Enjoying the holidays with our family and friends is the best of times, so making sure we are taking care to minimize any risks to our health and safety is a must. Here are some items you need to consider during this season:
Kitchen
- Never leave food unattended on the stove, this can lead to fires.
- Deep fryers are very popular now, more so than roasting, but are also much more dangerous. If you’re using an indoor fryer, read the directions carefully and monitor at all times.
- Make sure to read all food labels carefully for food allergens. Many individuals today suffer from food allergies that can become very severe.
Candles
- Lighting candles not only look and smell beautiful but are also part of many special holiday traditions. They can also pose a fire risk if not handled properly. Keep these things in mind.
- Use sturdy, weighted holders for all candles
- Keep lit candles on a sturdy, clear surface. There should not be any paper or clutter near a lit candle.
- Blow out candles before they burn all the way down. This is especially important when candles are in glass jars. Did you know they can explode if they get too hot and the flame gets too low?!)
- Never leave a candle unattended in a room
- Never leave a candle lit in a room when people are asleep
- Consider flameless candles
Christmas Trees
- Although Christmas trees now are safer than in years past, you can minimize your tree catching fire by doing these simple things:
- Keep your tree watered
- Keep it away from heat sources like a fireplace, radiator, space heater, etc.
- Pay attention to the wires from the lights & electrical cords. Did you know that 40% of fires of trees happen because of electrical distribution? Not sure what you have loaded? Read the directions and protect with a surge protector.
- Consider using a fake tree
- Get rid of it right after Christmas. Many people put up their trees right after Thanksgiving, so by the time New Year Day has arrived, your tree has pretty much lost all of its vigor.
Lastly, make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order.
Have a safe and wonderful holiday season!
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