During the holidays, many of us enjoy decorating and sprucing up the outside and inside of our homes so we can our guests can get into the holiday spirit. This can lead to us going on our roofs, climbing ladders and more, which can put us as risk for injury.

In 2014, over 15,000 people were admitted to the Emergency Room for holiday-related injuries. For the past five years, these number have been steadily climbing.

Having homeowner's insurance will protect you from some of the cost of these injuries, depending on the depth of your coverage. But we'd generally prefer if you didn't injure yourself at all. We've put together a few safety tips that may help prevent you from injury.

When putting up holiday decorations, always use a step stool or ladder to reach high places. Don't stand on chairs, desks or other furniture. If you have to use a step ladder near a doorway, lock the door so no one will open it and knock you off the ladder. When you climb, always face the ladder and grip the rungs to climb, instead of the side rails. Always keep three points of contact on the ladder whether two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand. Wear gloves while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." It can irritate your eyes and skin. Avoid placing breakable tree ornaments or ones with small, detachable parts on lower branches where small children or pets can reach them. Only use indoor lights indoors. Look for the UL label. Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, and loose connection. Replace or repair any damaged light sets. Use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord. Extension cords should be placed against the wall to avoid tripping hazards, but do not run cords under rugs, around furniture legs or across doorways.

A robust homeowner's insurance policy can help protect you from the financial blow of injuries or a fire-related disaster by not only covering damage to the home, but also covering damage to objects within the home. During time of Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's a smart idea to beef up your insurance policy. Meet with a Schwarz Insurance Agent to discuss your options today.