COMPANY URGES CUSTOMERS TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON SAFELY AND SHARES 5 ESSENTIAL HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS  

San Juan, Puerto Rico, December 6, 2022 – Today, LUMA announced the launch of a series of holiday public safety messages, urging customers to safely celebrate the upcoming holidays by exercising electrical safety precautions. These public safety messages, which will run on social media, will highlight “5 Essential Holiday Safety Tips” that customers are encouraged to follow to ensure their holiday celebrations are accident-free and safe.

“We encourage all of our customers to follow electrical safety precautions when celebrating this joyous time of year,” said LUMA Manager of Public Safety and Crisis Management Abner Gómez. “LUMA is committed to sharing these tips to avoid holiday-related accidents and help customers celebrate with friends and family safely.”

Holiday Safety Statistics

Every year, across the States and here in Puerto Rico, accidents related to holiday decorations and celebrations occur that result in property damage, injury and, sadly, death. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) common holiday safety incidents include:

• 260 home fires ignited by Christmas trees each year, resulting in 12 deaths, 24 injuries and $16.4 million in property damage.
• 150 home fires per year that begin with holiday lights and other decorative lighting, causing another 8 deaths, 16 injuries, and $8.9 million in property damage.
• 5,800 people per year are treated in hospital emergency rooms for falls associated with holiday decorations. More than half of these injuries are caused by falls from ladders or roofs while decorating outdoors.
• The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that each year, about 4,000 injuries associated with electric extension cords are treated in hospitals. Fifty percent of these injuries stem from people tripping over extension cords. 

5 Essential Holiday Safety Tips

Christmas lights and decorations make the season brighter but can pose serious safety hazards. To help everyone stay safe this holiday season, LUMA is sharing the following essential holiday safety tips with customers, who are encouraged to review and share with friends and family:

1. Be mindful when hanging lights and other decorations outside and stay at least 35 feet away from all power lines.   
2. Inspect extension cords and light strings before hanging them to make sure they are not damaged or faulty. Don’t overload your extension cords and make sure your light strands are distributed among different cords and outlets.
3. Fasten outdoor lights and decoration securely to trees, walls or other firm support structures to protect from wind damage or contact with overhead electrical equipment.
4. Make sure to properly place plugs into the correct outlets and use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) when plugging in decorations outdoors and only use outdoor-rated extension cords and decorative lights outside.
5. If an electrical fire occurs, use a fire extinguisher to put it out, not water. If the fire appears to be out of hand, call the fire department immediately. 

For more safety tips, visit lumapr.com/safeholidays or call LUMA at 1-844-888-5862 to report an electrical emergency or if they have any questions or concerns related to electrical safety this holiday season. 

About LUMA

LUMA is a Puerto Rican company that, since June 1, 2021, operates and manages the electric power transmission and distribution system in Puerto Rico. LUMA is a company driven by a mission to transform the electrical transmission and distribution system to provide all Puerto Ricans with the reliable, resilient, cleaner, and affordable electrical grid they deserve. As a customer-centric company, LUMA’s entire workforce of more than 3,000 employees is focused on safely delivering an exceptional customer service experience to its 1.5 million customers.