The holidays should be filled with joy—not emergencies. Unfortunately, winter months see a spike in home fires. Here’s how to keep your celebrations safe and stress-free.
During the busy holiday season, the last thing you want to worry about is dealing with the unexpected. Yet statistics show that more home fire accidents occur during the winter months than at other times of the year. As a preventive measure, the Heartland Security team has gathered the following list of safeguards to help keep you and your family safe.
Check Electrical Decorations for Safety
Electrical problems are a leading cause of holiday fires, with faulty wiring being the number one issue. Check your wiring as you’re decorating, keep your pets away from wires so they don’t chew them, and ensure portable heat sources aren’t too close to decorations; these precautions should be at the front of your mind as you set up holiday décor. If you have a real tree, make sure you are properly watering it. Once your tree becomes dried out, you should remove it from the home immediately.
Stay Alert While Cooking Holiday Meals
When you’re busy greeting guests or catching up with family, it’s easy to forget about the food in the oven. If you’re cooking a turkey outside, stay away from structures in case of an incident. Be sure to set loud timers to help keep your mind on the task at hand. This will help keep you and your guests safe and allow you to enjoy the wonderful feast you planned!
Practice Candle Safety
With the sun setting earlier, candles are the perfect way to add ambiance. The soft light can complement your holiday lights, but can easily be forgotten and left to burn overnight or when you leave the house. Make sure you blow out the candle before you leave the room. Ensure your candles are at least three feet from anything that could burn and on a non-flammable surface in case the wax runs over the edge.
Handle Battery-Powered Gifts Responsibly
Lots of modern devices use lithium-ion batteries. These heavy-duty batteries power many electronic devices, including phones, tablets, headphones, scooters, and robots. As the use of these batteries increases, so does the number of related fire reports. Ensure you use proper charging devices, do not dispose of these batteries in the trash, and stop charging a device once charging is complete.
By following these tips, you’ll enjoy a safer, happier holiday season. And if you want extra peace of mind, Heartland Security offers advanced smoke detectors and temperature sensors that integrate with your security system—perfect for holiday travel.
Reach out to our team to get your free security analysis. And Happy Holidays from our team to your family!