"I've seen people that fall off the 5ladder, they fall off the roof. Even when they're just trying to be careful 6climbing down, they just 7slipbecause they're wearing the wrong shoes, and end up having to spend the holidays in the hospital with serious injuries."

So, whether reaching for the top of the tree or 8stringing lights, Dr. Carol Parsons, an emergency medicine physician for Cleveland Clinic, offers this advice when decking the halls: Make sure both legs of the ladder are 9firmly 10planted. And...

"When you're up on the ladder, a lot of people end up reaching over for the next 11strand of lights, when really they should be getting off the ladder, moving it over and 12repositioning it."

Parsons also says if using an artificial tree, look for a 13fire-resistant label. And if you go for the real thing, make sure you water it to keep it from drying out and potentially becoming a fire 14hazard. And when decorating the tree, be careful with the ornaments.

"Most nowadays are plastic, but there's a fair amount that are ceramic or glass. People drop them, they 15step on them, they slice their fingers on them, and they 16end up coming to see us in the ER every year."