Incorporating less rather than more this holiday season will keep mishaps low and smiles brighter than lights on a tree.

No matter which holiday you observe, make it a safe one with these tips from Lowe's Home Safety Council:

String Three or Less Strands

Multiple strands of lights on a tree may be pretty but more than three strands joined together can overheat the wires and extension cords and cause a fire. When hanging lights, check each set new or old, for broken, unraveled or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.

Keep Candles to a Minimum

Though lit candles create a nice holiday ambiance, having too many flames is flirting with disaster. Keep decorative burning candles to a minimum and keep them away from fans, children, trees and cords to reduce the chances of a possible fire. NFPA reports that there is twice the number of home candle fires in December than in an average month, and candles have been responsible for 43 percent of home decoration fires each year.

Turn Out Lights

Turn off holiday lights before going to sleep at night. Not only are you preventing a possible fire, you also reduce your energy bill.

Keep Kitchens Safe

• Reduce the number of people in the kitchen -- more people in the kitchen increases chances of burns and scalding injuries due to hot ovens, pots and finite space.
• Make sure your smoke alarm is working and correctly installed. About 30 percent of people surveyed claim to have disabled their smoke alarm while cooking.

Use Less Figurines and Ornaments

Think twice about hauling your ever-growing Christmas collection down from the attic. Even if you love that collection of giant nutcrackers or glass balls, they pose a serious risk to visiting children. If children will be present, minimize the clutter and danger by keeping suspect decorations out of easy reach.

Don't Overload Outlets

• Don't overload outlets
• Use surge protectors if multiple outlets are needed
• Make sure extension cords are substantial enough to carry the intended load. Generally, the thicker the cord, the greater the load it should be able to carry without overheating, but check the instructions. Make sure the extension cord has been tested by a lab, such as Underwriter's Laboratory (UL).

Get more tips online at LHSC's Home Safety Encyclopedia or call 1-800 SAFE HOME.