Clutter, candles, and cooking, oh my! Use this checklist for holiday safety and peace of mind.
As you plan for holiday gatherings and activities, don’t overlook potential safety hazards in your home. Often, it’s the simple details which are overlooked that can send the holidays from celebration to chaos in short order.
A little preparation in anticipation can provide peace of mind and contribute to reduced stress during this busy time.
Here are some tried and true tips that will minimize risk of injury and help keep everyone safe over the holidays and beyond.
Watch your step! Take a discerning look at access to your home. Start from outside and observe how people access the main entry. Ask yourself:
- Is the path to the entry walkable? If there are stairs, do you have a handrail? Is there an alternative entrance if stairs are a barrier?
- Is the walking surface snowy, icy, mossy, or muddy? Cluttered with debris? Or is the path clear, walkable, and safe?
- Are the walkway and the entry well-lit?
- Are there holiday decorations on the path to your home or on the handrail? These can be obstacles and interfere with mobility and balance.
Once inside, look at interior pathways and wayfinding.
- Lighting is important inside too. Is the interior space well-lit, easy to see and navigate?
- Do you have decorative lighting that twinkles? This can be disorienting for some.
- Is the floor free from clutter? Clear footwear from the doorway. Pick up pet and children’s toys from the floor. Tucked away electric cords.
- Are there other potential tripping hazards on the floor such as throw rugs, newspapers, and magazines?
- If you have pets, how they are around company? Could they be a tripping hazard if they get underfoot of guests? Add a baby gate or prepare a special room for pet accommodations.
- Is furniture arranged in a comfortable, accessible way? Or are items crowded together? Make sure that furniture is easy to walk around and can accommodate a guest using an assistive device such as a walker, wheelchair, or cane.
- Be mindful of low coffee tables and end tables that can be difficult to see and easily bumped into or tripped over.
Tis the season of candles. Lighting candles is part of many holiday traditions and celebrations such as Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. Candles make a home cozy and inviting during the winter. Not surprisingly, however, December is the peak month for candle fires. Over half of home fires this time of year start when combustible materials like decorations or wrapping paper are too close to a candle flame.
Practice these candle safety reminders from the National Fire Protection Association:
- Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed.
- Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
- Keep candles at least 1 foot away from anything that can burn.
- Use candle holders that are sturdy and won’t tip over easily.
- Don’t leave burning candles unattended. And never leave children alone in a room with a burning candle.
- Put candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface.
- Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.
- Don’t burn a candle all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container.
- Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home.
- Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting ready to use during a power outage. Never use candles.
- Think about using flameless candles in your home. Many fake candles offer the same cozy, flickering light as the real thing – with none of the risk.
Other high-risk areas, especially for fire, include:
- The kitchen. Never leave cooking food unattended. Cooking is, by far, the leading cause of residential fires and injuries. And not surprisingly, cooking-related fires spike during the winter holiday season. Unattended equipment is the leading contributor to ignition to cooking fires in homes.
- Christmas trees. Prevent fires by keeping the tree away from heat sources, watering it regularly, and taking it down before it dries out. Consider an artificial tree.
- Don’t overload electrical outlets and power strips. And be careful about where they’re placed. They can be tripping hazards.
Our team here at Aging Wisdom wishes you all a safe and joyous holiday season.
Additional Resources for Safe, Welcoming Holiday Gatherings
