Practical Tips to Stay Safe This Holiday Season

The holiday season is generally a festive time. It is indeed a great opportunity for you to relax and reflect on the year that just went by. However, it’s also the time of the year with the highest number of accidents and claims. The following are a few tips to help you stay safe while you enjoy the holidays with your loved ones.

Holiday Cooking Safety Tips

Research shows that thousands of kitchen fires occur every year, especially during Christmas and Thanksgiving. Although recent technological advancements have reduced the risks of fires while cooking, accidental deaths still happen. The following are a few things you can do to stay safe while cooking in the kitchen.

Never leave the stove
If you choose to deep fry instead of roasting your turkey, be careful as the combination of grease and oil can start a fire.
If you are unfamiliar with some of the dishes you are preparing, read the food labels before you start cooking.
Invest in a meat thermometer to avert the risks of food poisoning caused by eating undercooked meat.

Winter Safety Tips

The cold winter which accompanies the holidays facilitates accidents that result in substantial physical injuries and property damage. To prevent such unfortunate events, you should:

Make sure that you have multiple supplies of salt and a sturdy shovel that are needed to keep your walkways clean. This will reduce the chances of someone getting injured in a slip and fall accident.
Clean your gutters and inspect your home’s sealing to prevent possible water damage.
Clean your chimney in order to prevent a possible fire.
Try to keep any flammable materials away from heat sources.

Christmas Tree Safety Tips

Millions of people put up Christmas trees every year to celebrate the holiday. However, Christmas trees can cause fires on certain occasions. To minimize the risk of a fire occurring while you enjoy Christmas:

Inspect your lighting as many tree fires have occurred in the past due to electrical distribution issues.
Keep your tree away from the radiator or fireplace.
Try to water your tree occasionally. If it’s adequately hydrated, the fire will spread much slower than a dry tree.
Purchase an artificial tree to reduce the risk of fire and potential allergic reactions. Once the calendar shifts to January, consider taking the tree down.

Vacation Tips

If you are planning to be away from your home for an extended period, the following are a few things you can do to keep your home safe:

Install a smart security system that gives you consistent updates and notifies you when there is a possible issue. Smart water sensors provide similar benefits. If the sensors detect a problem, they can shut off your water and prevent possible water damage.
Head to your local post office and tell them to pause your mail. You may need to hire a shoveling service as well to avoid leaving clear signs to a burglar that you aren’t at home.

Other Tips to Consider

It’s very important that you check your smoke detectors. Replace any dead batteries and make sure to use the right lighting on different parts of your home. Use clips to stabilize lights and prevent potential fires. If you plan to celebrate New Year’s by setting off fireworks, be careful while handling the same.

The holidays are a time to relax and have fun. However, there are still a lot of risks to be aware of. These tips will help you enjoy a less stressful holiday season. Our team at Abbate Insurance wishes you Happy Holidays!