Deck the Halls Safely this Season

‘Tis the season to decorate your home for the holidays. Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or putting the star on the tree, be sure to keep safety top-of-mind. Many popular decorating traditions may lead to home injuries if you’re not careful.

The holidays are always busy, but making your home safer for your loved ones will not take much time or money. Making a few simple changes can help prevent a trip to the emergency room!

Here are a few tips from the Home Safety Council for a safe and happy holiday:

When finding and caring for your Christmas tree this holiday season, just remember the word “STAR”:

• Space: Keep your tree at least three feet away from any heat source or flames such as candles and fireplaces.
• Turn off the lights when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Add water daily to keep your tree from drying out too fast.
• Replace lights when they are cracked or the wire is frayed. Holiday lights should be replaced about every 3 years. Look for the UL label on the box so you know they have been tested for safety.

Follow the links below for more tips and advice to help you decorate your home safely this holiday season:

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips

• Candle Safety
• Christmas Tree Safety
• Cooking Safety
• Electrical Safety
• Fire Prevention
• Ladder Safety

Click here for a complete list of home safety tips to help you keep your family safe year round.

Tour MySafeHome

HSC has created a first-of-its-kind online tool to help people find and fix the leading causes of accidents in the home. Visit MySafeHome to tour a virtual home, room-by-room. You will learn about the leading causes of serious home injuries. And you'll see what you can do to keep your loved ones safe.