The holidays are supposed to be filled with fun and joy and cheer, but there are plenty of dangers that come along with them. Though the holidays can be an overwhelming flurry of activity, don’t forget some basic things you can do to keep your family safe this winter holiday season. Here are a few quick reminders.
10 tips for holiday safety.
1. Be strategic with the tree decorating.
If you’ve got a tree, put some thought into how you decorate it. A good idea might be to put the breakable ornaments at the top of the tree so that the kids and pets can’t knock them off or accidentally break them. That way the kids can still help with decorating.
2. Be aware of small button batteries.
Decorations, remotes, and even greeting cards can contain small button batteries that for some reason look very appetizing to children. Keep these things away from kids so they don’t decide to eat them! It’s just something to be aware of when you’re decorating your home. Kids don’t know that they’re not supposed to eat batteries. (Well, they probably have been told, but you never know – they could forget.)
3. Water your tree.
If you have a real tree, make sure to keep it properly hydrated. The needles can dry out, and that means the tree can catch fire all-too-easily. Yes, hydration is important, even for trees!
4. Be careful with your lights.
If you’re going to put up lights, do be careful. You don’t want to fall off a ladder. Apart from that, make sure that you turn the lights off when you’re not at home and when you’re sleeping. Lightning can get tricky – you’re playing with electricity, after all.
5. Check the cords regularly.
It’s also important to keep an eye on your lightning cords. Look for any cords that are getting frayed or damaged. Just keep an eye on them to make sure that everything is as it should be. Using frayed cords can be dangerous.
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6. Keep the kids away from fire.
Candles are nice and they smell pretty, but you’ve got to be careful. Be sure to keep the candles away from flammable things (ideally a foot away). Apart from that, keep the lighter and/or matches away from the kids. They definitely should not be playing with those things, which are all-too-intriguing for them. At any rate, just keep the fire away from the children – or vice versa. Whatever works.
7. Check your smoke detectors.
Do a check of your smoke detectors, too. Make sure the batteries still have juice. There should be a smoke detector on every floor of the house, and they should be around the sleeping areas. It might also be a good idea to go over a fire escape plan with your family so that everyone knows what to do if the smoke alarms do go off. Make sure everyone knows how to get out of the house safely.
8. Be careful with the cooking.
You’ve also got to be careful when you’re cooking or baking. The holidays are a perfect time for eating delicious food, but the thing is that cooking food requires heat. And that can be dangerous. Keep the kids and pets at bay if you’re cooking and make sure they stay out from underfoot – and away from hot food, drinks, stovetops, and so on. A couple of easy tips – cook on the back burners of your stove and keep dishes of hot food away from the edges of the counter. That way no two-legged kids or four-legged kids will tip boiling water or steaming food onto themselves.
9. Pick appropriate gifts for the kids.
If you’re buying gifts for your kids or someone else’s, make sure to read the information about the toys or products. Gifts should be appropriate for the age of the child, and keep in mind that younger siblings might also want to play with the toy. Maybe choose something that’s appropriate for all children in the household.
10. Review your home insurance.
It’s also important to make sure you go over your home insurance. Familiarize yourself with what your insurance covers and what it doesn’t. Going over your policy can help you understand your responsibilities as an insured if you have a claim. At any rate, your insurance can give you some peace of mind heading into the hectic holiday season. So, take a few minutes to give your policy a read. Admittedly, it might not be super riveting, but it is important.
So, yes, the holidays are full of cheer, but you’ve also got to take care to protect yourself and your family. Just a few simple things can help you prevent injury, fire, and general chaos (apart from the normal holiday variety).
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