• Your Family's Health

Holiday Safety at Home: A List Worth Checking Twice

In the midst of December's bustle and cheer, it's too easy to overlook essential safety steps at home. So, we've made a list (definitely worth checking twice) so that you can help prevent accidents and make this holiday season memorable for all the right reasons.

General Fire Safety

• Always attend to fireplaces, stoves and candles. Keep children at a safe distance. (It's obvious, but an essential reminder.)
• Make sure fire detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are ship-shape. Test once a month and change batteries twice a year.
• Every night (especially after entertaining), make it a habit to blow out all candles and turn off the Christmas lights.
• Be attentive to keeping your stovetop clear of anything that could catch fire on the burners.

Christmas Trees

• If you buy a live tree, make sure the needles are fresh, green and don't easily snap. Cut a few inches off the base so that it can better absorb water and then, water it all the time to keep it as moist as possible.
• If you buy a fake tree, make sure it is made with flame retardant materials.
• Place your tree at least three feet away from a heat source (Even if it means the hard decision to put it a foot away from the perfect place – it will still be lovely.).
• Turn off your tree's lights every time you leave or go to bed.
• Make sure your stand is sturdy (it may be time to finally invest in a new one).

When wrapping, make sure ribbons are too short for a child to wrap around his neck and put your scissors in a safe place out of reach.

Holiday Lighting and Decoration 

• Check your Christmas lights to confirm that they are in good condition. Buy new ones if they’re frayed.
• Avoid falls: take the time to get out the proper equipment for putting up exterior lights.
• Use staples or hooks (not nails) to hang up lights.
• If you have older ornaments or decorations, be aware that they could contain lead paint, so keep them away from children.

Children and Toys

• Decorate your tree with kids in mind, if you have young children or will be entertaining them. Put ornaments that are sharp, fragile, small or food-shaped at the top of your tree. Be OK with the ones at the bottom being handled (and potentially becoming "toys").
• Buy gifts recommended for the child's actual age so that you can guard against choking hazards.
• Keep children and pets away from older decorations (lead paint hazard), electrical decorations/lighting and poinsettia plants (which are poisonous when eaten).
• Don't buy tinsel this year – it's a choking hazard that can be too tempting for young children and pets.
• When wrapping, make sure ribbons are too short for a child to wrap around his neck and put your scissors in a safe place out of reach.
• Always supervise your child around fireplaces and candles (worth repeating).

Home Security

• If you have a burglar alarm system, make sure to use it over the holidays.
• Don't tell strangers about your travel plans.
• When traveling, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to watch your house for anything suspicious (and make them cookies as a "thank you!").

Source: Centers for Disease Control; American Red Cross; International Association of Certified Home Inspectors; Safe Kids Worldwide