8 holiday decorating tips to avoid injury, fire

As people putup their holiday decorations, there are concerns about doing it safely and avoiding a holiday disaster.

Firefighters are called to homes each year due to improperly installed decorations or for trees that dry out.

On that note, here are some tipsprovided by the Ontario governmenton how to put up your decorations safely:

• Check for frayed or damaged electrical cords, light strings and extension cords.
• Always buy electrical products that have a recognizedcertification marklike "CSA" (Canadian Standards Association).
• Do not overload electrical outlets with plugs and extension cords.
• Make sure you hang lights where they are meant to be outdoor lights outside and indoor lights inside.
• Read the manufacturer's instructions before installing holiday lights and decorations.
• Stay clear of power lines when decorating outdoors.
• Turn your holiday lights off before going to bed or leaving the house. Saving money on hydro bills means more gifts for your loved ones.
• Remove lights as soon as you can after the holiday season - they are not designed for year-round use.