Everyone loves the majestic look of a live or faux Christmas tree. But this year, make sure your holiday tree is not only pretty but safe too.

Choosing safe Christmas trees

If you prefer the smell of a real evergreen, make sure you bring home a fresh tree. The drier the tree, the bigger the fire hazard, so when purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree has green needles that are hard to pull from branches and that do not break when bent. The butt of the tree should also be sticky with resin. When tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles. Ask the tree vendor to cut two or three inches off the bottom so your tree will better absorb water from its stand. Put the tree into a tree stand filled with fresh water as soon as you bring it home, and keep it watered.

If decided on getting an artificial tree, avoid Christmas trees with toxic amounts of lead. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children. You can buy a home lead test kit at most home improvement stores to check the lead levels of Christmas trees.

Putting up Christmas trees

When putting up a live tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Use a sturdy tree stand that will keep your tree straight. With a piece of wire, attach the top of the tree to a hook in the ceiling so it can't tip over.

When setting up fake tree, pay attention to details such as the center pole, weight distribution and tree stand. Small Christmas trees sometimes have plastic center poles. These won't bear much weight, so they are only suitable for very small trees, such as tabletop ornaments.  The weight of the branches must be evenly distributed over the center pole or the frame of the tree and the stand must be strong enough to hold the weight of the artificial Christmas tree and the weight of the ornaments firmly in place. Plastic stands are only suitable for trees about two feet tall. Other Christmas trees should be placed in a sturdy stand made from quality steel with strong welds or rivets.

Make sure live or faux Christmas trees are out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

Using the right lights and cords

Whether for indoors or outdoors, use only lights that have been tested for Christmas tree safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. Never put electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.

Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. Choose heavy-gauge extension cords as they stay cool and don't fray easily. Tape down any loose cords so people don't trip over them, and never run cords under rugs as this is a fire hazard.

Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples, not nails or tacks, to hold strings in place. Or, run strings of lights through hooks.

Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire. Consider upgrading to LED lights, available where other tree lights are sold. You'll spend a bit more, but they're safer because they don't generate heat.

For added Christmas tree safety, plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician.

Trimming with safe decor

Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim Christmas trees. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or non-leaded metals. Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.

In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.

Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.

Whether setting up a live or faux evergreen this year, as long as some Christmas tree safety concerns are addressed beforehand, families may enjoy their holidays without worry.