Holiday Safety Precautions for your Home
When you decorate your home for the holidays, it is important to keep safety in mind. You do not want this special time of year to be marred by any problems, accidents, or mishaps. If your decorations are safe and you install them in a safe manner, you will enjoy them throughout the holiday season. If you don’t already have home insurance this is a great time to invest. If you do, you may want to revisit your policy.
Start with your Own Safety
From your first trip to collect decorations until the last decoration is put it in its place, you must make safety your top priority. If you will be gathering decorations from a basement or attic, make sure you are careful on the stairs. Even if you are accustomed to traveling a particular staircase, it can be a far different journey when you are burdened down with heavy boxes. When you place boxes of decorations in the living room or elsewhere in your home, make sure they do not obstruct your pathway. If you place boxes in hallways or doorways, you may trip over them when you return with the next load of boxes.
You must also be mindful of safety issues when you are hanging decorations, especially if you use a ladder. Whether you are inside or outside, make sure the ladder is placed securely; when you climb the ladder to hang the decorations, take care to ensure that you are balanced appropriately. Do not perch yourself in a precarious manner or you could spend the remainder of the holiday season in a hospital bed or wearing a cast.
Using Lights? Safety first
If you will be using strings of lights as part of your holiday decorating scheme, there are several things you must do to make sure they are as safe as possible. Before you hang the lights, check them for damage or wear. Check the bulbs as well as the cord and plug; when you check the cord, be on the lookout for any tears or fraying which could expose the internal wiring. After you place the lights where you want them to go, make sure they are plugged in safely so no one will trip over the cord. Finally, plug them in to test that they are working properly.
Wreaths or other hanging itemsIf you plan to hang wreaths, garlands, or other items on your doors or walls, it is important to be sure that they are hung securely. First, use a nail that is strong enough to hold the appropriate amount of weight. Second, place the nail securely in the wall. If it is not in the wall to a sufficient depth, it will not hold your decoration. You do not want a decoration to fall on you, a member of your family, or a guest in your home; if you are careful, you can avoid an accident like this.
Safety is important at all times and the holiday season is no exception. Maximize your enjoyment of this special time of year by making safety your top priority as you decorate your home for the holidays. Enjoy!
