When it comes to the winter holidays, you can get so caught up in planning meals, decorating, road trips, attending parties, and buying gifts that you neglect one of the most important things: safety.
Holiday Lights
Holiday lights are one of the best parts of this time of year, but overloading electrical sockets, extension cords, and circuits can cause fires. Only use indoor and outdoor lights for their intended purposes; do not hang indoor lights outside and vice versa. You will also want to check new and old lights for loose connections, cracked sockets, and damaged wires. Get rid of these and replace them. Plug outdoor-certified outdoor lights into ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) or portable GFCIs and nothing else.
If you have metallic trees, do not hang electric lights on them. Also, turn off all of your decorations and blow out any candles before going to bed or leaving the house.
Ladder Safety
Make sure that your ladder is good and sturdy if you will be using it to hang up decorations, and have someone hold it steady while you are working. Remember the three-point safety rule. Keep three contact points on the ladder at all times, such as two feet and one hand.
Security
Thieves are more abundant during the holidays, hoping to steal gifts from unsuspecting people. If you need to leave gifts in front of your house or are expecting deliveries, leave specific instructions and track the shipments. Now is also a good time to install a front porch camera if you have not done so already.
It is also a good idea to place wrapped gifts in areas that cannot be viewed through your windows. Another clue that shows others that you have valuables is leaving the boxes outside for trash or recycling pickup. Break your boxes down into small pieces, and place them in bins or hide the outside markings.
Keep Decorations Away From Pets
Holiday greenery can brighten up your home, but plants like holly, mistletoe, and poinsettias can harm pets when ingested. Hang them up high out of their reach.
Cooking Safety
Cooking fires are another safety hazard during the holidays. These are the main cause of all home fires. Do not leave your cooking unattended. If you have other holiday tasks to complete, finish them in the kitchen and/or set a reminder to check on the food.
Do Not Drink and Drive
Do not drink and drive during the holidays or at any other time of the year. The risk of getting into a drunk driving car accident increases in Dec., so use ridesharing services, and watch out for others who may be driving under the influence.
Towson Personal Injury Lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC Provide Legal Guidance to Clients Who Have Been Injured in Accidents
If you have been injured in a holiday accident, speak with one of our Towson personal injury lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC. For a free consultation, complete our online form or call us at 443-589-0150. We will protect your rights. Located in Hunt Valley and Towson, Maryland, we serve clients in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Bel Air, Bentley Springs, Columbia, Freeland, Hereford, Hampton, Westminster, Essex, Monkton, Sparks Glencoe, Parkton, Phoenix, Pikesville, White Hall, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County.
