Keeping your home safe both inside and out during the holidays is an important task. With more decorations and festivities, comes the need for increased safety measures, to insure you can keep your home and everyone that is inside safe and feeling jolly. Below, is a list of a few top safety tips to protect yourself & your home this holiday season.
- Do not overload your electrical outlets – Ensure that you only plug 1 high-wattage appliance into your outlets at one time. Avoid overloading one set of outlets!
- If you have a fresh tree, remember to water it daily – Not only will this allow your tree to last longer, but it will also prevent an unexpected fire. Dry trees can be a serious hazard to your home.
- Never connect more than 3 strands of holiday lights together – Too many strands of lights can cause a fuse to blow, causing a power outage to your home.
- Turn off or unplug all decorations when you go to bed or leave your home – This is the single most important rule to remember! Leaving decorations on unattended can set up the risk for a fire.
- Never plug in a damaged decoration – If you encounter a cracked lightbulb or broken wire while setting up your holiday decorations, avoid using them as this makes them more likely to cause shock or start a fire.
- Use your electrical plugs wisely – Do not run an electrical cord in front of a door or window or leave it smashed behind a piece of furniture. This can cause damage to the outlet as well as the cord/plug.
- Always keep a fire extinguisher on hand – Keeping a fire extinguisher in your home is the best preventative measure you can take to keep yourself prepared in case of an emergency. Store it under your kitchen sink or in another accessible place where you will remember it.
Check out the graphic below for more helpful tips!
