It’s the time of year when we enjoy festive meals with family and friends, decorate and give gifts. To help ensure you have fun and stay safe, here are tips to remember:

Decorations

• When decorating hard-to-reach areas, always use a proper stepladder and don’t stand on chairs or other furniture to prevent falls.
  • Trees:
    • Reduce the risk of fire by making sure your artificial tree is fire-resistant. If you choose a live tree, make sure it is fresh and keep it well watered.
    • Place your tree away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources.
    • Use a wide-based stand to make sure the tree is secure and will not fall over.
    • Stabilize large trees by using thin guy-wires to secure them to walls or the ceiling.
    • Artificial snow sprays can irritate lungs if inhaled. Read container labels, and follow directions carefully to avoid injury.
    • Cut back lower branches to avoid eye injuries to small children.
  • Lights
    • Indoors or outside, use only lights and cords that have been tested for safety by Underwriters’ Lab Inc. (UL)
    • Check new and old light sets 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 tree lights and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short circuit and start a fire.
    • Secure electrical cords so children can’t pull them and topple the tree.
  • Ornament safety
    • Decorate your tree with children in mind. Do not use ornaments that are breakable, have small detachable parts or metal hooks, or look like food or candy on the lower branches where small children can reach them.
    • Keep bubble lights away from children. They break easily, and the liquid inside is a hazardous chemical.
• Candles
  • Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
  • Teach children not to touch burning candles.
  • Never leave candles unattended.
  • Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens.
  • Always use nonflammable holders.
  • Keep candles away from other decorations and wrapping paper.
  • Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over.
• Cooking and food safety
  • Round, hard foods and candies, such as candy cane pieces, mints, nuts and popcorn, may be choking hazards. Keep them away from small children.
  • Keep alcoholic drinks and containers out of reach.
  • Keep common baking ingredients, such as vanilla and almond extracts, out of reach. They contain high levels of alcohol and may be harmful to young children.
  • Keep poisonous plants out of reach. Watch for holly and mistletoe berries that fall on the ground. They are very poisonous if eaten. Other poisonous holiday plants include amaryllis, azalea, boxwood, Christmas rose, Crown of Thorns, English ivy and Jerusalem cherry. Poinsettias can cause skin irritation and upset stomach. They can also be toxic to pets.
• Gifts and toys
  • When buying a toy or game, consider your child’s age and development. Read the instructions and warning labels to make sure it’s safe for them.
  • If your child is under 3, check for small parts that could be choking hazards. Keep deflated balloons away from children younger than 8.
  • If you have children of different ages, store toys for older children separately from those for younger ones, as they may have small parts that are dangerous for younger children.
  • Make sure your child uses safety gear, like a helmet, when riding scooters and other wheeled toys. Buy or gift the wheeled toy along with the safety gear to help build good habits from the start.
  • After opening gifts, throw away plastic wrapping and packaging right away to prevent suffocation or choking.
  • Safe Kids tracks product recalls for children’s items. Sign up for email alerts at www.safekids.org/product-recalls.

Check out our Winter Safety and Toy Safety tip sheets.

Fireworks

The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public firework show put on by professionals. Be sure to stay at least 500 feet from the show. Since many states have outlawed most fireworks, it is best to leave any area where amateurs are using them. If you’re setting fireworks off at home, follow these safety tips:

• Choose an open area away from buildings and trees.
• Never give fireworks to small children. Never throw or point fireworks toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or anything flammable. Always follow the instructions on the package.
• Keep spectators, including children and pets, a safe distance away.
• Have water or a fire extinguisher nearby. If you live in an area that is experiencing a drought, consider canceling the show, a stray spark that lands on dry grass or leaves can lead to a wildfire.
• Make sure the person lighting the fireworks wears eye protection.
• Light only one firework at a time, and never try to relight a “dud."
• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.

Read our guide on Summer Safety.

Check out these top tips from Safe Kids Worldwide to help keep Halloween safe and fun:

Safe costumes:

• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers. If possible, choose light-colored clothing.
• Instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision, choose nontoxic face paint and makeup whenever possible.
• Have children carry glow sticks or flashlights so they can see better and be seen by drivers.

Safe walking:

Children are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other day. The following tips can help them reduce the chance they’ll get hurt:

• Stay alert. Watch out for cars that are turning or backing up and don’t dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars.
• Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
• Put electronic devices down and keep your head up. Walk, don’t run, across the street.
• Cross the street safely at corners. Always look left, right and left again when crossing, continuing to look as you cross.
• The safe age for kids to trick-or-treat without adult supervision usually is around 12. It depends on factors like the child’s neighborhood and maturity level. Kids should never trick-or-treat alone. If they’re with a friend, make sure to agree on where they can go and what time to come home.

Read our guide to Pedestrian Safety.

Safe driving:

• Slow down in residential neighborhoods. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours can vary from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Children are excited and may move in unpredictable ways.
• Reduce any distractions inside your car, such as talking on the phone or eating. Concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

Check out our Halloween Safety Tips.