo found on allrecipes.com)
Ingredients:
1 (3.5 ounce) package cook and serve butterscotch pudding mix
Directions:
In a medium bowl, cream together the dry butterscotch pudding mix, butter, and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the egg. Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, and cinnamon; stir into the pudding mixture. Cover, and chill dough until firm, about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease baking sheets. On a floured board, roll dough out to about 1/8-inch thickness, and cut into man shapes using a cookie cutter. Place cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are golden at the edges. Cool on wire racks.
Christmas tree safety tips:
Follow these basic safety guidelines to help prevent electrical and fire hazards related to the use of Christmas trees.
When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard than a dry tree.
Cut 1-2 inches from the base of the trunk immediately before placing the tree in the stand and filling with water to ensure water absorption.
Because heated rooms dry out live trees rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water by refilling daily.
When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." This label indicates that the tree is more resistant to burning.
Don't use electrical ornaments or light strings on artificial trees with metallic leaves or branch coverings.
Place your tree at least 3 feet away from all heat sources, including fireplaces, radiators, and space heaters.
When trimming a tree, only use non-combustible or flame-resistant materials.
Christmas Light Safety Tips:
Always purchase electrical decorations and lights from reputable retailers.
Always read and follow the manufacturers' instructions, be sure to check each product label or packaging to determine whether it is intended for indoors or outdoors and utilize accordingly.
Do not overload electrical outlets. To avoid overloading, use a power bar, with several outlets and a circuit breaker.
Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI'S).
As with extension cords, indoor-rated light strings and pre-lit trees are for indoor use only. Products marked for indoor use are not designed to hold up against the elements of the outdoors. However, it is safe though to use outdoor extension cords and light strings indoors.
Insert plugs fully into outlets. Poor contact may cause overheating or shock.
Inspect light strings/sets before use, and discard any that show signs of wear or damage.
Don't bunch mini Christmas lights together - the excessive heat could melt the insulation and expose live wires. Metal tree ornaments could also pose a shock hazard if they make contact with frayed wiring.
It is not a good idea to connect different types of light strings together. For example, don't plug in a new LED string to your old incandescent light string
Consider purchasing LED lights, which use less energy and run cooler than traditional incandescent lights.
Always use lights approved for safe use by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
Extension Cord Safety:
Purchase extension cords for the specific job. Don't improvise with an indoor cord outdoors, or connect several shorter cords instead of just getting a longer one.
Check that all electrical items, including extension cords, are certified by a nationally recognized independent testing lab, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Intertek (ETL), or Canadian Standards Association (CSA).
When using extension cords, make sure that the current rating (in amps or "A") of the appliance that you are plugging in doesn't exceed the extension cord's rating. If the product's current rating is higher than the extension cords, the cord could overheat.
Check all cords and plugs for fraying, cracks, or loose connections. When in doubt, replace old cords, discard any that show signs of wear or damage.
Do not run extension cords under carpets, out windows or doorways where they could become pinched.
Never remove the third prong on plugs in order to fit it into a two-prong outlet. This "grounding pin" prevents shock.
Extension cords are usually appropriate only on temporary or portable pieces of equipment. So in the example of the Christmas lights it is fine.
Please remember - accidents need not happen, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from injury by taking preventative measures this holiday season.
Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.
Save 1/2
off your dispatch fee when you book your service during the month of December and mention this news letter.
Remember the best way to keep your home safe is preventative Maintenance.
Always be safe around any electricity in and around your home. If you are not sure on what to do don't chance it call a professional always keep you and your family safe.
