Holiday Hazards To Look Out For

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Christmas is just days away and many homes are all decked out for the occasion.

But as CBS2's Diane Macedo reported, those decorations can also pose some hazards, especially around children and pets.

During the two months surrounding the holiday season, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates 13,000 Americans head to the emergency room for treatment of injuries related to holiday decorations.

CPSC warns that two staples of the season -- candles and the Christmas tree -- can pose fire risks.

"We never want to see unattended candles or candles that are too close to a tree or any decorations, or of course a tree to close to any kind of radiator or heat source," said CPSC Chairman Elliot Kaye.

As a tree gets deeper into the season, it's also key to keep it properly watered.

You probably gave your indoor and outdoor lights a glance before putting them up for the season, but as the weeks go on, it's worth checking them periodically.

"You want to make sure that there's no exposed wires, any of the sockets are not in properly. Anything that looks funny about the lights, just throw them out and get a new set," Kaye said.

With children at the center of so many holiday celebrations, parents should make an extra effort to keep them away from certain items.

"There's a lot of items in the house that aren't normally there, and I think it's a good opportunity for parents to teach safety to kids with regard to the holiday season," Kaye said.

Be mindful of small ornaments that children could potentially swallow and glass ornaments that can shatter and cause cuts.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said emergency room visits due to holiday decorating accidents have been on the rise for the past four years.

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