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The National Safety Council offers these suggestions for making your holiday season not only merry, but safe:

• Decorations: wear gloves when handling prickly trees and spun glass "angel hair," and avoid spraying artificial snow onto angel hair because the combination can be combustible.
 
• When using artificial snow, follow instructions carefully. Sprays can irritate the lungs if inhaled.
 
• Fireplaces: Don't burn evergreens or wreaths in the fireplace to dispose of them; they can flare out of control. Don't burn wrapping paper in the fireplace because it contains metallic substances that can be toxic when burned.
 
• Candles: Never use near trees, boughs, curtains, or other potentially flammable materials.
 
• Toys and gifts: For infants and small children, be sure gifts are too big to be swallowed (or stuck in the ears). Avoid toys with small parts.
 
• Plants: Be aware that some holiday plants can cause stomach problems, so keep mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry, and amaryllis out of children's reach.

• Food: Follow safe food-handling practices with raw poultry. For questions call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555.
 
• Alcohol and parties: More than half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related. Be a responsible host: make sure drinkers get home safely.

The Health Alliance Emergency Departments, which include The Christ Hospital, The University Hospital, The St. Luke Hospitals (East and West), The Jewish Hospital and The Fort Hamilton Hospital, wish you a safe holiday season and a prosperous and healthy 2000.