The winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and an increased risk of fire and accidents. As the holidays approach, as well as throughout the year, our primary message, first, last and always is prevention.

Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 8,700 people for injuries, such as falls, cuts and shocks, related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees. In addition, Christmas trees are involved in about 400 fires annually, resulting in 20 deaths, 70 injuries and an average of more than $15 million in property loss and damage.

Every year, the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission highlights the top five safety hazards for the holiday session (candles, trees, holiday lighting, fires, and decorations). Below are suggested safety tips to make your holiday a safe one.

Candles: Over the last few years, candles have become more and more popular. Sales are up and unfortunately, so are the number of candle fires and candle-related fire deaths.

·Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens.

·Always use non-flammable holders.

·Keep candles away from other decorations and wrapping paper.

·Never leave the house with candles burning.

Trees: Many artificial trees are fire resistant. If you buy one, look for a statement specifying this protection. A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard than a dry tree. To check for freshness, remember:

·A fresh tree is green.

·Fresh needles are hard to pull from branches.

·When bent between your fingers, fresh needles do not break.

·The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin.

·When the trunk of a tree is bounced on the ground, a shower of falling needles shows that tree is too dry.

·Place tree away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. Heated rooms dry trees out rapidly, creating fire hazards.

Holiday Lighting: Lights are widely used to enhance the beauty of your home, tree, and decorations. The key safety tip is to use only lights that have been tested for safety. Identify these by the label from an independent testing laboratory, Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

·Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets or repair them before using.

·Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.

·Turn off all lights on trees and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short and start a fire.

·Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.

Fires: Fireplaces bring together the holiday spirit together as a central focus to your home. It brings warmth, peace, and romance into the holiday setting.

·Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that flue is open.

·Keep a screen before the fireplace all the time a fire is burning.

·Use care with “fire salts,” which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten.

Decorations: Decorations add color and sparkle to your home and tree, but could turn a joyous occasion into tragedy.

·Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.

·In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.