Play It Safe This Holiday Season

Who doesn’t love decorating this time of year? It’s one of the best ways to get in the holiday mood! However, according to the National Safety Council, emergency rooms see thousands of injuries involving holiday decorating every year. Follow these tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission so you can skip the ER and have fun at home with your loved ones! 

• Keep potentially poisonous plants, like mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry, and amaryllis, away from children. 
• If using an artificial tree, check that it’s labeled “fire resistant.” 
• If using a live tree, cut off about two inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption and remember to water it and remove it from your home when it is dry.
• Place your tree at least three feet away from fireplaces, radiators, and other heat sources, making certain not to block doorways. 
• Avoid placing breakable ornaments or ones with small, detachable parts on lower tree branches where small children can reach them. 
• Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors and use a ladder (with someone else spotting) while hanging lights. 
• Replace light sets that have broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, and loose connections. 
• Follow the package directions on the number of light sets that can be plugged into one socket. 
• Never nail, tack, or stress wiring when hanging lights, and keep plugs off the ground, away from puddles and snow. 
• Turn off all lights and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.