According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, it’s estimated that hospital emergency rooms treat about 15,000 injuries stemming from holiday decorating mishaps each year. Home fires are also more common during the holiday season, as Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) states that there are more than 250 Christmas-tree related fires each year and about 150 more start due to holiday light decorations.

Bottom line: Safety is paramount when you’re decorating for the holidays and enjoying your decorations throughout the season. This post will take a closer look at how to stay safe this holiday season:

Safety Tips for Hanging Outdoor Decorations

The EFSI states that nearly 6,000 people are treated for falls from holiday decorating each year, with falls off ladders or roofs as the most common causes. Here are some tips for safely hanging lights and other decorations this season:

• When using a ladder, make sure that it’s positioned on level ground and stable. Also be sure to check – and comply – with the weight limit, and wear shoes or boots that permit good traction as you’re going up and down the steps. Finally, when using a ladder, you should always maintain three points of contact. That is, out of your two feet and two hands, at least three of these should be on the ladder at all times. This helps you keep your balance while working at heights.
• Make sure lights and extension cords are waterproof and rated for outdoor use. Also be sure that light strings and electrical cords aren’t frayed or worn.
• Use light holders, not nails. Plastic light holders don’t just make hanging lights a whole lot easier, but they also decrease the fire hazard that’s potentially involved with nails.
• Plug lights into a GFCI outlets. GFCI, or ground-fault circuit interrupters, help reduce the potential of electrical shock by automatically shutting down when the electrical current becomes unsafe.

Other Holiday Safety Tips

Hanging exterior decorations aren’t the only safety hazard around the holidays, there’s also the Christmas tree. Here’s a look at some more tips to avoid becoming a statistic this year, when it comes to your Christmas tree and more:

• If you have an artificial tree, make sure it has a fire-resistant label on it. Even so, be sure to keep it – and any other holiday decoration – at least 3 feet away from fireplaces and other heat sources.
• Going with a real tree? Be sure to water it so that the needles don’t dry out. If they do, the fire risk becomes greater. On that note, we suggest getting rid of a real tree on the first garbage day after Christmas before it dries out completely.
• Thoroughly inspect any older decorations. Some of the Christmas decorations from the past include lead-based tinsel, which can be harmful. Check the labels for such and discard when necessary.
• Going to bed or leaving the home? We strongly advise you turn off any and all exterior and interior lights. That’s because if something goes awry and nobody is there to notice it and correct it, it could end up escalating into a big problem.
• Pick LED lights, not incandescent bulbs. Most bulbs these days are LEDs, and that’s a good thing. Not only do they save on energy costs, but they are also less breakable and won’t overheat compared to incandescent bulbs.

If flame-less candles aren’t an option for you, be sure to place them at least a foot away from other things that may burn and make sure they’re in a sturdy holder. Always blow them out when unattended.

Have a happy and safe holiday season by following these simple guidelines. Holidays are a time for rest and reflextion, don't let accidents spoil your holiday cheer.