It takes just a moment and a slight oversight for holiday cheer to turn into tragedy.

As people begin setting up their Christmas trees for the season, it’s a good idea to take a few moments to think about safety.

Bringing a live tree into the house can create a fire hazard. There’s a simple formula, however, that helps keep the trees alive and drinking water, cutting down on the chances an errant spark could cause a fire.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends the following procedure: Cut the bottom inch off the tree. Place the base of the tree in a fireproofing mixture, which includes 2 gallons of hot water, 2 cups of corn syrup, 2 ounces of liquid bleach, 2 pinches of Epsom salts, 1/2 teaspoon of borax and 1 teaspoon of chelated iron (available at garden shops). After all the mixture is soaked up, water the tree two times a day, or enough to make sure the base is covered.

According to the USDA, the corn syrup gives the tree a sugar injection, increasing the amount of water it drinks. If everything works correctly, the tree should soak up about a gallon-and-a-half in two weeks. That’s about 800 percent more water than a tree without the formula. The boron from the borax moves the sugar around the tree and the Epsom salts and chelated iron create a chemical reaction that causes the tree to stay green. Bleach keeps the water from getting moldy.

Also, don’t set the tree up too close to a fire, heater or vents, keep it in plenty of water and don’t use real candles. No tree is truly “fireproof,” but the danger can be reduced with a little preparation and care. It’s worth the effort and a quick trip to the store to make Christmas a little safer.