The holidays are a time to reconnect with family and friends, but they also can present seasonal safety hazards. Here are some tips to help you keep your home safe this holiday season.
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Electrical safety
Between 2011 and 2015, the National Fire Protection Association indicates an average of 200 home fires, per year, started with Christmas trees. Those fires resulted in six deaths, 16 injuries and $14.8 million in property damage.
- Avoid electrical fires by purchasing lights from reputable retailers and only those approved by nationally recognized testing labs like US, Intertek or CSA.
- Inspect both indoor and outdoor lights for broken sockets, frayed wires and loose connections.
- Don’t overload outlets with too many electrical devices — this could cause a fire.
Holiday decorating tips
People falling is a serious concern this time of year. Annually, hospital emergency rooms treat about 5,800 people injured from falls involving holiday decorations. And about 4,000 people are treated for injuries that are associated with extension cords. These injuries include contusions, lacerations, fractures or sprains as a result of tripping over the cords. Here are some tips to make your holiday decorating safer:
- Never use furniture as a ladder.
- Follow the 1-to-4 rule for extension ladders: for every 4 feet the ladder rises, move the base out one foot from the structure.
- Always keep three points of contact on the ladder: two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand.
A little fire safety can go a long way
Even with all those Christmas tree 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.
- Avoid using candles if possible. Consider using battery-operated ones.
- Mantels are beautiful when covered with stockings and greenery. But these items are flammable. If you use your fireplace frequently, consider hanging these decorations somewhere else.
- Be sure to check the Christmas tree — make sure it’s got plenty of water and it isn’t near heat sources.
- When cooking, pay close attention to what you’re doing and your surroundings.
- Keep a fire extinguisher close by.
- Be sure you have smoke detectors at least 10 feet from your stove, and test them monthly.
Prevent poisoning and ingestion injuries
The risk of poisoning also increases during the holiday period, resulting not only from common household items, but also carbon monoxide. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that the majority of CO deaths occur in the colder months of November through February.
- Be sure your child doesn’t have access to dangerous plants. Mistletoe, holly berries and Jerusalem cherries can be poisonous if consumed in large amounts.
- Those small button batteries found in toys, remotes, and the like, are VERY dangerous, so make sure children don’t swallow them.
- Tiny magnets are also dangerous if swallowed.
- Farrah Fishman is a health educator consultant for the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County.