Christmas Home Safety
Happy Christmas Eve! By now, you’re probably done with shopping (if not, why are you reading this? Get going!!) and maybe your sitting around with your family, decorating cookies or whatever your tradition is for Christmas Eve.
It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday season, especially this close to the big day, and forget about safety. Any time you have a lot of people together, you have a potential for accidents. When you add in a potentially flammable Christmas Tree, wrapping paper, and fireplaces or candles, that potential goes up. Here’s how to stay safe this holiday season.
Double check all of your light strands for frayed wires and blown bulbs. If you are using an artificial tree, make sure it is fire resistant. If you are using a real tree, keep it watered. Don’t set either type of tree too close to a fireplace. Use age-appropriate ornaments and decorations. If you have young children, or if young children will be visiting your home this holiday, keep candles and breakables well above their reach. Don’t use tinsel or other potentially edible tree decorations, as they can become a choking hazard.
Use extra care if your celebrations include a fireplace. Clean the fireplace out ahead of time, and make sure the flue is open. Don’t burn wrapping paper in the fireplace, as it could create a flash fire. Wrapping paper burns very quickly and suddenly, and can quickly spread. Keep screens securely in place, and keep children away.
When opening presents with young children, take the time to clean up immediately after opening the gifts. If you need to assemble anything, do it at a table where children cannot reach up and grab small screws or batteries. Throw away all all packaging material; small twist ties or other packing pieces can be dangerous.
If you are traveling to the home of friends or family, make sure gifts are carefully secured or put into the trunk. In the case of an accident, you don’t want to worry about heavy packages flying through the inside of the car. If you are traveling with children, remember that the home you’re visiting may not be childproofed, and you will have to be extra diligent.
Bacteria thrives in the a warm kitchen. Keep meats either hot or cold. Don’t leave food out after the holiday meal, and keep pies and other treats with eggs or dairy in the fridge. Keep raw and cooked food separate, and make sure anything with nuts, shellfish, or other ingredients likely to cause an allergic reaction are labeled.
Have a very safe and Merry Christmas! Check back tomorrow (or over the weekend) for a fun trivia challenge!