The holidays are just around the corner, which means family, friends, festivities, and lots of good things to eat.
Unfortunately, it can also mean a variety of new safety risks for your home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fires caused by holiday decorations result in $11 million in annual property damages.
Don’t worry, though – there are things you can do to keep your home safe and sound this holiday season, whether you’re moving or staying put. Below are some holiday home safety tips to keep you and your loved ones safe.
5 Home Safety Tips for the Holidays
Prevent fires, accidents, and other mishaps with these critical home safety tips:
1. Pick up packing materials promptly
If you’re planning to move this holiday season, collect and dispose of all your packing materials quickly. Packing paper and cardboard are highly flammable and can create fire hazards.
Even if you’re not moving, be mindful of packing materials from gifts, holiday decorations, and other items. Instead of leaving them around the house, pick them up, break them down, and secure them in large contractors’ bags until you can get rid of them.
2. Avoid multitasking
The holidays are a busy time, so it’s natural to want to multitask.
Focusing on too many things at once can create safety hazards, though. With this in mind, try your best to do one thing at a time.
Don’t walk away from the stove while you’re cooking a holiday meal or leave decorations or gifts next to a crackling fireplace. This is a simple tip, but it will go a long way to prevent accidents.
3. Reconsider holiday candles
There’s nothing like the welcoming flicker of a candle to make the holidays feel cozy. Unfortunately, candles are just as dangerous as they are beautiful.
Each year, candles cause an estimated 15,600 residential fires and about $539 million in direct property damage.
To get all the cozy without any of the combustible, consider swapping open-flame candles for easy-to-use LED varieties. Alternatively, ensure your candles are safely encased in tall glass candle holders and are far from flammable materials.
4. Make your holiday tree as safe as possible
A holiday tree is a tradition and a thing of beauty. Unfortunately, dry, poorly-placed, or dangerously-decorated trees can also become fire hazards. With this in mind, follow these tree safety tips:
Water your tree daily and test it for freshness by making sure it doesn’t drop needles when touched.
Only use indoor lights to decorate your tree; don’t connect more than three strings of lights.
Use a power strip instead of plugging lights directly into a wall outlet.
Keep your tree away from heat sources, fireplaces, and candles.
5. Inspect all decorations before you use them
Before you hang lights, inspect them for bare spots, frayed wires, damaged sockets, and gaps in the insulation. Hang exterior lights using clips (nails can damage the cords), and make sure to put lights on a timer or manually unplug them when you leave the house or go to bed.
A Safer Holiday Season Starts Here
The holidays should be a time of festivity and merriment – not safety hazards! Fortunately, these five tips can help you keep your home safe so you can enjoy a comforting and cozy holiday season with friends and family.
Moving this holiday season or just looking for a place to keep all those spare decorations? Gallo Moving and Storage can help! Our team offers local and long-distance moves and residential storage services. Contact us today to learn more.
5 Critical Holiday Home Safety Tips
The holidays are just around the corner, which means family, friends, festivities, and lots of good things to eat.
Unfortunately, it can also mean a variety of new safety risks for your home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fires caused by holiday decorations result in $11 million in annual property damages.
Don’t worry, though – there are things you can do to keep your home safe and sound this holiday season, whether you’re moving or staying put. Below are some holiday home safety tips to keep you and your loved ones safe.
5 Home Safety Tips for the Holidays
Prevent fires, accidents, and other mishaps with these critical home safety tips:
1. Pick up packing materials promptly
If you’re planning to move this holiday season, collect and dispose of all your packing materials quickly. Packing paper and cardboard are highly flammable and can create fire hazards.
Even if you’re not moving, be mindful of packing materials from gifts, holiday decorations, and other items. Instead of leaving them around the house, pick them up, break them down, and secure them in large contractors’ bags until you can get rid of them.
2. Avoid multitasking
The holidays are a busy time, so it’s natural to want to multitask.
Focusing on too many things at once can create safety hazards, though. With this in mind, try your best to do one thing at a time.
Don’t walk away from the stove while you’re cooking a holiday meal or leave decorations or gifts next to a crackling fireplace. This is a simple tip, but it will go a long way to prevent accidents.
3. Reconsider holiday candles
There’s nothing like the welcoming flicker of a candle to make the holidays feel cozy. Unfortunately, candles are just as dangerous as they are beautiful.
Each year, candles cause an estimated 15,600 residential fires and about $539 million in direct property damage.
To get all the cozy without any of the combustible, consider swapping open-flame candles for easy-to-use LED varieties. Alternatively, ensure your candles are safely encased in tall glass candle holders and are far from flammable materials.
4. Make your holiday tree as safe as possible
A holiday tree is a tradition and a thing of beauty. Unfortunately, dry, poorly-placed, or dangerously-decorated trees can also become fire hazards. With this in mind, follow these tree safety tips:
5. Inspect all decorations before you use them
Before you hang lights, inspect them for bare spots, frayed wires, damaged sockets, and gaps in the insulation. Hang exterior lights using clips (nails can damage the cords), and make sure to put lights on a timer or manually unplug them when you leave the house or go to bed.
A Safer Holiday Season Starts Here
The holidays should be a time of festivity and merriment – not safety hazards! Fortunately, these five tips can help you keep your home safe so you can enjoy a comforting and cozy holiday season with friends and family.
Moving this holiday season or just looking for a place to keep all those spare decorations? Gallo Moving and Storage can help! Our team offers local and long-distance moves and residential storage services. Contact us today to learn more.