Design is Dangerous: Christmas Tree Lights

Photo from allthingschristmas.comhttp://www.allthingschristmas.com/lights/tree-lights.php

It's the time of year when my family pulls out dusty boxes full of ornaments, decorations, and lights. We scramble to get a tree together, fight over who has to put on the lights, whose turn it is to water the tree, and we try to keep the kids from breaking the heirloom ornaments. Designing the home to be a haven of christmas spirit and cheer against the nasty cold gray days, and freezing foggy nights, we put christmas lights up in the windows and on the tree. There are so many options of lights: rainbow, red, green, white, twinkling, bubbling, LED. We choose our lights according to taste and desired effect, but safety seems to have become less of a concern with the advances in technology. The lights do not burn so hot anymore, they aren't so big, or breakable. But they can still cause a fire. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, electrical fires from christmas trees account for 250 fires every year. While the problem generally arises from the user being inattentive to the thirst of their tree, the designers of christmas lights have certain responsibilities that they need to uphold to prevent fire or electrocution as much as possible. Look to see if your lights have a UL sticker on them. The Underwriters Laboratory Inc. regulates products for public safety. Check out this website for tips on safety.
The designers of christmas tree lights are not making something dangerous, they are making something beautiful and traditional, sentimental and inviting. But lights do pose a risk as any electrical device can. The problem really arises when the lights are placed in combination with a dry tree. The fire happens so fast. Look at this video of a tree catching fire in real time. These lights need to be safe as well as beautiful and the more education the designers can provide to their customers the better.