It is that time of year. This weekend many of us will be buying a Christmas tree and decorating it for the holiday. There are several things that you should consider in order to make sure that you and your family are safe during this time of year.

Christmas tree fires lead to nearly 40 deaths each year. To try and prevent this, you should always buy a fresh tree. You want the needles to be green and you should regularly water it. If you are purchasing an artificial tree, make sure it is labeled “Fire Resistant.”

When selecting a location in your house for the tree, place it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters and be sure to place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

If you have toddlers in your house make sure the tree is secure. You do not want the toddler to be able to pull the tree over and be hurt. Use non-breakable ornaments so that if they fall off the tree, kids will not be hurt. Consider placing ornaments higher up on the tree so that children will not be able to reach them.

Make sure that the tree is safe for your pets. You do not want them drinking the water in the base or eating ornaments off the tree.  And be sure to avoid using potential choking hazards.