Simple Holiday Safety Tips To Help You Keep Your Family Safe
Simple Holiday Safety Tips
To help you keep your family safe
As we begin to prepare for the holiday season, many of us will be staying home this year. In most cases, your standard homeowner’s policy will cover most holiday-related mishaps. However, depending on the value of gifts you buy, or if you have an accident at your home, you might need to increase certain coverages.
To help you and your family make the most of your home during the holidays and to avoid accidents, we’ve put together a simple safety list to help you avoid an insurance claim this season, and more importantly, stay healthy and protected:
Fire Safety During the Holidays
Festive celebrations, flickering lights, and winter greens are hallmarks of the holiday season, but they also present fire risks that can quickly turn this festive time of year into a devastating one. Here are some fire safety tips:
- Lighting the tree: Love the look of lots of lights? Don’t plug more than three strands of lights into each other. Use a power strip to add additional strands. Be sure to unplug lights before going to bed or leaving the house.
- Live tree care: You can never water it enough! Choose a high-quality tree base that allows for ample watering. Water your tree frequently (especially if you have pets who may stop for a drink). When your tree gets crisp, discard it.
- Menorahs and kinaras: Keep menorahs and kinaras at least three feet from flammable materials like curtains or decorations. Always monitor pets and young children around open flames.
- Holiday candles: Use holiday candles sparingly and never leave them unattended. Choose non-flammable décor, or use electronic candles in place of traditional candles.
- Fireplace safety: Always use a fireplace screen when using your home’s fireplace. Keep all logs, kindling, and flammable materials at least three feet from the fireplace cavity. Always make sure the embers are extinguished before you go to bed or leave your home.
Cooking Safety
Even with all those Christmas trees and electrical fires, cooking equipment is the leading cause of home fires and injuries. Most fires occur on Thanksgiving, followed by the day before Thanksgiving and then Christmas day.
- Keep kids safe: Keep young children away from sharp, hot, or flammable items in the kitchen.
- Stay cool: Keep hot pads on hand to protect from burns.
- Fry outside: If you’re planning on frying or smoking a turkey be sure the fryer and/or smoker is outdoors and at least 15 feet away from your home, deck, trees, or anything flammable.
- Safely store cords: Avoid accidents with children and pets by keeping small-appliance cords tucked safely behind the appliance ‒ not hanging off the counter.
- Avoid food poisoning: Cook all foods according to safe minimum cooking standards, including casseroles and leftovers. Check out these guidelines from foodsafety.gov.
Pet Safety
If you plan to host a small gathering or bring a new furry friend home, it is always important to be sure your guests and pets are comfortable. Pets, specifically dogs and cats, can become over-excited, scared, or territorial when unfamiliar individuals enter your home.
- Secure the tree: Secure your Christmas tree and any large decorations to keep it from falling should your pet bump into it.
- Keep fragile ornaments out of reach: Hang only pet-safe, soft ornaments, or plush toys at pet eye level.
- Hide the snacks: Keep holiday treats, like cookies and snack trays, out of reach of pets.
- Know your pet: If family or friends are visiting, keep your pet’s comfort in mind. Give them a space to retreat to (like a bedroom) should they need a break from the action.
This year hosting holiday parties will be a lot different, but celebrating the holidays virtually or with your household members poses a low risk for spread.
If you do have a small gathering, it is essential to remember that hosts can be held liable for any and all injuries that occur on your property. To be sure you are covered in this type of situation, talk to your Bearingstar agent to review your liability coverage.
To be sure Contact your Bearingstar agent today to make sure your home insurance and liability coverage are up to date.
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