December is one month when many people will get together with their family and friends at home. Logically, the more people that are staying in the home for an extended period, the more chances there are that accidents will happen within the home. This is the reason we thought it would be a good time to highlight a few safety reminders to help keep you safe this winter.
Who doesn’t love an open fireplace to sit and feel cozy in front of? If you have a fireplace in your home, remember to remove any potentially combustible items from around it before lighting the fire. Plus, you will need to make sure that the flue is open.
The potential for fire is always present in the home, but the risk will be much greater if you light candles and plug-in string lights, etc. Never leave a lit candle in a room unattended or next to flammable materials and if you use string lights, check that there are no broken bulbs or frayed wires. This is also a very good time to go through the house to test your smoke alarms and CO2 detectors to make sure they are all working as they should be.
Pay close attention to objects that may be dangerous if small children are in the house. Store items like scissors and knives well out of the reach of infants, preferably out of their sight. You should also look for potential dangers for pets, as even some plants like Poinsettias can be poisonous for them.