Posted on December 4, 2001 at 1:35 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The holiday season brings out home decorations both old and new, from candles, holly and mistletoe to strings of brightly colored lights. But Katherine Terry, MPH, program coordinator for UAB’s Injury Control Research Center, says holiday decorations can be dangerous. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 3,110 people were treated in emergency departments last year due to electrical decoration mishaps. Terry says the National Fire Protection Association, in conjunction with Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., offer the following tips when decorating this holiday season.

• When purchasing live, cut trees or wreaths, inspect the needles to see if they are fresh. Trees with brown, easily broken needles are a greater fire risk. Place trees in a sturdy, non-tip stand and keep well watered.
  
  
• Make sure artificial trees are flame-retardant and don’t use electrical decorations on artificial trees with metallic needles, leaves or branch coverings.
  
  
• Place your tree or greens at least three feet away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources and do not block doorways or other exits.
  
  
• Use light strings or electrical decorations that bear the UL Mark. The UL Mark means that UL engineers have tested representative samples of the product for foreseeable safety hazards such as fire and electric shock.
  
  
• Always follow manufacturers instructions for installation and maintenance of electrical decorations.
  
  
• Carefully inspect electrical decorations prior to use. Replace damaged items with new, UL listed decorations.
  
  
• Always unplug a light string or electrical decoration before replacing light bulbs or fuses and use only replacement parts that are specified by the manufacturer.
  
  
• Don't mount or support light strings in any way that might damage the cord wire insulation.
  
  
• Don’t connect too many light strings together. If the product packaging does not indicate the safe maximum number of light strings that may be connected, practice this rule of thumb: No more than three midget (push-in bulbs) light string sets should be connected together and light strings with the screw-in bulbs (C7s and C9s) should have no more than 50 bulbs.
  
  
• Don't overload extension cords — it could cause the cord to overheat and start a fire.
  
  
• Don't allow children or pets to play with light strings, candles or other electrical decorations. These decorations aren't toys and could produce a deadly electric shock if they are misused.
  
  
• Turn off all electrical light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
  
  
• Make sure your home is equipped with working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers that bear the UL Mark. Don't forget to install, test and maintain these devices in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
  
  
• Develop and practice a fire escape plan for your family. Never return to a burning building for any reason. Your belongings can be replaced — you can’t.
  
  

For more information, check the National Fire Protection Association website at www.nfpa.org or Underwriter’s Laboratories at www.ul.com.