The holiday season brings holiday cheer, warmth, and light into our homes. Family is seated at the table, gifts are passed among friends, and the very air seems to sparkle with holiday lights at home. But in the midst of holiday glow, there are hotspots lying in wait innocently in the shadows. Fires ignited by frayed electrical cords, slippery front doors, or even a fallen Christmas tree can change celebration to calamity in seconds. The good news? Most of the hazards are completely avoidable with a dash of planning and weather report.
Fire Safety Over the Holidays
The most hazardous holiday danger is probably fire. With holiday lighting, fireplaces, and candles, there’s no shortage of open flames and electricity in most houses. If string lights are your thing, please be sure to inspect them carefully for blown sockets or damaged wire. Overload outlets, and don’t forget to turn off your lights at night. Want the holiday season a bit more memorable? You can use a Christmas light installation in Bonita Springs, FL or wherever you live—while pros get the displays looking fantastic, they also have them installed safely.
Candles are still a classic favorite but are hazardous if not used carefully. As tempting the glow is, best place them in safe areas out of curtains, kids, and pets. Better yet, make the switch to flameless LED candles. These are realistic in appearance, provide the same comforting glow, and no fire hazard whatsoever.
The kitchen, which in most homes is the center of the winter holiday home, is also a potential site for an accident. Stovetop fires are highest during this time of year, most commonly by being distracted while preparing large meals. Never leave something to cook on the stovetop unattended, never leave oven mitts and towels scattered around by the burner, and ensure you have an operational fire extinguisher handy. It is also a wise habit to test your smoke detectors before the holiday season starts.
Holiday Electrical Safety for a Brighter Season
Along with fire hazard, holidays also mean increased electrical consumption. Additional lights, heaters, and new gadgets all stress your home’s electrical system. Think ahead and use surge-protected power strips rather than stuffing too many items into one outlet. Never use cords behind the carpet because this will overheat them, and never daisy chain extension cords. Frequent tripping of circuit breakers indicates you may require a professional electric upgrade.
Slips, Trips, and Falls
Sliding, falling, and tripping is a holiday danger. Ice-covered stairs, iced-over driveways, and busy living rooms just beg for accidents. Outdoors, clear the walkways and sidewalks with sand or salt, and ensure that gift wrapping paper, electric cord extensions, and hazard toys aren’t in the walkways’ path. In the process of a ladder being used in the process of decorating, be sure and use a steady ladder and have a volunteer hold the ladder while you’re climbing. It’ll be a minute or so longer, but it can keep a holiday hurt at bay.
Child and Animal Protection
For pet- and kid-proof houses, there are a couple of extra precautions to consider. Small objects on Christmas decorations are great choke hazards. Sparkly decorations, small batteries, and ribbon are tempting to a tot or curious pet, but dangerous. Deadly plants like mistletoe, holly berries, and poinsettias must be safely out of reach, too. Don’t forget to anchor your Christmas tree securely, too—pets and small people love to pull on the branches, and that can topple the entire tree.
Holiday Gatherings and Food Safety
Food is the other section that needs to be handled individually. It’s the subject of a holiday meal, but safety first when it comes to food. Cook meat thoroughly, refrigerate leftovers immediately, and wash your hands frequently when you’re preparing food. Cross-contamination is a sneaky risk, so never use the same cutting board for raw meat and vegetables. To our four-legged friends, never forget food items like chocolate, onions, grapes, and alcohol are harmful to pets, so put them well out of their reach.
Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Hazards
Hidden but extremely powerful! Winter hazard is carbon monoxide. If furnaces, fireplaces, and space heaters are humming, the house is at greater risk of falling prey to the silent killer. Install carbon monoxide detectors throughout all living areas of the house and where individuals sleep. Proactively check the house’s heating equipment prior to winter arriving and never, ever use grills or portable generators indoors. Spend a minute or two now to avoid a fatal catastrophe later on.
Home Security while Traveling
If you will be going away for the holidays, take care to make your home secure beforehand. An empty home is a thief’s favorite target. Lock the windows and doors, install light timers so it looks like you are home, and take in mail and package deliveries so they do not accumulate in front of your house. Inform a trusted neighbor of your travel plans and request that they stop by regularly. Unplug non-essential devices as well so that you can lower the risk of fire and save on energy. Holiday Stress Reduction Despite all these commonsense safeguards, perhaps the most unsuspected holiday hazard is stress. Stress from entertaining, shopping for gifts, planning holiday meals, and traveling can be overwhelming. Exhaustion makes you prone to accidents and forgetfulness. Take turns, recruit others to help, and plan time off. In the interest of safety and sanity, you may have to skip an extra activity or party.
Final Thoughts
Holiday spirit shouldn’t be paired with unexpected peril. By taking a few simple precautions, you can keep your home safe and still get to experience all the magic of the season. Inspect your decorations before you even turn them on, anchor your tree, shovel walkways, and cook wisely. You’re home with loved ones, entertaining during the holidays, or driving from coast to coast, it doesn’t matter; these simple steps will keep you safe from the most prevalent holiday hazards for your home. The holidays are a time for laughter, for light, for sharing—not a time for emergencies, or accidents. Keeping safety top of mind sets you free to make the most of what truly matters: the people and loved ones you’re sharing the season with. So string your lights, welcome in your guests, and make the most of your holiday season with your heart at peace, knowing you’ve taken the right precautions to make your holidays merry, bright, and safe.