People look forward to Thanksgiving and the winter holidays all year—making travel plans, decorating their homes, and spending hours cooking for guests. Despite all this good cheer, this time of year is also infamous for an increase in residential fires. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), an average of 2,300 home fires occurred over a three-year period, resulting in dozens of injuries and thousands of dollars in damages.
This holiday season, it’s essential to take the necessary steps to safeguard your home against preventable fires. Here are some tips for keeping your home and family safe.
Tips for Holiday Fire Prevention
Check Your Smoke Alarms: Test your smoke alarms monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year. If you don’t have a working smoke alarm, now is the time to install one.
Keep an Eye on Cooking: Cooking is the number one cause of residential fires, accounting for over 73% of incidents. It's important to never leave a kitchen or other area that is in active use for cooking.
Be Careful with Candles: If you use candles to decorate your home for the holidays, make sure to keep them away from flammable objects like curtains or Christmas trees. Also, never leave burning candles unattended.
Mind Your Deep Fryer: Deep-fried turkey is a staple in many Southern households, but this can be a common way for injuries to occur. Using too much oil, not having the fryer on a staple surface, or even having the fryer too close to the house can cause catastrophic incidents.
Don’t Overload Electrical Outlets: If you plan on stringing up lots of holiday lights, don’t overload your electrical outlets. Use only lights that have been tested for safety and never use extension cords that are frayed or damaged.
Don’t Leave Fireplaces Unattended: If you plan on using your fireplace to keep warm this holiday season, make sure to tend the fire and never leave it unattended. Also, be sure to remove all ashes from previous fires before lighting a new one.
By ensuring the entire family is on the same page about these fire prevention strategies, you can keep your home happy and safe through the season.
Law Offices Of Vic Feazell, P.C. has extensive experience handling catastrophic injuries like severe burns. If you need legal assistance for a burn or other personal injury caused by someone’s negligence this holiday season, call (254) 938-6885 to schedule a free consultation.