Holiday Decorating Safety: 7 Essential Tips After 50

Holiday decorating safety deserves a spot on your to-do list before the first light goes up. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates about 14,800 people were treated in emergency rooms for decorating injuries in one holiday season. More than 40% of those incidents involved falls.

Why Holiday Decorating Safety Matters After 50

Falls are a bigger deal as we age. According to the CDC, more than one in four older adults falls each year. Falls among older people lead to about 4.5 million emergency room visits a year.

Timing adds to the risk. With clocks falling back, it gets dark earlier, and many of us rush to hang lights in fading daylight. Our guide to staying healthy when daylight saving time ends covers that shift. Fire risk also rises in winter, as our home fire safety guide for adults over 50 explains.

How Can You Make Ladder Work Safer?

Most decorating falls start with a ladder, a chair, or a stool. A few habits lower the odds.

• Use the right ladder. Never stand on a chair or table. Follow the ladder’s warning labels and never stand on the top step.
• Bring a spotter. Ask someone to hold the ladder and hand items up to you.
• Work in daylight and dry weather. Skip outdoor work when it’s icy, wet, or windy.
• Know when to hand it off. Leave rooflines and second-story windows to someone else.

Many of the same rules apply to fall chores. Our article on gutter cleaning safely after 50 has more ladder tips. If you pay for help, read our guide to hiring a contractor after 50 first.

Are Your Lights and Cords Safe to Use?

Old light strings can be a hidden hazard. The CPSC recommends these steps:

• Use lights tested by a recognized lab, such as UL, ETL, or CSA.
• Check each set for cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, and loose connections. Throw out damaged sets.
• Use only outdoor-rated lights outside, and plug them into a GFCI-protected outlet.
• Make sure extension cords are rated for how you use them and are not cut or frayed.
• Never string together more than three sets of incandescent lights, and don’t overload outlets.

A simple timer helps too. Lights turn off when you go to bed, and you won’t need to crawl behind the tree to unplug them.

How Do You Keep the Tree and Candles From Becoming a Fire Risk?

A dry tree burns fast. Choose a fresh tree with green needles that don’t fall off easily. Water it every day, and keep it away from fireplaces, heaters, and vents. Make sure it doesn’t block a doorway.

If you use an artificial tree, look for a “Fire Resistant” label. That reduces risk but does not remove it.

Keep burning candles in sight and blow them out before leaving the room or going to sleep. Flameless candles give the same glow with less worry. It’s also a good time to test smoke alarms and have your heating system checked, as our furnace safety checklist describes.

What About Taking Decorations Down?

January brings its own risks. Use the same ladder rules when you take lights down. Remove a live tree once it dries out, since dry needles catch fire easily.

Pack decorations into smaller bins that are light enough to carry. Label them, and keep stairs and walkways clear while you work.

Keep Seasonal Home Tasks on Track With Home360

The hardest part of holiday decorating safety is remembering the small tasks, such as checking the tree’s water or inspecting light strings before they go up. A simple system can help.

Home360 is a home management tool. It offers maintenance reminders with automated schedules and custom tasks you create yourself. You can upload documents, receipts, and insurance files, which is handy for the receipt from a new ladder or light set. You can also add appliances with their warranties and get alerts before warranties expire. You can get started for free. For more on keeping those records, see our guide to tracking appliance warranties after 50.

Disclosure: Home360 is part of the same family of tools as Seasoneds.

Looking Forward

Decorating is one of the joys of the season, and it should stay that way. Use a sturdy ladder with a spotter, check your lights and cords, water the tree, and watch your candles. A little planning now means you can enjoy the glow safely all season long.