The holiday season is usually a flurry of decorating including stringing lights, putting up trees, hanging wreaths and planting poinsettias. But don’t forget to follow a few holiday safety tips to ensure the festive holiday season doesn’t get sidetracked by an unintentional illness or injury.
Be Careful When Using a Ladder
When stringing Christmas lights outside the home, make sure the ladder is on solid, even ground and always have a second person steady it at the bottom. Also make sure to keep children and pets away from the area until the task is completed.
Not only do these steps prevent injury from the ladder tipping over, but they also protect children and pets from having something unintentionally dropped on them.
Don’t Let Christmas Lights Become Fire Hazards – Practice Light Safety
Christmas lights can really set the mood for the season but they can also be a fire hazard if precautions aren’t used. Always turn off all lights when leaving the home and before going to bed. Consider purchasing a timer for the Christmas lights that automatically turns them on and off at scheduled times.
Another way to ensure that lights don’t cause an electrical hazard is to plug the lights into a surge protector rather than straight into an electrical socket. Not only does this protect you home from fire damage if the Christmas lights short out, but it also protects the lights in case of a lighting strike or power surge.
In addition, the U.S. Fire Administration suggests that homeowners “inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up.”
Practice Christmas Tree Safety
Everyone knows that dry Christmas trees can become fire hazards, but there are a few other issues to worry about as well. Make sure that the tree is securely anchored to a wall or other large object to prevent it from tipping over. Even if the tree is stable, it only takes one tug from a child or a pet to tip it over and cause injury. Use clear fishing line and a small hook to securely fasten the tree.
When hanging ornaments, place all glass and breakable ornaments near the top and middle of the tree. Do not hang anything on the lower branches of the tree where pets or children can grab them. Instead of using hooks to hang ornaments, consider using ribbon to tie them on. Another option is to surround the tree with a baby gate to keep children and pets away from it altogether.
Think Plant Safety with Holiday Plants
Many holiday plants, such as holly bushes and poinsettias, are poisonous to pets and to children if ingested. Do not place these plants on the floor where they can be accessed easily. Some alternatives include placing them on pedestals, on top of the fireplace mantel, on kitchen countertops, or placing them outside on the front porch.
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