Holiday decorations hazardous to your health?

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WISH) - Holiday cheer turns into a trip to the hospital for thousands of people each year. That’s why some safety experts are sounding the alarm this time of year.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says 13,000 people every year are injured while decorating the house for the holidays.

So state fire officials say there are important things that can keep you and your family safe.

"Last thing people want to think about it having a fire or a medical emergency,” Terre Haute Fire Department Chief Jeff Fisher told 24-Hour News 8 sister station WTHI-TV . “We want everybody to have a joyful holiday season. And if you haven't done it yet, check the batteries in your smoke alarm."

If you are displaying a real, but Christmas tree, make sure you keep it thoroughly watered. Dried out trees can burn very quickly.

And as far as lights, don’t connect more than three strings together, and be sure to examine the cords and bulbs every year. If a cord is damaged, don’t use it. If a bulb is broken, replace it.

One Terre Haute resident knows first-hand what can happen if you don’t follow those safety tips.

“I normally put almost 2,000 lights on it anyway, but then we had this super big tree, so I kept putting lights on it because it didn’t look enough. And then it melted a cord,” she said.

More holiday safety tips are available on the state’s website .