The holiday season is in full swing, and as the month of December marches on, more and more people are decorating their homes. The festivity and beauty added by the many lights and candles is enjoyed by many; however, the decorations and the process of installing them hold many inherent health risks. From trees to tinsel, there are important recommendations to keep in mind while selecting and installing your seasonal trappings.

The first step in holiday decoration safety begins with purchasing safe products and/or taking a safety assessment of what you already own. A good place to start is by checking the packaging and tags on all strings of lights that you plan to hang: each strand should bear a seal from an independent testing laboratory. If using lights from previous holiday seasons, check each strand visually before plugging in for damage to any of the bulbs or insulation. The Keep Kids Healthy blog offers a few more tips for holiday light safety:

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.

The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and any person touching a branch could be electrocuted! To avoid this danger, use colored spotlights above or beside a tree, never fastened onto it!

Keep "bubbling" lights away from children. These lights with their bright colors and bubbling movement can tempt curious children to break candle-shaped glass, which can cut, and attempt to drink liquid, which contains a hazardous chemical.

Tree safety is also an important consideration for those who decide to put one up. If you choose an artificial tree, be sure to look for one that is labeled as fire-retardant. If choosing a fresh tree, the blogger Safety Dad has a few tips on choosing a safer one:

Make sure your tree is freshly cut and not dried out. Shake the tree a few times, if the needles fall out than your tree is too dry. Bend the needles as well. If they break in half, it is too dry.

Make sure you’re the tree stand has water up to it’s base. A well watered tree will be less likely to dry out.

Trees should never be near direct heat sources (heater, fireplace) this direct heat will accelerate the drying process and creates a fire hazard.

Throw your tree out as soon as it becomes too dry.

Cut the lower branches off the tree as these branches can poke a child in the eye causing injury or worse.

Make sure there are no lit candles near the tree.

All artificial trees should be labeled fire resistant.

Place your tree out of people traffic and do not block doorways.

Fasten all outdoor lights to protect from wind damage and potential fire and use GFI circuit interrupters to prevent shocking.

Finally, the month of December brings twice as many candle-related reported injuries than any other calendar month. Aside from the obvious dangers of unattended open flame, parents of young children should also be on the lookout for the festive air fresheners filled with brightly colored scented oils. These are often overlooked and in easy reach of a child's grasp, and many of the oils are harmful if ingested. However, with a little foresight, holiday decorations can be a source of safe enjoyment during this magical time of the year.

Additional reading:

Tips for A Healthy and Safe Holiday