Home Holiday Safety Tips
By: Architectural Visions
The holidays are about celebrations, beautiful decor and bright lights. And, if these festive elements aren’t correctly cared for, it can be filled with seasonal risks, as well. So, make sure your holiday celebrations and traditions don’t result in safety hazards by ensuring some necessary precautions are in place. Read on to find out how to reduce the risks that come with holiday cheer, so your home and family stay safe this holiday season.
Key takeaways for Home Holiday Safety Tips:
- Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, so don’t leave food unattended on heat sources.
- Avoid leaving candles unattended and ensure the candle holders and surfaces are steady.
- Ensure you don’t overload the Christmas tree with lights and keep real trees away from heat sources.
- If you are traveling for the holidays, have a working security system, remember to set the light timers and pause your mail with the post office.
Holiday cooking
Home cooking is good for the soul but not always for the home. Cooking was the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries in 2015-2019. According to the National Fire Protection Association, home cooking was also the second leading cause of home fire deaths.
To reduce the risks associated with holiday cooking, don’t leave food attended on the stove and if you’re frying a turkey, be sure to do it outside and remain focused on the turkey. With different foods and hosting guests, it’s also important to be aware of food allergies. Read up on the ingredients in the dishes you’re serving to prevent any allergic reactions. Also, use a meat thermometer to ensure the meat dishes are thoroughly cooked through.
Holiday candles
The scent and flickering flames of a candle stir up holiday memories and add a warm glow. Candles are an important part of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa traditions, and general winter ambiance.
To help prevent any candle-related fires, there are essential safety precautions to take:
- Be sure your candle holders are sturdy enough to prevent the candle from falling over and lighting nearby objects on fire.
- The surface should be stable, so the candle doesn’t tip, and should also be clear, to lessen the risk of items catching on fire if the candle tips over.
- Blow out the candle before it gets too low, which is vital, so the glass doesn’t explode if the jar gets too hot.
- Avoid leaving candles unattended, and especially avoid lighting them in a bedroom or anywhere else where you’re likely to fall asleep.
Christmas trees
The holiday season isn’t complete without a Christmas tree, however, they come with their own set of risks. To ensure your tree stays in top condition and your home stays safe, here are a few Christmas tree safety precautions:
- Ensure your tree doesn’t have too many lights and that the wiring is safe.
- Keep the tree away from the fireplace, radiator, space heater, or other heating sources that could pose potential fire hazards.
- If your tree is real, ensure it has a fresh cut before you leave the lot, and keep it watered once you get home. Then, dispose of the tree by mid-January at the latest to prevent it from drying out and causing a greater fire risk.
Holiday travel
Spending time with family and friends is what holiday memories are made of. However, traveling comes with its own set of risks, so knowing the risk factors can help your house stay safe and secure as you embark on your holiday travel.
- Install a security system and cameras that you can access on your smartphone and alert the local police or the alarm company’s central monitoring service.
- Water pipes risk bursting during the cold months if they aren’t correctly maintained. Smart sensors can alert your phone if water is present and can automatically shut off the water.
- If you’re going to be gone for an extended period, pause your mail with the post office, as a pile of mail is one of the top indicators that no one is home. Also, if your home experiences heavy snowfall, hire a snow shoveling service to come, so it looks like someone is home. Don’t forget to set your timer, so your exterior and several interior lights go on every night, so the house doesn’t remain dark for too long.
- Make sure your windows and doors are locked and secure before you leave. There are varying degrees of window and door security you can invest in: from alarms to security bars, to DIY solutions. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that windows and doors shouldn’t be obstructed in the event you need to exit due to a fire or other emergency.
Ensure your house stays safe this holiday season by contacting the experts at AVI. AVI is your one-stop shop for window and door needs, with in-person and online service options. Please don’t hesitate to contact us online or come by one of our Southeast locations and let us help you!
