5 Safety Tips To Know Before You Buy A Real Christmas Tree

This weekend is the perfect time to go out and buy your Christmas tree, and if you're getting a real tree, there are some tips that you need to remember. Real trees are a fire hazard, but if you follow these tips, it will help reduce the possibility of problems.

1. Buy the freshest tree possible - When you are looking at trees, make sure the needles aren't brittle or dry. A Christmas tree is one big piece of firewood, so make sure the needles are green and soft before you buy.

2. Keep your tree watered - Your tree is dead, it's sad, but true. Once it's chopped down, it's only a matter of time before it dries out. Use a tree stand that you can put water in and make sure you put water in it every day or so. The tree will continue to soak up the water and it will help keep it fresh. But it's still dead. Sorry.

3. Use the right lights - Right lights - safety tested by the UL or ETL/ITSNA. What is the UL or ETL/ITSNA? I don't know. Google them to find out. Just make sure your lights have that tag on them so you know they're safe. Wrong lights - not tested by the UL or ETL/ITSNA and you have to wear oven mitts when you test them because they get so hot. Bad lights. Baaaad lights.

4. No open flames - Do not put any open flames near your tree. No fireplace, no candles, no nothing. It's frighteningly easy for a Christmas tree to go up in flames, and we all love candles and fireplaces, but we all love our houses and our families more. Watch that video above again. Yes, there is a flame directly below the tree, but watch how the how dang thing just gets engulfed. No open flames anywhere near your tree. Really scary ish.

5. Turn that tree off - I go to work at 4 in the morning and I can't tell you how many trees I see lit up in windows. Don't do that. I have a pretty tree at home and I know you do, too, but it's too risky to not unplug that tree when you go to bed.

Christmas trees are wonderful and heartwarming. Keep them that way, and don't turn them into Roman candles. Follow these safety tips and have a very Merry Christmas!