The holidays are an exciting time of year, especially for kids. With the twinkling lights, a roaring fire and the smell of cookies being made, there are lots of things to be aware of to keep everyone safe this season.

More residential fires occur during the winter months than at any other time of year -- and 70% of the fatalities are caused by smoke and NOT burns. Don't worry moms! The American Academy of Pediatrics has tips to ensure a safe holiday season for you and your family.

Fireplaces
• Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that the flue is open.

• Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

Lights
• Check all tree lights -- even if you've just purchased them -- before hanging them on your tree. Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.

• Never use 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.

• Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

Trees
• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."

• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break.

• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

• Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.

Solution
In the unfortunate case of there being an actual fire, be prepared and help increase escape time with The SMOKESTOPPER. The SMOKESTOPPER is a new fire safety device that attaches under most standard interior doors to inhibit smoke from entering rooms and increases your families' escape time. It also features a highly reflective strip along the entire length of its outward face that shines when hit with the light from a firefighter's flashlight -- helping to draw immediate attention on the room where your loved ones are located.

To learn more about The SMOKESTOPPER and how it works, click here.