Holiday Safety Tips for the Home

One of the best parts of the holiday season is the decorations. The lights, Christmas trees, and other festive garnishments make the season feel special, but these decorations can also sometimes lead to injuries or damage to property if users aren't cautious.

While decorating for the holidays, there are different precautions you can take to protect your family and home from harm. Read the prevention tips below to learn how you can keep your loved ones safe and avoid dangerous accidents.

• If you are getting an artificial tree, look for one that is “fire resistant”.
• When buying a real tree, look for one that is fresh and does not have dry needles that easily fall off.
• Place your tree at least 3 feet from all heat sources, including radiators, fireplaces, vents, space heaters, and lights.
• Make sure your tree does not block any doorways.
• Hang glass and breakable ornaments towards the top of the tree, out of the reach of children.
• If you have young children, be careful not to use small decorations or ornaments that could become choking hazards.
• Never light candles near your Christmas tree or other decorations.
• When hanging lights indoors or outside, be sure to check each strand for broken sockets or bulbs and frayed wires.
• If you are hanging lights outside of your home, make sure the strands are certified for use outdoors.
• No more than 3 strands of lights should be plugged into any single extension cord.
• Make sure you turn off all lights – both indoors and outside – before leaving the house and going to sleep.
• When opening presents, keep the discarded wrapping paper away from fireplaces or sources of heat and immediately throw away the paper when done.
• Be sure to throw your tree out once the needles become dry and brittle, as it is more flammable once it has dried out.

We hope these tips will help you keep your family safe while enjoying your holiday decorations!

De Castroverde Law Group represents victims of negligent accidents in personal injury cases throughout Las Vegas and Clark County.