The holidays (and winter) are almost upon us, and it’s important for you to stay safe and protect your family through all of the chaos that ensues. We love to gather as a family for great “comfort food” dinners during the winter, where we can snuggle up, stay warm and spend time together. Here’s one of the recipes that we love: crock pot chicken and dumplings! But while you’re enjoying time with family and friends, it’s also important that you stay safe throughout the holidays.
There are two areas of safety that you should be concerned with: safety when you’re at home, and safety when you’re out and about, doing the myriad activities that we all do during the holidays.
- Christmas Light Safety: Each year, you should carefully inspect your holiday light strings and get rid of any that have cracked lamp holders, loose connections or frayed cords. When you have to replace a bulb, unplug the light string and make sure that you match voltage and wattage to the original bulb. Always turn your Christmas lights off when you leave the house if it’s going to be unattended or when you go to bed.
- Did you know that freshly cut Christmas trees are more resistant to ignition? Make sure you keep your tree watered and away from open candles or flames.
- When purchasing light strings, extension cords, spotlights, electrical decorations, gas appliances, or carbon monoxide alarms, look for the certification mark of an accredited certification organization such as CSA International, UL, or ELT to ensure that the products comply with applicable standards for safety and performance.
- Never connect more than one extension cord together; instead use a single cord that is long enough to reach the outlet without stretching, but not so long that it can get easily tangled.
Furnace Safety Tips
- Every year, you should have a qualified heating contractor perform a yearly maintenance check of your venting system and furnace to help prevent CO hazards in your home. You should also clean or replace your furnace filter frequently during the heating seasons.
- Do not store combustible materials such as gasoline, propane, paper, chemicals, paint, rags, and cleaning products near your gas furnace. Gasoline or propane cylinders should be stored outside the home.
- Regularly vacuum the furnace and the area surrounding the furnace. You may need to call a professional heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) specialist.
- If your unit utilizes a filter, make sure to change it or inspect it monthly. And when changing the filter, make sure to properly close the door panel.
Just a little attention and some simple tips can make sure that you keep your family happy, safe, and healthy throughout the holidays!
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