Hazardous Holiday: Tips for Keeping Your Home, and Yourself, Safe This Christmas Season

‘Tis the season…for risky climbs onto the roof, flaming candles all over your home, and extension cords lying in the front yard.

Not exactly the picture of “Christmas cheer” you were imagining was it?

While this is an exaggeration of the threats that the impending holiday can bring, from an insurance agent’s standpoint, this can be a valid description of the Christmas season.  While it’s wonderful to fully participate in the merriment and Christmas spirit, you have to use wisdom when decorating your home.  It can pose huge threats not only to your house, but also to yourself!

Make sure you don’t end up celebrating Christmas by filing insurance claims, and follow some of the tips below to be stylish AND smart this season.

Up on the Rooftop

Chances are, if you are like most homeowners, you will be spending some quality time with your roof during the Christmas season.  Hanging lights, while possibly done from a ladder, usually requires at least a couple of trips up onto the roof to adjust clips, control rogue lights that just won’t stay in place, or add decorations that can’t be reached from the rooftop’s edge.  Being up on the roof of your home is nothing to take lightly.  A fall from that height could be catastrophic, and could land you with some serious medical bills and have you enjoying your eggnog with a handful of pain pills instead of Christmas cookies.  Be wise and make sure you take all the proper precautions when climbing onto the roof for any reason.  Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes, and when possible, stay in a seated position on the roof.  Don’t attempt to carry too much in your arms at any one time.  It’s better to make multiple trips than to overdo it and end up slipping and not able to catch yourself.  Also, stick to taking trips up on the roof in dry weather.  Even if it hasn’t rained for several hours, the roof can still be wet and slippery following a storm.  Wait it out a couple of days to ensure that it’s dry and less hazardous.

One Step at a Time

Ladder safety is crucial to protecting yourself when hanging holiday decorations.  Ladders can be dangerous not only for the person using it, but also for those left on the ground!  Make sure that your ladder is securely placed against the side of your home when being used, and keep in mind, that for every 4 feet of ladder height, it needs to be moved out 1 foot from your home.  Ladders should extend around 3 feet above the edge of the roof, and you should NEVER stand on any rung higher than the second rung from the top.  Just like when climbing on the roof, make sure you wear non-slip shoes, and keep both feet on the ladder at all times.  When the ladder is no longer being used, NEVER leave it standing, even for a short period of time.  Small children can be seriously injured by trying to climb up the ladder and falling off, or by having the ladder fall on top of them.  Lay the ladder down until you need to use it again.

Light Up the Night…the Right Way

Lights are usually the focal point of Christmas decor, and they can be beautiful!  However, they can also be dangerous when handled incorrectly.  No one wants to have a house fire, especially not around the holiday season!  Make sure that all lights, and extension cords, are meant for outdoor use, and ensure that outlets are not left open exposed to the elements.  Outdoor outlets should have a cover on them to protect from any exposure to moisture.  When hanging lights, watch for any old strands that may be shorting out, or have burned out sections.  You are better off to replace them than to risk having them cause problems (like a fire) later on down the line.  For indoor lights, follow the same basic rules.  Make sure you use indoor Christmas lights, and keep all open outlets covered if you have small children in the home.  Keep a close eye on any pets as well. Chewing on the cords for lights can not only be dangerous for them, but can damage the electrical cords and spark a fire.

We hope you’ll keep some of these simple safety tips in mind while you’re decking your home for the holidays.  If you want to make sure you’re covered, just in case, you know who to call!  We are proud to serve our friends and neighbors throughout the greater Winter Haven area with top-quality insurance service, not just during the holidays, but all year long!