Don’t let the most wonderful time of the year turn into the the most hazardous! Thanks to @TD_Insurance we gathered helpful insights and tips on avoiding the most common holiday hazards from our readers during the #HolidayHomeTip Twitter chat. For those of you who weren’t able to join us, here’s a summary of what we learned (in no particular order):
- Be aware that the holidays can be risky because you are doing things you don’t normally do, like climbing tall ladders to artfully dangle strings of lights around a tree.
- If you are entertaining little guests, be sure to consider their child-proofing needs when decorating.
- Never leave things unattended in the oven or on the stove.
- Make sure you know where how to find the fire extinguisher quickly and that it is easily accessible.
- Keep dangling sleeves and frilly outfits away from burners and open flames.
- Remember to unplug lights or use a remote controlled device, like a WEMO, to switch them off from your smartphone.
- Never leave candles unattended! If you must have that festive glow, be sure to keep flames well away from holiday decorations.
- Don’t overload electrical outlets and never use frayed, or worn extension cords!
- Keep real Christmas trees well watered and watch for signs that your tree has dried out and before a fire hazard.
- Position your Christmas tree well away from any heat sources, including baseboard or portable heaters and the fireplace.
- Prevent slip and fall accidents by keeping sidewalks and walkways clear of snow and use salt to melt any ice.
- Don’t drink and drive, and make sure your holiday guests have a designated driver to help them get home safely.
- Clear snow from the roof and remove icicles from above entrances.
- Make sure downspouts are connected, clear of debris and directing water away from the house.
- Regularly test and change the batteries for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Prepare for winter storms by ensuring your home is properly weatherproofed.
- Stock up on storm essentials well beforehand as stores tend to run out once they are needed.
- Know where your shut-off valves are located so you can turn them off in an emergency.
- Review and restock your 72-Hour Emergency Preparedness Kit.
- Shut off outdoor taps and disconnect garden hoses.
- Shut off water before leaving for holiday to minimize the damage should pipes freeze.
- Let your neighbours know that you are going away and ask them to watch out for suspicious activity.
- Have someone gather the mail, and shovel the walk to maintain the lived-in appearance.
- Put interior lights on a timers or use a WEMO device to remotely control them.
- Store valuables in a safety deposit box or a fire-proof safe.
- Check the locks and latches on windows and doors before leaving.
- Trim back trees and hedges that obscure the view to back doors and basement windows.
- Don’t broadcast your upcoming vacation or big ticket purchases on social media.
- Check your homeowner policy to see how frequently you need to arrange check-ins.
- Disable geo-tagging on your smartphone.
