Back HomeHoliday Home Safety Tips
To ensure holiday home safety, focus on fire prevention by keeping decorations away from heat sources, inspecting electrical lights, and watering Christmas trees. Additionally, boost security by locking all doors and windows, not displaying gifts in plain sight, and making your home appear occupied when you’re away.
Fire and Decoration Safety:
- Electrical: Inspect all holiday lights and electrical cords for damage. Replace any broken lights, and never overload circuits.
- Decorations: Keep all decorations, especially those made of fabric, away from heat sources like fireplaces, heaters, and candles. Whenever possible, choose those made with flame-resistant, flame-retardant and non-combustible materials. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy and food that may tempt a young child to put them in his mouth.
- Candles: Never leave burning candles unattended. Extinguish them before sleeping or leaving a room. Keep candles away from decorations and other combustible materials, and do not use candles to decorate Christmas trees.
- Christmas trees: Keep live trees at least three feet away from heat sources, and keep the tree stand filled with water. Dispose of dried-out trees promptly. Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
- Lights: Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use. Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground-fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks. Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
- Fire safety equipment: Ensure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and that your fire extinguisher is up-to-date.
Children and Pet Safety:
- Poinsettias are known to be poisonous to humans and animals, so keep them well out of reach, or avoid having them.
- Avoid decorations that resemble candy and food that may tempt a young child to put them in his mouth.
- Keep decorations at least 6 inches above the child’s reach.
- Avoid using tinsel. It can fall on the floor and a curious child or pet may eat it. This can cause anything from mild distress to death.
- Keep any ribbons on gifts and tree ornaments shorter than 7 inches. A child could wrap a longer strand of ribbon around their neck and choke.
- Store scissors and any sharp objects that you use to wrap presents out of your child’s reach.
- Lock up: Always lock all doors and windows when you leave, even for short periods. Double-check all entry points, including basement access and the garage.
- Conceal valuables: Do not display gifts in windows where they can be seen from the outside. After the holidays, break down expensive gift boxes before putting them out for trash collection.
- Create occupancy: Use timers for indoor and outdoor lights to make the house look occupied when you’re away.
- Outdoor security: Consider installing motion-sensing lights or a video doorbell for extra security.
- Deliveries: Securely store delivered packages, or ask a neighbor to collect them if you are away. Don’t leave them sitting on your porch.
Kim N. Bregman