There’s no doubt about it, the holidays are going to look a little different this year.
With the pandemic and social distancing regulations canceling many people’s normal holiday plans, you will likely try to keep the festive season alive at home without visiting extended family.
This means we would like to pass along some key holiday safety information to keep you and your families safe this season. After all, staying home for the holidays may mitigate the risk of COVID-19, but other safety concerns need to be addressed before anyone takes on traditional preparations.
KITCHEN SAFETY TIPS TO PREVENT KITCHEN FIRES DURING THE HOLIDAYS:
The National Fire Protection Association states that 50 percent of house fires start in the kitchen. Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day, the day before Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas Eve.
Simple reminders for our tenants:
- Test your smoke alarms before cooking to ensure they are working properly.
- Do not leave the kitchen unattended and keep an eye on the food.
- Keep your stovetop free of cooking utensils and debris (oven mitts, in particular, can easily catch fire when too close to a burner or hot pot).
- Avoid cooking while under the influence.
- Check on your turkey frequently and do not leave the home while it is cooking
- Keep children at least 3 feet away from the hot stove. Keep children away from hot liquids; a splash or steam from cooking food could cause serious injury. Additionally, ensure children are not near sharp utensils or have access to pull on cords from electric appliances like electric knives, plate warmers etc.
- Check your seasonal appliances to ensure cords are in good working order and not frayed.
- Keep the floor clear of debris and clean up any spills to prevent tripping or slipping with hot items in hand.
HOLIDAY DECORATION SAFETY REMINDERS:
As Christmas and Hanukkah approach, you may begin decorating for the holiday season. While this festive tradition is sure to bring much-needed joy to an unprecedented year, please remember to keep an eye out for safety hazards. Below safety reminders and damage-free decor ideas for the holidays to ensure you can celebrate without causing permanent changes to the rental property.
Key holiday decoration safety tips:
- Replace any electric decorations with worn or frayed cords.
- Do not leave electric decorations on while sleeping or away from the home.
- Avoid overloading outlets, and do not connect more than 3 strings of lights together.
- AS per all our leases, burning of candles or incense is NOT permitted on the premises. Candles start almost half of home fires. Consider opting for battery-operated candles instead.
- Ensure that all electrical cords are not pinched by furniture or forced into tight spaces.
- Keep live trees well-hydrated and away from heat sources and ensure that faux trees are labeled “fire-resistant.” Consider keeping a fire extinguisher next to your tree.
- If your exterior door leads to the outside, get a seasonal doormat.
- Make use of brick hooks or other temporary wreath hangers to hang wreaths, garlands and other greenery on brick or door exteriors.
- Display seasonal window clings on your front windows.
- Create a hanging window display from an empty frame. Hang ornaments in the frame using fishing line or ribbon, and you will instantly have a unique holiday decoration for your window.
BE SMART ABOUT TRAVEL PLANS:
While everyone will need to be aware of their local or state guidelines for COVID-19; some will choose to travel. Whether visiting a family cabin while social distancing or choosing a different holiday plan, there are some important things you should consider if going out of town. Please inform our office if you will be gone for an extended period of time. This can ensure that we are able to inspect the property for emergency issues if we are called while you are away.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
This was just remember that a little prevention can go a long way to ensure a safe and happy holiday season for everyone involved.
