Deck the halls with boughs of safety 

Take care inside and out 

HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS usually focus on the festive decorations inside the house, but exterior decor also has its hazards. 

When putting up outdoor lights, fasten them securely to trees, your house, walls or another firm support. You want them to remain secure when it’s windy outside. But do not staple them or use nails that can damage the wire’s insulation. Plastic zip ties are an excellent way of securing strands to other stable objects. 

There’s a limit to the number of light strands you can connect together—a lesson Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold learned the hard way in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Follow the manufacturer instructions, because the limit differs based on the type of light. This goes for indoor decorations, too. 

When running extension cords outside along the ground, elevate plugs and connectors with a brick. That will help keep snow, water and debris out of the connections. Extension cords can occasionally overheat, so periodically touch-test the cord. If it’s hot, unplug it. 

Turn off the lights on your trees and other decorations outside and inside at bedtime or when you leave the house. Lights can short and start a fire. 

Indoor tree reminders 

For fresh or artificial Christmas trees, eliminate heat by using LED lights. LEDs do not get hot like traditional incandescent bulbs or tiny lights, and they use 75% to 90% less electricity for the same amount of light. 

If you have an artificial tree, make sure it is labeled fire resistant. If you have a live tree, cut off about 2 inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption. 

Place your tree at least 3 feet away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources; keep it out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways. 

Holiday safety tips for kids 

• Those popular candle-shaped lights perched on “bubbling” colored liquid should be kept away from youngsters. They may be tempted to break the glass and drink the colorful, hazardous liquid. 
• Kids’ handmade paper ornaments can cause fires if they come in contact with electrical connections. 
• Most strings of Christmas tree lights are coated with plastic containing lead. Since the amount of lead varies greatly, it’s difficult to determine how dangerous the lights might be. To be safe, don’t allow young children to handle the lights. 
• Playful youngsters can easily get tangled in light strings. Watch children closely and warn them of the dangers. 
• Avoid placing breakable ornaments or ornaments with small, detachable parts on lower tree branches where small children can reach them. 

Sources: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, BabyCenter.com