The holidays are such a festive time, the last thing you might think about is getting injured. Safety concerns are often put aside while getting ready for the holidays. Sometimes the holiday catches up to you and you find yourself rushing to finish decorating but did you know that in 2012, 15,000 injuries were related to holiday decorating.
[Tweet “In 2012, 15,000 injuries were related to holiday decorating.”]The last thing we want to happen to you or a family member is to find yourself in the hospital during the busy holiday season. We’ve decided to gather the 5 best safety tips for holiday decorating to keep you safe!
5 of the Best Safety Tips for Holiday Decorations
- Keep Live Trees Away from Heat Sources – If you opt for a live tree, check it’s surrounding. Vents, fireplaces, and other heat sources can quickly dry out fresh trees and cause them to quickly catch fire. If you are worried about a live tree catching fire, keep a fire extinguisher nearby, keep it watered, and don’t place the tree in front of or close to doors, hallways, and other busy foot traffic areas. NOTE: If you opt for a fake tree, make sure it’s labeled as “fire-resistant.”
- Ask for Help – When hanging lights either outside or in your home, ask for help. Instead of stretching to hang lights, use a step ladder or ladder and have someone hold the base and help to hand you lights. This will help you from potentially falling or overreaching and injuring yourself.
- Lights – Before using any lights, double check to make sure they are all safe to use. If the lights show signs of damage, throw them away and buy new ones. If you are using an extension cord, make sure it is rated for either outdoor or indoor use. Also, if you are hanging lights on the outside of your home, never staple or nail the wiring as you could miss and cause electrocution. Instead, use zip ties or purchase specialty light holders that can be found at your local hardware or big box store.
- Wrapping Paper – As festive as wrapping paper is, it can be a serious fire risk. Many people know that you cannot recycle wrapping paper so instead, they might choose to burn it. Be aware of the risk this can pose. Paper burns very quickly and by burning wrapping paper, you can create what is called a flash fire. This happens when wrappings ignite suddenly and burn very intensely. Instead of burning, consider reusing or just throwing the wrapping paper away.
- Candles – If you love the look of candles but are wary of safety concerns, consider using fake LED candles. If you want a real candle, make sure you keep them secure on a sturdy base and are located where children and pets cannot reach them. Also, never leave a candle unattended in your home or near flammable materials.
If you have any other tips, please share in the comments below. While we know there may be more to make your holiday decorating a success, we decided that these were the 5 best safety tips to share. Have a safe and happy holiday season!
Sources: OneMedical, Consumer Reports, Travelers
American Heritage Insurance Group is an independent property and casualty insurance agency offering personal lines insurance, commercial lines insurance for small and medium sized businesses, farm insurance, and several specialty lines. We have offices located in Cincinnati, Milford, and Springfield, Ohio.
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