Learn to paint everything in your home


The Hidden Dangers of Holiday Decorating

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



1 A B C D E F 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139