| Many families and homes in the United States do | | | | outdoors, you should also take care not to run |
| some type of home decorating during the months | | | | extension cords across driveways or sidewalks |
| of November and December. Christmas is, by far, | | | | where they might be a tripping hazard for |
| the most decorated holiday in this country. | | | | pedestrians. |
| However, decorating accidents and injuries are | | | | Of all the dangers of holiday decorations, candles |
| also quite common around the holidays. According | | | | play the largest role in holiday accidents and |
| to the Consumer Product Safety Commission | | | | injuries. According to the CPSC, as many as |
| (CPSC), approximately 10,000 people visit | | | | 14,000 house fires occur each year due to |
| emergency rooms each year due to accidents | | | | burning candles, and those fires result in |
| related to holiday decorating. When decorating | | | | approximately 170 deaths. The best way to play |
| your home, it's important to follow good safety | | | | it safe with candles is simply not to use them at |
| procedures to protect yourself and your property. | | | | all. If you must burn candles, be sure to keep |
| First and foremost is Christmas tree safety. | | | | them far away from children and pets. You should |
| Some people believe that real trees are fire | | | | never leave a burning candle unattended. It's also |
| hazards. For the most part, this is untrue, | | | | important to keep open flame away from |
| provided that they are kept watered. A | | | | anything that might be flammable such as curtains |
| well-hydrated real Christmas tree is no more of a | | | | and drapes, wrapped package and other paper, |
| fire hazard than a fire-retardant artificial tree. | | | | and live and/or artificial trees and greenery. |
| There are automated Christmas tree waterers on | | | | Candles are not the only source of open flame |
| the market today that make the task of | | | | around the holidays. When the weather turns cold, |
| watering your tree much easier. Instead of having | | | | many families like to have fires in their fireplaces |
| to remember to water the tree every day, just | | | | or wood burning stoves. It's important to take |
| fill up the tree waterer's reservoir, and it will do | | | | precautions with these types of fires, too. |
| the work for you for several days or up to a | | | | Remember to keep young children and pets far |
| week. | | | | away from fireplaces and stoves to avoid burns. |
| It's also important to check your holiday lights | | | | Also, it's important to have a good safety screen |
| before using them. Strings of lights should be | | | | in front of a fire so that popping sparks don't |
| checked for frayed cords, broken bulbs, or other | | | | ignite carpet or other nearby objects. If you like |
| signs of damage. Don't take any chances with old | | | | to hang stockings on your fireplace, be sure they |
| lights! If they look like they've outlived their useful | | | | are far enough away that the heat or popping |
| life, discard them. There are many organizations | | | | sparks won't catch them on fire, either. Special |
| that now recycle holiday lights; check online for a | | | | salts used to produce colorful flames should also |
| location near you. | | | | be kept away from children and pets, as they |
| Be sure not to plug too many strings of lights into | | | | can be poisonous when ingested. |
| one outlet or extension cord. You should carefully | | | | Remember, 'tis the season to deck the halls |
| read and follow all safety instructions that come | | | | safely and soundly. No family enjoys a holiday |
| with your lights. A good rule of thumb is no more | | | | spent in the emergency room! With some good |
| than 3 strings of lights plugged together into one | | | | common sense and basic safety rules, you can |
| outlet. Extension cord safety is also important. Be | | | | make the holidays a safe and pleasant time for |
| sure not to run extension cords under rugs, as | | | | yourself and your family. |
| this can cause wear over time. When decorating | | | | |