Each year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people for injuries, such as falls, cuts and shocks, related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees, according to the National Electrical Safety Foundation. Christmas trees are involved in about 300 fires annually, resulting in 10 deaths, 30 injuries and an average of more than $10 million in property loss and damage.

Trees:

1. When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant.” It indicates the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
2. When setting up a tree at home, place it at least three feet away from fireplaces and radiators.
3. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water.
4. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways with the tree.

Lights:

1. Use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards.
2. Use only lights that have fused plugs.
3. Never cut off the ground plug from a three-prong plug. The ground plug provides a safe path for errant electricity.
4. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. Always replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs.
5. Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. Make sure the extension cord is rated for the intended use.
6. Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
7. Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
8. When putting up lights and decorations outdoors, be aware of and stay away from overhead power lines.
9. Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).
10. Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
11. Use caution when removing outdoor holiday lights. Never pull or tug on lights —they could unravel and inadvertently wrap around power lines.
12. Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician.