Safety is crucial during the holiday season to ensure that your family and friends have an enjoyable time. Improperly using or placing holiday decorations may put you and your loved ones at a higher risk for an accident.
Fire damage during this time of year is a real threat. It can damage your home, cause serious injuries, and even claim lives. So when you're setting up your holiday decorations to add to the festive mood of the season, be mindful of the potential dangers that may occur. After all, our goal is to make sure that your holidays are a time for relaxation and merriment!
View the slideshow above for a list of safety tips to follow this year!
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For more tips, check out Holiday DIY Home Decor and Safety First: Top Places Full Of Germs.
Tags: Holidays, Christmas, Safety First
Hold Family Drills: With all of the new decorations in your home, there might be a few pieces of furniture or rooms that have been completely rearranged. Be sure your family knows the meet up location outside in an emergency.
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Test Smoke Detectors: Test each smoke alarm in your home. It might even be a good idea to replace all batteries in each smoke alarm, just to be on the safe side.
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Use One Extension Cord: Never connect more than one extension cord together. Buy a single cord that will reach the outlet without completely stretching to its maximum. Plugging more than one extension cord together is a serious fire hazard.
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Turn Down Your Hot Water Heater: Not only is it energy efficient, it will prevent scalding your skin. Most water heaters are set at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. By setting yours to 120 degrees, scalding incidents will likely not happen and it will save 6-10% on heating costs.
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Careful Firestarting: Regardless of if it's indoors or out, when starting your fire be sure to remove all flammable objects from the area. This includes Christmas trees and other holiday decorations.
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Fire Extinguisher: Most homeowners either do not own a fire extinguisher, or have no idea where they placed it. Mount a fire extinguisher centrally in the home, and in a place that you will remember if it is not immediately visible.
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Do Not Eat Mistletoe: Mistletoe is a poisonous plant. If you would like to decorate with it, be sure to attach yours firmly on your ceiling. Make sure it is well away from a child's reach.
Photo Credit: flickr/Catherine Murray
Fires and Christmas Trees: Again, making sure your lighting is safe and new. Both artificial and live trees can present potential fire hazards, so be extra cautious this holiday season. When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the ones labeled as "fire resistant."
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Sturdy Decor: Make sure Christmas tree or other holiday display is mounted on a sturdy base so it cannot be tipped or tripped over on accident.
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Unplug the Lights: Do this whenever you're not home. Not only is this also an energy saving tactic, having all of those heated lights and wires definitely has the potential to start a fire. They may be nice to arrive to, but arriving to your safe and intact home should be a priority.
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