| Decorating for the holidays is a fun way
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| | lights make sure they are undamaged.
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| for you and your family to prepare for
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| | Frayed strings and exposed wires can
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| the Christmas season. Hanging ornaments
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| | cause a serious risk of electrocution
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| on the tree, stringing lights along your
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| | both inside and outside. Also, do not
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| eves and letting little ones help with
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| | ever try to force a plug into a socket -
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| the holiday decorating are all a
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| | you may need to use an extension cord to
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| wonderful part of the season.
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| | properly fit your light string to your
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| "But," Says Christie MacLachlan of
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| | electricity source.
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| Christmastime site "with all the joy and
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| | - After decorating pay close attention to
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| excitement surrounding Christmas it can
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| | everyday safety. Christmas lights and
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| be easy to forget that there are some
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| | candles are a fire risk, so monitor them
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| real dangers involved in adorning your
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| | closely. Anything that creates heat
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| home and living with holiday decorations
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| | should be not be put near Christmas trees
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| day to day."
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| | or any flammable material and should not
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| According to the US National Center for
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| | be left on when you are not there to keep
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| Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and
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| | an eye on them. Also make sure that none
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| the National Protection Agency, it is
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| | of your decorations obstruct any high
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| estimated that nearly 6000 injuries, 33
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| | traffic areas. Place decorations away
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| deaths and 600 fires a year occur as a
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| | from spots where they are at risk of
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| result of decorating for Christmas. Added
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| | tripping or injuring someone.
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| to the over 23 million dollars in
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| | - Children are especially susceptible to
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| property damage caused during the
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| | injury from Christmas decorations. The
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| holidays, a significant amount of risk is
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| | twinkling lights and unusual shapes are a
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| involved in decorating your home for the
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| | major attraction to little fingers. Kids
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| holidays!
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| | are especially at risk for burns and
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| The most common Christmastime injuries
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| | electrocutions - they might not think
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| come from climbing and reaching, followed
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| | twice about putting their hands up to
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| closely by electrocution and fires caused
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| | flames or playing with wires and
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| by improper handling of Christmas lights.
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| | electrical sockets.
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| Balancing on furniture such as couches
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| | - Be aware of your fragile glass
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| and chairs that aren't meant for climbing
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| | decorations, too. Broken decorations are
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| is the easiest way to get hurt. It's easy
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| | a choking hazard for children and can
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| to prevent injury while decorating for
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| | cause serious scratches and cuts. The
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| Christmas, though! MacLachlan sites these
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| | best way to keep little ones safe is to
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| simple tips to improving your holiday
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| | hang all decorations far out of reach!
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| safety.
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| | Also, parents should be mindful of
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| - Make sure you follow safe practices
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| | poisonous plants such as poinsettia,
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| when working up high. Always use ladders
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| | which can harm children and pets if
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| for climbing and don't overextend your
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| | consumed.
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| reach. Check that your ladder is sturdy
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| | "Keep your Christmas decorating safe this
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| and be sure to have someone hold the
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| | year by being aware of the dangers and
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| bottom so that it doesn't slip. For extra
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| | working to prevent accidents," says
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| safety, you can hire a professional
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| | MacLachlan. Practice common sense holiday
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| roofer to put up your roof top
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| | safety throughout your home this season
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| decorations.
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| | so you and your family can enjoy and
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| - When you're installing your Christmas
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| | happy accident and injury-free Christmas.
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