Staying Safe Around Your Home This Holiday Season

With Christmas around the corner, everyone is getting excited and jumping into the holiday spirit. Whether you are ready to begin decorating, thinking about your holiday meals, or even planning to brace for the cold and snowy days that lie ahead, you must prioritize your and your guest’s safety and well-being at all times.

If you or someone else becomes severely injured, you and your family may not have a cheery or festive holiday season. Instead, it might be cut short as you spend most of the time in the hospital or doctors’ offices. To help you prevent this, we will provide you with nine tips to help you and others avoid personal injuries this holiday season.

1.     Inspect the Christmas lights and cords before using them

When you take the Christmas lights and cords from last year out of the box or container, it is very important that you inspect them. You want to make sure that none of the lights or cords have obvious signs of damage, holes, or tears. In addition, if you connect your light strands together, you should limit the number of strands to three per extension cord. By taking these steps, you may be able to prevent a serious fire.

2.     Use a stable ladder when decorating

One of the most frequently used items around the home near the holidays is a ladder. This item can help you hang lights or wreaths on the outside of your home, put up decorations on the inside of your home, and even place the star on top of the Christmas tree. If you plan to use a ladder, you must make sure that it is stable. An unstable ladder may sway or tip over, which can cause a dangerous or fatal accident. Even if your ladder seems stable, it is a good idea to ask a friend, neighbor, or family member to stand by the bottom to supervise while you hang up lights or decorations. This ensures that the ladder remains stable and that someone is close by if you fall or get hurt.

3.     Test your smoke detectors and have a fire extinguisher nearby

Before cooking the turkey, ham, or any other dish, it is critical to test your smoke detectors. You want to make sure that each smoke detector works and is loud enough to hear. If your smoke detector is not working or you cannot hear it very well, it may need to be repaired or replaced. Smoke detectors can alert you if something is burning or on fire, which is a necessity this time of year. You should also make sure that you have a working fire extinguisher nearby in case there is a fire.

4.     If you plan to serve alcoholic beverages, make sure your guests have a way home

When planning your holiday menu, you might decide to include eggnog or a Christmas cocktail. It is common for holiday parties to include some type of festive drink. However, if you decide to include alcohol, you should ensure that your guests have a safe way home. You should never expect your guests to drive home with even a slight buzz, as it could be very dangerous for themselves and for others on the road. Make sure that each person has a designated driver, uses a rideshare service, or even has a place to crash at your house for the night if necessary.

5.     Closely watch young children near the Christmas tree, decorations, and gifts

Older children and adults can typically be trusted near the Christmas tree, decorations, and gifts. However, young children are naturally curious. If you are a parent, grandparent, or even an aunt or uncle to a young child, it is crucial that you closely watch them when near your Christmas tree, decorations, gifts, and any other items that could be hazardous. It only takes a few seconds for a young child to knock over the Christmas tree, cut themselves on an ornament with a hook, or even place wrapping paper in their mouths.

6.     If you have a real Christmas tree, make sure you water it daily

If you opt for a real Christmas tree over a fake one, you will need to water it at least once a day. The reason for this is that real Christmas trees are just like flowers or any other plant that will die if they do not receive water. However, the worst part is that a real Christmas tree that is not taken care of can easily catch fire if it becomes too dry. In order to avoid a fire in your home, you should keep your Christmas tree well-hydrated.

7.     Do not forget about fireplaces and candles

Fireplaces and candles are very popular this time of year. Many people use them to give their homes a warm, cozy, and festive feel. However, it is important to never forget that you are using these items. If you leave a candle or fireplace burning throughout the night while you are asleep, it could cause a fire. You should also be aware of where these items are located when decorating. If you place the Christmas tree or decoration too close to a candle or fireplace, it can easily catch fire, causing your home to go up in flames within seconds.

8.     Keep walkways and pathways free from obstruction

Whether your guests are tearing open wrapped presents or decorations and cords have been thrown everywhere, walkways and pathways are known to become obstructed during the holiday season. When this happens, people are at risk of tripping and falling. When hosting a family get-together, try to keep all walkways and pathways clear to prevent any elderly or young children from falling and getting hurt.

9.     If snow is on the way, get the shovel out and begin putting down salt

Chicago usually sees some snow during the holidays. If you are keeping up with the forecast and hear that snow is on the way, you should have the shovel ready and begin putting down salt on the sidewalks, parking areas, and your porch. While holiday parties and get-togethers can still go on during snowy weather, you want to make sure that your guests are not in danger when walking around or entering your home.

The Chicago personal injury attorneys at Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers want to wish you a happy and healthy holiday season! Our team understands how important it is for families to get together to celebrate across our area and the rest of the country. If you suffer an injury near the holiday season, please do not hesitate to contact us. Call our office or submit our contact form to schedule a free consultation in Chicago today.