Holiday Safety Tips in Minnetonka

5 min read

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While you’re enjoying the time spent with everyone you love, it’s always good to be reminded to take extra precautions around this time to avoid the holiday hazard. This is especially true if there are children around.

Take note of the following Christmas safety tips to keep your loved ones safe this holiday season so the festivities can continue without hitting a snag.

Christmas Safety Tips For Safer Holiday Celebrations

Holiday Cooking Safety

Holiday celebrations are always the time when the kitchen is the busiest. If you don’t want to run into unexpected emergencies, keep the following safety tips in mind:

• Keep all the cooking activities in the kitchen.
• Do not leave the stove or oven unattended.
• Keep all raw ingredients separate from the prepared foods.
• Make sure all the food is cooked properly to the correct internal temperatures. Use a cooking thermometer to determine doneness, which will depend on the meat.
• The kitchen is full of dangerous utensils and hot surfaces. Don’t let your kids play around in the kitchen.
• Dispose of all leftover food after four days.

Fire Safety

According to the Red Cross, nearly 47,000 incidents involving fire occur each year during the winter holidays. Fortunately, almost all of these incidents are largely preventable. Take note of the following fire safety tips to prevent fire damage this year:

• Never use lit candles to decorate a tree. Use battery-operated candles instead.
• Do not hang Christmas stockings and greenery over your fireplace if you use it frequently.
• If possible, use artificial trees, as most of these items on the market are fire-resistant.
• If you’re using a fresh tree, ensure it has plenty of water to keep it from drying out, making it less of a fire hazard.
• Avoid placing your Christmas tree near your fireplace.
• Always pay attention to what you’re doing when cooking.
• Be wary of where you place space heaters. Keep them away from curtains and light, flammable materials.
• Keep your fire extinguisher close by.

Electrical Safety

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) reports that over 150 home fires happen yearly due to faulty holiday lights and decorative lighting. Don’t let electrical fires be a holiday safety moment. Instead, keep your home and family safe from electrical hazards by following these safety tips below:

• Only purchase lights that have been quality tested and certified by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and nationally recognized testing labs.
• If you’re reusing holiday lights from previous years, inspect them thoroughly for frayed wires and broken lights.
• Inspect all holiday lighting for signs of frayed wiring, broken sockets, and loose connections.
• Check all electrical connections to see if devices are correctly plugged in.
• Never overload electrical outlets with too many devices.
• If an electrical fire occurs, never put it out with water. Instead, use a slightly damp cloth or a fire extinguisher to put out the fire.

General Christmas Safety Tips

Whether you’re handling glass or any other material, glass safety and other safety precautions should always be practiced to keep everyone safe during the holidays. Here are some general Christmas safety tips to keep in mind:

• Dangerous plants like mistletoe, holly berries, and other similar fruits may be dangerous if consumed in large amounts. Always keep them stored, or at least away from the reach of children.
• Keep an eye out for small items, such as buttons, batteries, and small magnets found in toys and remotes, as they present a choking hazard for children if swallowed.
• Place your tree in a corner where there is less foot traffic. Keep it secured to avoid falling hazards. If toddlers and small children are in the house, be mindful of using glass balls as part of glass safety to eliminate safety hazards.
• Always use a secure ladder for better security when decorating for the holidays.
• Refrain from using your furniture as a ladder, as these could easily break.
• Always keep three points of contact when standing on a ladder. This means you must have two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot planted on the ladder at all times.

Call Restoration 1 For Holiday Emergencies

Christmas is best celebrated with friends and family inside a fun yet safe household. By taking extra precautions during the holiday season, you can avoid common safety hazards and continue to enjoy the festivities with all the people you love.

If you’re faced with a holiday emergency, you can rely on the experts at Restoration 1 to respond to your call for emergency assistance. Solve your holiday property damage woes by contacting Restoration 1 of Minnetonka. Get in touch with our experts today to schedule a consultation!