Holiday Safety Tips

As we celebrate the holidays with home decorating and increased entertaining, remember that these activities can also increase fire risks and accidents. Indeed, I’m not trying to take the fun out of the holidays by turning it into an insurance lesson, but you can’t deny that you hear news stories about situations that can darken a holiday every year. Just be sure that you’re taking precautions that keep your holiday festivities safe and fun.

Here are a few things to consider:

Trees

Christmas trees are beautiful but can also be a fire hazard. Even artificial trees can pose a danger, so look for a “Fire Resistant” label when purchasing a tree. When buying a live tree, check for freshness…needles should be hard to pull from branches and don’t break when bent. Tap it on the ground…it shouldn’t lose lots of needles. When setting it up at home, freshly cut the trunk and put it in water immediately.

Make sure the tree is placed away from heat sources. Be sure not to block doorways. Be sure the tree is secure in its stand. Trees can dry quickly in a heated room, so regularly fill the water in the stand. If your tree becomes dry, stop lighting it. Remove evergreens as soon as possible after the season. Following Christmas tree safety guidelines helps avoid a fire that could ruin more than your holiday season.

Lights

Before putting lights on your tree, check them to ensure all the bulbs work and that no cracked sockets or loose wires can cause fires. Don’t try to repair sets…throw them away. Don’t overload extension cords or run them under furniture or rugs. Keep lights away from pets and small children.

When decorating outside, be sure the lights are approved for outdoor use. Use plastic hooks or insulated staples to hang lights. Don’t use nails or tacks or other methods that can damage wires. Plug all outdoor lights into a circuit that has ground fault interrupter protection. When removing lights at the end of the season, don’t tug on them, as it can cause damage. It’s a good idea to immediately check the lights as you remove the tree and dispose of any bad sets to avoid problems next year.

Turn off indoor lights when you leave the house or go to bed. Consider turning them off unless you’re going to be in the same room. Lights can short out and cause a fire. If something happens, responding quickly can make all the difference. You can now buy wireless remote control switches that make it easy to turn lights on and off without crawling or bending behind the tree.

Decorations

When possible, use decorations that are flame-resistant or flame-retardant. Keep candles away from combustible materials, and don’t leave matches where children can reach. Place candles in locations where they aren’t easily knocked over. Don’t leave burning candles unattended.

If you enjoy poinsettias, you don’t have to worry about them being poisonous, a persistent myth. However, they can cause nausea and vomiting if ingested, so keep them out of reach of small children and pets. If using fresh evergreens, keep them away from heat sources. For extra safety, consider spraying greens with a flame retardant solution and be sure to remove them when they are dry.

Fireplaces

If you decorate around your hearth, remove combustible materials before lighting the fire. Check to be sure the flue is open. Have your flue cleaned to avoid build-up that can cause chimney fires. Don’t burn wrapping paper; it can cause a flash fire that could get out of control.

Food & Alcohol Safety

Unattended cooking is a leading cause of fires, so stay focused. When preparing food, follow standards to avoid bacteria contamination from raw foods. Thaw meats in the refrigerator. Wash hands frequently. When serving food, never leave food that requires refrigeration at room temperature for more than two hours. Don’t put hot dishes at the edge of counters where they could be knocked over.

If you’re having a party and serving alcohol, be a responsible host and take steps to protect yourself and your guests. Limit your intake so that you can judge guests’ sobriety. Encourage designated drivers, and if a guest has had too much to drink or is overly tired, arrange a ride or have them sleep at your home.

Security

If traveling, have a friend or neighbor watch your home. Be sure to stop your mail and newspaper delivery. Don’t post travel plans on social networking sites since you can’t always be sure who reads them. If you have an alarm system, activate it even if you’re going out for the evening.

Regardless of how you celebrate, we all at Murphy Insurance wish you a happy holiday season.