A week from today, many of us will enjoy our favorite holiday of the year — Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is also the traditional kick off to the Christmas season, and Christmas decorations and Christmas trees will go up in earnest all over Vicksburg and Warren County.

Entergy Mississippi reminds us to “Beware the Griswold Christmas effect,” referring to the holiday movie classic, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” in which character Clark Griswold throws caution to the wind and causes a city-wide power shortage thanks to his faulty wiring.

Don’t be a Clark Griswold this year, ruining Christmas for yourself, your family and your neighbors. Take Entergy’s advice and follow these important safety tips this season.

If you are installing outdoor Christmas lights:

• Make sure the lights used are designated for outdoor use and that cords are not worn or frayed.

• Use a non-conducting fiberglass or wooden ladder when working with strings of lights and make certain to stay clear of all overhead wires.

• Do not replace bulbs while the electricity is on.

• Never let light bulbs touch flammable materials like plastic or dry grass or leaves.

• For outdoor use, work only with three-wire, grounded extension cords.

• Use rubber gaskets in light sockets or hand sockets downward to keep water out.

• Keep connections and lights off the ground by hanging them over wooden stakes.

For your indoor decorations, Entergy recommends:

• If using a live tree, make sure it is fresh and green, with needles that are hard to pull from the branches.

• Place the tree in a stand with water, well away from heaters or the fireplace. Check water daily.

• Examine all lights before putting them on the tree or using them in other home decorations. Do not use lights with frayed wiring or loose sockets, make sure they have been tested for safety by an independent testing laboratory.

• For greater efficiency and safety, use smaller, cool-burning LED lights.

• Make sure all light sockets have bulbs in them. Children are fascinated by lights and could put their finders in empty sockets.

• Keep bulbs from touching tree branches. Never, ever burn candles on or near the tree and never use flammable decorations.

• Never use lights on a metallic tree. If the lights become faulty, the entire tree could be electrified.

• Be careful not to overload extension cords, outlets or even while circuits in the house.

• Turn off decorative lighting when you leave the room.

• Place wires where they cannot trip anyone. Do not run them under rugs.

Take Entergy’s advice and make sure you and your family stays safe and gets to enjoy this time with those you care about.