How to Prevent Common Home Holiday Hazards & Accidents
Posted by Callie Smith on Friday, November 30, 2018, at 11:33 amThe holidays are a busy, erratic and altogether crazy time of year for homeowners — entertaining guests, putting up the tree, stringing up lights and cooking for days. With all of the guests and extra work comes the added danger of accidents. Statistics show that more than 12,500 people are rushed to the emergency room every year due to holiday-related injuries. There is also a reported $17 million in holiday-related property damage done.
Fortunately, homeowners can take steps to prepare against these dangers — and avoid a pricey ambulance bill or the need for a visiting family member to rush them to the ER on icy roads. Here are some of the most common causes for holiday-related accidents and how to prevent them:
- Christmas trees: We love them, but they can actually hurt us. Christmas trees cause 240 fires a year, so be sure to keep them away from your fireplace and heating sources.
- Exterior holiday lights: They help brighten our homes during the holiday season, but we run the risk of hurting ourselves when we hang them. To cut risk of injury, homeowners should consider hiring a handyman to hang their lights for them.
- Interior lights: We hang lights on Christmas trees and fireplace mantels — we hang them wherever makes sense, really. Unfortunately, they can cause accidents or shock if they exhaust the power outlet. Have an electrician check your outlets to see whether they can handle the voltage — and be sure not to string more than three light sets on one extension cord, just to be safe.
Learn more on how to keep your Christmas safe and happy in this infographic:
A home lit up in Wilmington NC for the Holidays
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Happy Holidays from all of us at Sold Buy the Sea Realty!
HomeAdvisor, “How to Prevent Common Home Holiday Hazards & Accidents” HomeAdvisor, HomeAdvisor, 15 Dec. 2018, http://www.homeadvisorhomesource.com/how-to-prevent-common-home-holiday-hazards-accidents/.
