Glittering holiday lights are a delight to the eyes, but they can be a fire hazard if they aren’t inspected and maintained.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these safety guidelines for holiday lights:

  - Carefully inspect all lights, even brand new ones, to look for frayed wires, loose connections or broken sockets.
  - Never use electrical lights with a metallic tree. Faulty lights could charge the tree, and anyone touching the tree could be electrocuted.
  - If using lights outside, make sure they’re approved for outdoor use. Never use nails or tacks to hang them; instead use hooks or insulated staples.
  - Always plug outdoor lights into sockets with ground circuit interrupters.
  - Turn off all holiday lights before going to bed or leaving your home.