Tips to ensure your holiday decorations are just as safe as they are beautiful.

What’s more enchanting than festive holiday decorations? Trimmings that are as safe as they are beautiful. The following tips will help keep your family and home out of harm’s way so you can experience all the joys of the holiday season.

Love your lights

Before hanging lights on your house or tree, inspect them for damage. Discard any with cracks or bare wires. Replace any broken bulbs.
For exterior lights, make sure outlets have a GFCI for safety, and only use extension cords designed for outdoor use.

How many light strings you can connect depends on what type they are. Those with incandescent bulbs may be limited to a maximum of three to five strings. With LED lights, it may be safe to connect 10 or more. Check the light package to verify how many of your particular strings may be safely connected.

Secure outdoor decorations

Make sure winter winds don’t blow away your outdoor decorations. Secure lights with clips rather than staples or nails. Use sandbags and stakes to keep your inflatables from wandering down the block.

Keep your tree hydrated

A dried-out real tree can easily catch on fire. To keep your fresh tree hydrated, cut two inches from the bottom of the trunk just before placing it in its stand. Fill the stand with water and replenish daily.

Get your glow on safely

Nothing cheers up a dark winter evening like candlelight. If using traditional candles that burn, keep them away from anything that could ignite. Only burn candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface. To avoid excess soot, trim the wick to about one-quarter inch before lighting and keep the candle away from drafts. Never burn candles unattended.

A safer alternative to open-flame candles are battery operated candles. They provide all glow without the risk of fire.

Look out for pets

Be on the lookout for anything pets could ingest that would obstruct their digestive system, like ribbons, tinsel, small ornaments and toys. Keep these items away from pets.

If you have a fresh-cut tree, keep the water covered; bacteria in the water can make pets sick.

Check your smoke alarms

Test your smoke alarm to ensure it’s working properly. If needed, replace the battery. If the smoke detector is more than ten years old it should be replaced.