Christmas season is such an enjoyable time of year with the hustle and bustle of gift shopping and house gatherings with friends and family that with all the hectic schedules is it easy to overlook the smallest detail that can lead to a disaster. According to Safety at Home, the Christmas season brings in a dramatic rise in the numbers of fires and accidents that occur in the home. Many of them happen right in the kitchen during food preparation, while putting up decorations or even worse, as a result of faulty lights or unattended candles. Remember that when your home is filled with party guests and overexcited children, accidents can happen. Make sure that your homeowners insurance has contents coverage which provides you with comprehensive cover for common breakages as well as fire and accidents.
Here is a checklist to review to assure an accident-free Christmas..
- Mind your steps: Falling off a stepladder while putting up Christmas decorations and lights is one of the most common accidents that occur. Many people end up in the emergency room after using a faulty stepladder or reaching too far to place an ornament. Check that your ladder or step stool isn’t faulty and ensure that they are on an even surface as well as having someone to hold them steady. Do not use a chair or table.
- Tree hazards: Decorating a Christmas tree can also end in injuries. More than 1,000 people injure themselves each year by falling while putting the fairy on top of their tree or by cutting themselves when sawing off branches.
- Lighting safety: It is essential to check your lights, particularly if you’ve had them a few years, for loose, frayed or bare wires, broken bulbs and cracked plugs. Faulty tree lights result in about 350 people needing hospital treatment for burns and electric shocks each year, including children who swallow or cut themselves on broken bulbs. If you’re in any doubt about the safety of your lights, treat yourself to some new ones.
- Candle watch: Injuries and fatalities in fires caused by candles are a continuous threat every Christmas season. Never light candles on a Christmas tree, or put them on top of a TV set or other electrical appliances, or leave them unattended. Always ensure that you put them out before you go to bed or when you leave the house.
- Cooking hazards: Christmas cooking is stressful enough without having to deal with cuts or burns. The latest turkey frying craze can be an extremely dangerous when not done properly. So, when handling hot fat, boiling water, sharp knives, keep your guests and especially children out of the kitchen to give you the space and concentration you need.
- Finally… When it’s finally over, clear away the Christmas clutter. Wrapping paper, bows, string, and such can all become choking and tripping hazards for people and pets alike.
As much as this all sounds like a real bah-hum-bug, it’s really just a reinforcement for you to take a little extra precaution to make sure your holiday is a safe and enjoyable one for all your family and friends.
Here at Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Agency our goal is to try to help our viewers by suggesting solutions for all insurance needs. By no means can we address each reader’s specific concerns in every incident. So, we strongly advise to check with a representative to address your specific needs. However, you can always contact us for any insurance questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you. We are able to offer a complete line of personal & commercial insurance products for all of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at www.facebook.com/donmedeiros