Whether you’re gearing up for Christmas or Hanukkah, winter holiday decor ushers in a whole new category of home safety concerns. While you don’t necessarily need to spend your celebration on edge, a few decor safety tips can help ensure everything goes smoothly. We’ve assembled some guidelines for three common and potentially treacherous holiday decorating to-dos.
Outdoor Lights
Shaky ladders, icy roofs and cold fingers can all pose safety concerns when it comes to hanging exterior holiday lights (Better Homes and Gardens). To avoid an accident, start with all the right tools. Lights, blow-up characters, and other lawn ornaments should be specifically designed for outdoor use. A sturdy ladder, warm work gloves, and roofing shoes will make the process more enjoyable, and a lantern or headlamp wouldn’t hurt either.
Once you’re ready to hang, try to work with a partner. Go slow and steady, continuously prioritizing safety. Check each string for functionality before hanging to limit the amount of time you must spend on the ladder.
Finally, when the hard work is done, ensure you haven’t overloaded your circuits. If you’ve included more than 1,400 watts on a circuit, or if the interior lights start dimming, you’ll need to make adjustments. Remember to turn the lights off before heading to bed, or if you’ll be out of the house for an extended period of time.
Holiday Tree
Once you’ve hauled home the perfect tree, you’ll want to set it up for success (Better Homes and Gardens, 2021). Start with a solid tree stand that you’re confident won’t tip over. The right stand should take the tree’s height into account and provide a solid and sturdy base.
As you’re setting up, keep the tree far away from any heat sources, including fireplaces, radiators, heating vents, or poorly ventilated television systems. You’ll also want to water it frequently, as dry needles and branches could easily become kindling. Remember to turn off any tree lights before going to bed or leaving the home. If you’re prone to forgetfulness, an outlet timer can assist.
Finally, be mindful when adding the finishing touches. If broken glass is a concern, particularly with young children, pets, or older family members, plastic ornaments may be the way to go. Tinsel, garlands, and other ornamental features such as icicles or fake snow should be non-toxic, particularly in households with children or pets.
Menorah
Nothing ruins a Hanukkah celebration quite like a menorah mishap! After all, having an open flame in the home calls for some extra caution (Century 21). When first decorating, consider placing the menorah where you plan to light it. That way, no one will need to walk through the house with lit matches or candles. Depending on your family size and holiday plans, a less busy part of the home may be ideal. Wherever you choose, be sure to place the menorah on a stable, nonflammable surface. Ensure that it’s positioned in a place where family or guests are unlikely to accidentally knock it over.
If you plan to decorate the surrounding area, you may also want to ensure that all materials are non-flammable. Paper lanterns, table runners, banners, and other decorative accents should be closely observed in households with children. In the same vein, ensure matches, lighters, and candles are stored out of reach of children or pets.
Finally, remember to never leave the menorah unattended. Someone should always be supervising, regardless of who’s celebrating in your household.
Stockings
Hanging stockings above the fireplace? Make sure you do it with care. It may seem like an innocent part of the decorating plan, but if you’re not cognizant of your surroundings, the fire dangers are increased (Full Service Chimney, 2019). The recommendation for stockings is to never hang them directly above or near a lit fireplace. The suggested distance from an open flame is three feet.
While the holidays often bring about renewed feelings of warmth, elation and excitement, the potential for mishaps can go up as well. Luckily, just a little forethought and attentiveness can help ensure you celebrate in safety!
Published on November 29, 2021
