Holidays are special times for celebrating a break from the rigors of the everyday world and enjoying special foods, customs, and traditions with family and friends. Stay alert and practice the safety measures listed below to help make your holiday memorable for the right reasons.

Fireworks. These thrilling spectacles, even sparklers, are best left to the experts. Burning as hot as 1200º F, fireworks are a cause of lacerations, amputations and blindness, as well as burns. You may think that you know what you’re doing; so did many of the thousands who required emergency room treatment this year because they handled fireworks.

• Stay back at least 500 feet from professional fireworks displays.
• Treat all fireworks, even if they are legal for consumers, as suitable only for use by trained professionals.
• If you find fireworks, do not touch them; instead direct authorities to them.
• Leave any area where amateurs are using fireworks.

Barbecue Safety. Thousands of gas or charcoal grill fires occur each year in the U.S. These fires cost millions of dollars in property damage, cause serious injuries, and even result in fatalities. Whether you’re grilling at home, at the beach or at a campsite, follow these outdoor safety-cooking tips:

• When using barbecue grills on decks or patios, leave sufficient space between grills and siding and eaves.
• Don’t leave a lit barbecue grill unattended.
• Keep children and pets far away from grills.
• With charcoal grills, use only charcoal starter fluids designed for barbecue grills and do not add fluid after coals have been lit.
• With gas grills, be sure that the hose connection is tight and check it carefully for leaks. Soapy water applied to the outside of the hose will easily reveal any leaks.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and have the grill repaired by a professional, if necessary.

Winter. Depending on where you live, chances are you spend more time indoors during the winter season. When it’s time for indoor entertaining, whether it’s a dinner party, Thanksgiving, or New Year’s, you probably make that extra effort to make your home festive. However, a bit of caution and common sense is important, because nearly one third of all residential fires occur during the winter months. Use caution when decorating, particularly with paper products, dried flowers and candles. Keep flammable items and heat sources away from each other, and never burn gift-wrappings, a Christmas tree or branches in your fireplace.

If you celebrate the Christmas holiday and choose to have a live tree, make sure that you select one that’s fresh and water it regularly. If you prefer an artificial Christmas tree, be sure it’s labeled as flame retardant. Other Christmastime safety tips include:

• Keep decorative trees away from heat sources.
• Don’t overload electrical circuits such as wall outlets and extension cords; follow manufacturer’s recommendations for connecting light strings.
• Use only tested Christmas lights (e.g., UL).
• Unplug all Christmas lights when leaving the house or going to bed.