The season of good cheer is an exciting time of year. The day after Thanksgiving, lights are already going up all over Buncombe County. However, the hustle and bustle of the holiday seasoncan lead to all kinds of unfortunate accidents. You already know about the hazards of deep frying a turkey or climbing on a slick roof to put up Christmas lights. So instead, we here at Paul Davis Greater Asheville have gone the less obvious route. Here are 8 NEW holiday safety tips to protect your loved onesand your property from dangers.

1. NOT SO WARM TIDINGS: Homes located along coastal areas or major rivers can be at risk for flooding during the winter holidays. Winter windstorms can create tidal flooding, or an unexpected winter thaw up north can cause a sudden rise in river levels down south. FEMA provides a full list of ways to protect your home from flood damage here.

2. UNWANTED CHRISTMAS SIZZLE: You know you’re supposed to water your live Christmas tree to keep it from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. Just remember to unplug the lights first. Otherwise, you could end up as one of the dozens of people who have been electrocuted by their Christmas tree in the last 15 years.

3. HANDLE THY CANDLES: Are you using candles in your celebration of Hanukkah or Kwanzaa? Keep draperies out of the way when you place a menorah or kinara candle stand near a window. Extinguish the candles before going to bed.

4. OUTDOOR STRINGS AND THINGS: In the southeast, winter is a time when we can experience some nasty rain. Wet conditions greatly increase the danger of electrical accidents from Christmas lights. Using UL listed outdoor lights and extension cords plugged into GFCI outlets are standard precautions. A newer safety option is to buy solar powered Christmas lights that eliminate the need for cords and outlets altogether.

5. CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER: It’s all fun and games at Christmas until someone puts their back out. Cords from holiday decorations and toys can create a spider web of tripping hazards across the floor. Make sure to keep at least one pathway in the front room clear at all times.

6. CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT SURPRISE: Antique ornaments are whimsical and are often passed down from generation to generation. Don’t let those happy memories fool you. Old electrical bulb lights can cause shocks and fires. The ancient candle holders that preceded electricity are even more of a fire hazard. Many antique decorations contain high quantities of lead. When you learn the history of your heirloom Christmas decorations, be sure to find out about any dangerous materials used.

7. LEAD TO SAFETY: Did you know that even modern Christmas lights often have lead in their cords – but that only California requires these products to have a warning label? Remember to wash your hands after handling lights this year (or wear gloves).

8. HOLIDAY CRUNCH: You can almost hear the Grinch laughing sadistically whenever someone steps on a blown glass tree ornament. These beautiful baubles are like land mines waiting to explode. Replace yours with plastic ornaments that have a metallic finish. This is especially important if you have kids in the house.