News Release > Keep fall festivities fun by observing safety tips

Keep fall festivities fun by observing safety tips

11/06/2023

NEW ORLEANS – While hot summer-like days begin to fade, many residents are ready to welcome crisp, cool mornings. As we transition into fall settling into back-to-school routines and tackling home improvement projects, it is important to keep safety first. Taking a few precautions can ensure you enjoy all your fall activities without injuries.

Keep safety first with home projects

Fall is a great time to tidy up and prep your property for winter. When cleaning up fallen leaves and branches or trimming trees, always use caution and be aware of overhead lines. Position your ladder away from overhead wires, so trimmings will not fall onto power lines. If that happens, assume downed wires are energized and call 1-800-ENTERGY for help.

If your fall spruce-up includes digging up flower beds, trees or shrubs, installing a she-shed or repairing the deck, remember to call before you dig. Calling 811 before you dig will keep you safe and prevent disruption of utility services to your neighborhood.

When performing maintenance activities that require a ladder inside or out, be sure to wear proper footwear, position the ladder on a flat surface, and have someone nearby to spot you.

Daylight Saving Time ends November 5

When Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 5, fewer hours of daylight will make it more difficult to see children going to and from the school bus in the mornings and evenings. When driving, avoid distractions and watch for children in the neighborhood. The National Association for Pupil Transportation offers additional tips for ensuring children arrive to and from school safely.

When you set our clocks to fall back an hour, it is a great time to check the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. All homes should contain a carbon monoxide detector to help identify the colorless and odorless gas that can cause serious illness or death.

Stay cozy with these indoor tips

Candles add a warm ambience to an autumn evening, but remember it is never safe to leave candles burning unattended. A small sputter or an errant flame can cause a fire in an instant.

Space heaters should only be used with caution. They are large consumers of energy and a fire hazard, so you should keep them at least three feet away from draperies, rugs and furniture. Additionally, homeowners who use a gas or electric furnace should schedule an appointment for service by a certified technician to make sure it is safe for operation and for greatest efficiency.

A wood-burning stove or fireplace can add warmth and coziness to a room but should also be used with caution and proper preparation. Have your chimney cleaned by a professional before the first fire is lit. Fallen leaves, animal nests and other debris can cause the smoke to vent into your home rather than outside and cause a fire.

Remember to replace dirty air filters inside and remove debris from the unit outside to ensure your HVAC unit works efficiently through all seasons.

Hurricane season lasts through November 30, so it is important to not let your guard down when the weather begins to cool. Prepare now for severe weather that may come your way by making a plan and a kit.

About Entergy Louisiana

Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers in 58 parishes and natural gas service to more than 94,000 customers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

About Entergy New Orleans

Entergy New Orleans, LLC is an electric and gas utility that serves Louisiana’s Orleans Parish. The company provides electricity to more than 209,000 customers and natural gas to more than 110,000 customers.

Both companies are subsidiaries of Entergy Corporation, an integrated energy company engaged in electric power production, transmission and retail distribution operations. Entergy delivers electricity to 3 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale U.S. power generating fleets with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 7,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Entergy has annual revenues of $10 billion and approximately 12,000 employees.