For millions of people every year, the holiday season comes with traditions of festive lights and decorations, extraordinary foods and lavish parties. Unfortunately, every year people are hurt in decorating for these events.

Keep your holiday decorating safe and bright, but also learn from the tragic experience of Shawn Miller from Indiana who was helping his mother light her yard for the holidays.

“I was just hanging Christmas lights at my mom’s house like I do every year,” Miller said. “Only this time, I was decorating a new area—the trees that lined the front of the yard.” As he tossed lights up into the trees, 7,200 volts of electricity entered his body, traveling from the overhead power lines through his strand of lights. He suffered 27 exit wounds and the loss of his left hand, among other injuries.

Miller and Safe Electricity urge everyone to follow these precautions: 

• When decorating outside, look up and look out. Never throw holiday lights or other decorations into trees near power lines. 
• Be especially careful when working near power lines attached to your house. Keep ladders, equipment, and yourself at least 10 feet from power lines. 
• Use only lights, cords, animated displays, and decorations rated for outdoor use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use them. Use plastic or insulated hooks to hang lights. 
• Cords should be plugged into outlets equipped with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). Use a portable GFCI if your outdoor outlets are not equipped with them. GFCI protection is very important outdoors, where weather conditions can create dangerous electrical situations. 
• Do not staple or nail through light strings or electrical cords, and do not attach anything to utility poles. 
• Outdoor holiday lights are for seasonal use, up to 90 days. Bring them inside after the holidays. 
• Avoid decorating outside on windy or wet days. Choose to decorate in favorable weather conditions and during daylight hours.

“Please take note of your surroundings before decorating outside,” Miller urges, “especially power lines and the service connection to your home. Make sure to keep yourself, ladders, and lights far away from them. I’m lucky to be alive. I want everyone to be careful — be aware of power lines."