Household Holiday Safety Tips
November has arrived and the holiday season is just around the corner. Over the next two months, you may find yourself preparing a large family dinner, stringing up some holiday decorations or trimming the Christmas tree. The last thing you want during this season of joy and hope is for the holiday to end with a trip to the Emergency Department. Unfortunately, more than 18,000 people are treated in hospitals every year for accidents related to holiday decorations. In addition, Christmas tree and holiday decoration fires result in twice the injuries and five times more deaths than the average winter holiday fire and cause more than $16 million in property damage. To help you and your family stay safe this holiday season, make sure you do the following to reduce or eliminate the risk of injury or fire – “yule” be glad you did!
Be careful when you cook
Not surprisingly, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day following close behind. Unattended cooking is the biggest contributor to the cause of these fires, so make sure you recruit some help in the kitchen if you are preparing multiple dishes at once. If you’re cooking solo, stay in the kitchen, especially if you have something bubbling on the stovetop.
Be cautious of potential burn risks, which are common among children. Keep matches and utility lighters well out of reach and make sure children stay away from the stove or any hot food and liquids. Even the steam or a slight splash from a hot pot can cause serious burns.
Inspect your decorations
It only takes a few minutes to perform a quick safety check on your lights and other electrical devices. To avoid accidental fires, repair or replace frayed wires or loose plugs. You’ll also want to replace damaged or burned-out bulbs and check for a functional hook for each ornament.
Watch your step
Strings of lights and other decorations should be organized in plain sight on the floor to await your attention. Remove paper and box clutter from your staging area before starting your project. Look before walking so you don’t trip.
You’ll be climbing and reaching a lot when you decorate for the holiday, so it’s crucial to use stable equipment to avoid dangerous falls. Always use a sturdy stepstool or a ladder when stringing lights and hanging decorations. Don’t stretch too far for that just-out-of-reach location or you might lose your balance.
Take care of your Christmas tree
Place any artificial or natural tree on a solid platform to keep it safe and stable. This will protect your tree, decorations, family, pets, and home from damage that might result from tipping.
Whether an artificial or natural tree, always turn off the lights when you go to bed or are away from home.
If you decide on an artificial tree, check that it’s fire-resistant. Most are, but it’s always prudent to double-check. The box should be labeled FIRE RESISTANT, which indicates that while there’s a remote possibility that it could burn, it will burn slowly and be quickly extinguished.
If you prefer the more traditional approach of a natural Christmas tree, here are three important safety tips to protect your home and family over the holidays.
- Keep your tree watered. Frequently replenish the basin in your tree stand with clean water to help keep the tree from drying out too quickly. A dry tree poses a more significant fire hazard and can drop sharp needles that might injure people and pets.
- Never place lighted candles on your Christmas tree. Yes, they look romantic on greeting cards, but they are a dangerous fire hazard.
- Place your Christmas tree a safe distance from your fireplace, radiators, or other heat sources. Check all sides of the tree when you put it up to make sure you didn’t overlook something that could cause the tree to ignite.