Home Holiday Safety Tips

Safe At Home For The Holidays - Preventing Accidents and Tragedies

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

Last year, we had a terrible tragedy in our neighborhood. A Christmas tree caught fire and burned down one of the homes. Everyone was actually OK, although one neighbor had pretty severe burns. But they weren't doing anything wrong -- they went to bed with their tree lit by accident. It wasn't even a candle.

The incident has me on edge for this Christmas. I'm afraid to even buy a tree. Any tips for keeping my family safe this holiday season?

Sincerely,

Cautious at Christmastime

April Masini's advice:

Dear Cautious at Christmastime,

The biggest problems in home safety at the holidays come from people not being aware or alert so that they can prevent or remedy safety hazards.

– If you’re tired, you’re less likely to be aware or alert of problems, and your reaction time is going to be off.

– If you’re drunk, you’re also going to be less aware, alert, and slower to react.

– Same goes for if you’re sick.

This doesn’t mean you can’t be tired, drunk or sick — but there should be a designated adult who is alert just in case.

Fires are big problems at holidays because people light candles more than other times of the year, and they also employ more electrical lights and toys for Christmas trees and decorations. These lights and wires can short out and create a fire. Make sure your lights and wires aren’t old and unsafe. Check for exposed wires and any sparks.

Don’t overload your circuit system in your house. If you’re not sure, have an electrician come by and tell you what’s safe to plug in where and what isn’t. It’s money well spent.

For warm weather holiday homes, make sure the pool area is gated and locked. Little ones can escape your watch and wander out into the pool area where no one is going to expect them to fall in this time of year, but they can.