The festive season is upon us once again, and for some people it will harbour a painful memory of an incident involving a ladder, icy weather, or undercooked turkey.  We can't give you any advice on how to avoid salmonella, or how to keep the peace on Christmas Day, but we can tell you a thing or two about avoiding a nasty fall. The first ladder you need to look out for is the loft ladder.  If you have a purpose-built loft ladder that is properly installed, then all you need to do is check it over for wear and tear, or any damage before you use it.  It might not have been used since the decorations went away in January, so it's especially important to check the condition of wooden ladders, as pests and damp weather can ruin the state of a wooden ladder. If you are accessing the loft via any other means, such as a step ladder, you need to look at getting a safer access method.  Step ladders are designed for reaching high places, not getting into them, and you should never stand on the top rung of one in order to reach the loft. A slightly safer option is to use an extension ladder that is secured to the loft hatch, and extends three rungs into the roof space.  Look carefully at the surface the ladder is placed on, as rugs, laminate floors and even short-pile carpets can cause a ladder to slip.  You should always have someone footing the ladder for you. Ideally, invest in a proper loft ladder and you might find you make better use of all that storage space. Once the decorations are down, it's time to put them up, so you might find yourself outdoors trying to attach lights to the roof, or decorating trees in the front garden. Whether you are using a straight ladder to decorate the front of your home, or a garden ladder to decorate a tree, always check out the integrity of the surface on which the ladder is placed.  Soft, wet ground will allow a ladder to sink in without some form of weight-spreading, and wet, frosty decking or paving can cause a ladder to slip away from the wall.  Always make the surface safe or find another access method. When setting up a straight ladder, check it for signs of damage before extending it.  Always make sure that the ladder is one foot away from the wall for every four feet it goes up to achieve the correct lean angle, and always move the ladder along the wall when you need to reach further than you can safely.  It's best to always maintain three points of contact with the ladder, and always keep both feet on the rungs. Never reach out to the side further than is safe; a good rule is to keep your belt buckle within the stiles of the ladder.  If you need to reach further up, use a longer ladder, and never stand on the top three rungs. Indoors, a step ladder is your best bet. It might seem easier to grab the nearest chair and stand on that to hang cards and tinsel, but you'll find it a lot harder to take them down with a broken arm or leg. Kitchen steps or a short step ladder are an essential piece of kit around the home, so make use of them to hang decorations and reach the Christmas stash in the high cupboards.  A platform step ladder is ideal, as the larger area of the platform provides a safe and comfortable place to stand for longer periods. Lastly, once the decorations are up, and the tree is suitably decked out, sit down with a cuppa and enjoy your handiwork from the comfort of an armchair, hopefully not a stretcher!