It’s that time of the year! Ya know, cooking, baking, eating, napping, and repeat. Oh, alright, It’s not all about food and sleeping. 😁 But I sure do enjoy that part almost as much as I do making memories with my family.
Before you jump into the Holiday season in full force, let’s take a few things into consideration to keep us and our homes safe.
You expected I’d start with the cooking part, right?! 🦃
Here are some things to keep in mind to minimize risk of a catastrophe during the Holiday Season:
Did you know that home fires peak on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day?! And…unattended cooking was the leading cause of these fires. So, first tip for all of us, ALWAYS keep an eye on your cooking and especially so if you are cooking with cooking oils or grease as these are a major cause of fire.
If you plan on deep frying the turkey this year (as I just might try), let’s do our part and follow FEMA’s Turkey Fryer Fire Safety protocol.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure meats are cooked to the recommended temperature to avoid foodborne illnesses. I recommend this digital meat thermometer, it’s waterproof for easy cleaning, reads temperature in 2 seconds, and comes with a lifetime warranty!
Now I know you love lighting candles to get that ever lasting holiday smell all around the home.
How about that “sweater weather” candle ?! It’s a FAVE of mine.
Did you know that Christmas day has 2.8 times more candle fires than any other day of the year? To throw another stat at you, the top days for candle fires in the U.S. are:
- New Years Day
- New Years Eve
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
So far I’m gathering that fire is a major hazard for the holiday season. Would you agree? Let’s work on changing this by following these candle safety tips from the NATIONAL FIRE
PROTECTION ASSOCIATION.
Here are a few to get you started:
- 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 (30 centimeters) away
from anything that can burn - NEVER leave a child unattended with a lit candle in the room.
- Use Sturdy candle holders and do not place candles in a cluttered area.
- If you’re not overly obsessed with scented candles, but just enjoy the lighting they bring, why not invest in some flameless candles? Here are some I have around my home that even flicker like real candles and come in MANY great colors.
Lastly, but not least…
- Update smoke detectors or change batteries to ensure they working properly.
- Upgrade your décor to flame resistant.
- As you purchase lights for your home, be sure to read the box to know if the lights are outdoor only, or indoor only use.
- Be cautious when using fireworks.
- Just be aware, think, and plan ahead.
Have a GREAT 2021 Holiday Season
I hope that this was helpful. There are many more ways to stay safe this holiday season, but these are definitely some of the top!