In anticipation of the holiday season, outdoor holiday lighting expert Neil Brenneman of Christmas Decor of Lancaster offered do-it-yourself decor warriors some basic safety guidelines from the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).

Use extension cords and electrical decorations that are designed for outdoor use and confirm that they have been approved by a recognized testing lab.

Inspect lights, decor and extension cords for damage before using them, and plug them into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Do not overload a single electrical outlet with too many devices.

People should keep themselves, their decor and their equipment at least 10 feet away from power lines during and after installation and removal.

Turn off all indoor and outdoor electrical decorations before leaving home or going to bed for the night.

Brenneman reminded property owners that there is another, safer way to approach outdoor holiday decorating chores: turn them over to a professional outdoor holiday lighting expert like Christmas Decor. The service includes design, installation, maintenance, takedown and storage.

For more information on Christmas Decor, contact Brenneman at 717-318-1941 or christmasdecoroflancaster@gmail.com. Information is also available at http://www.christmasdecor.net.

Christmas Decor, a Texas-based company, was founded in 1986. Today, it operates in more than 350 markets in 49 states and Canada, and plans are underway to open locations in more than 40 new markets through franchise expansion.