Times Advocate, 1999-12-22, Page 65Wednesday, December 22, 1999
Exeter Times -Advocate
63
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Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Holiday safety tips from CSA
Each year we look for-
ward to the holiday sea-
son because it is a time
to enjoy with family and
Mends. We celebrate by
decorating our homes
with festive touches and
savouring delicious tra-
ditional treats. As we
rush around hanging
decorations and prepar-
ing our homes for vis-
itors, it's easy to
overlook the
safety of our
surroundings.
With the holi-
day - season
upon us, now is
a good time to
remember to
practice safety both
inside and outside our
homes. CSA
1*#ernational urges you
to.think twice before
climbing ladders to hang
decorations, plugging in
lights or turningon the
gas fireplace this winter
season. A faulty ladder
or frayed extension cord
could result in an acci-
dent that could be avoid-
ed if you take precau-
tions.
A wide range of holi-
day gifts and decora-
tions, such as light
strings, are tested and
certified by CSA
International. Many pop-
ular gift items such as
hockey helmets, small
appliances, home work-
shop tools, and audio-
visual equipment bear
the familiar CSA -mark.
This tells consumers a
product has been tested
to meet the require-
ments of applicable stan-
dards.
Following these simple
tips canhelp you
and your fam-
ily enjoy a
safer holi-
day .season:
* Examine
holiday light
strings each
year. Discard
any with frayed ,
cords, cracked lamp
holders or loose connec-
tions.
* Unplug light strings
before replacing bulbs,
Check to ensure replace-
ment bulbs match the
voltage and wattage of
the original bulb.
* Look for the CSA
mark on light strings,
extension cords and
electrical decorations.
* Always turn off
Christmas lights when
you leave the house
unattended and when
going to bed.
* Before working with
outdoor wiring, turn off
the electricity to the sup-
ply outlet and unplug the
connection.
* Ensure that light
strings, cords, spotlights
and floodlights are 'CSA -
certified and marked for
outdoor use or wet loca-
tions.
* When hanging lights
outdoors, keep electri-
cal connectors above
ground, out of puddles
and snow, and away
from ' metal eaves
troughs.
* Use insulated fasten-
ers rather than metal
nails or tacks to hold
light strings in place.
* To prevent moisture
from entering bulb sock-
ets, turn, the bulbs to
face the ground if possi-
ble.
* Connect all outdoor
lighting into receptacles
protected byweather-
proof ground fault cir-
cuit interrupters (GPCI)..
A GFCI provides protec-
tion from electric shock
as it senses leakage cur-
rent to ground and cut
the electrical power to
prevent damage or
inijury.
* Use a CSA -certified
outdoor timer to switch
lights on and off. Lights
should be turned on
after 7 p.m. to avoid the
"electricity rush hour".
CAS International is an
independent, not -for -
Branch Life Memberships
profit organization sup-
ported by more than
8,000 members and has
a network of offices in
Canada, the, United
States and around the
world. Established in
1919, it is a global
leader in the field of
standards development
and the application of
these standards through
product certification,
management systems
registration through QM
(A division of CSA
International), and infor-
mation products. The
CSA certification mark
appears on more than
one billion products
worldwide.
For more information
visit our website at
w w w. c a s.
international.org.
The Day of
Christmas
By Jaimee Glover,
Gr. 3
Exeter Public School
It's Christmas day
It's finally here
It's time to love
Children run far and
near
It's a fun time
Christmas is here!
By Stefan Zehetner
Gr. 8 - Precious Blood School
By Garret Cross
Gr. I Mt. Carmel School
1i o Branch members, original legion builders, Lloyd "Jake Undenf eld, and Garnet
Shipman were presented with their Branch Ufe Member ships.The highlights of
their dtations wens read and the presentation was dons by their sons, Bev and
Garry, Congratulations to juke and Garnet! (Photo by Fred MacDonald)
By Gina Phouttharath
Grade 1/2 McCurdy Public School