2020 has definitely been a year. Lucky for us though, the most wonderful time of the year is upon us!
The holiday season is that magical time of year, where we brew up some hot cocoa, sing carols, ride around and look at lights, or generally just get lost in the whimsy of the season.
While we are all trying to enjoy this season, especially given the turmoil that this year has brought us, we can easily forget that during these joyful times there are those proverbial “grinches” who are looking to steal our holiday joy.
From holiday party mishaps, decoration causing fires, cooking mishaps, or break ins these grinches can turn into a holiday nightmare before you even know what has happened.
Understanding what is covered in your homeowners policy can help ease some of your holiday tension. Your homeowners policy should already have some of the following coverages to help you mitigate a holiday disaster should it arise:
Dwelling coverage: This protects your home’s primary living space and attached structures, such as garages and carports. Typically, home policies cover damages caused by explosions, fire, lightning, sleet or snow, theft and vandalism.
Personal property: This covers your home’s contents, including appliances, clothing, electronics and furniture.
Personal liability: A coverage that applies to incidents in which the homeowner is at fault for injuries or property damage, including bodily injuries or property damage sustained by someone outside your household while on your property or damages or injuries caused by your child or pet.
Additional living expenses: This coverage helps pay your living expenses if a covered calamity such as a fire requires you to temporarily move to another house or apartment.
Medical payments: Unlike personal liability insurance, this coverage pays the immediate medical expenses of an injured guest, regardless of who is at fault.
Purchasing enough insurance may set your mind at ease, but taking certain precautions can help prevent disasters and holiday-related claims.
Here are some steps we found online to help you and your family prevent issues.
The holidays and COVID-19
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends assessing your community’s COVID-19 levels and following safety guidelines when planning how to celebrate:
Indoor gatherings increase the risk of spreading infection, but you can open windows and doors to improve ventilation.
Consider celebrating in smaller groups for shorter periods of time.
Remember to wash hands frequently.
Social distance as much as possible.
Wear masks when in close contact with people outside of your immediate household.
Christmas tree safety
According to the National Fire Protection Association, 44% of holiday tree fires are caused by electrical issues or lighting equipment. If your family prefers a live tree, follow these precautions to keep your home safe:
Buy a fresh tree with green needles that do not fall off when touched.
Before inserting the tree into its stand, cut off two inches of the trunk to ensure good water penetration.
Place the tree at least three feet away from heat sources or open flames, including candles, fireplaces, floor and table lamps, heating vents and radiators.
Do not place the tree in a space that blocks an exit or creates a trip hazard.
Refill the tree stand’s water reservoir every day.
Never decorate a tree with lit candles.
Discard the tree after it becomes dry and needles start to fall on the floor. Many communities have tree disposal programs, so check with your local sanitation department.
While an artificial tree can offer some safety advantages, you should still exercise caution. Look for the UL 2358 certification, the highest safety rating. When placing and decorating your tree, follow the same precautions recommended for live trees, except for watering and disposal requirements.
Holiday lights
Indoor and outdoor holiday lights can pose risks, but following a few safety tips can mitigate those:
Only use lights certified by Underwriters Laboratories. Look for the “UL” symbol when shopping for holiday lights.
Never use lights designed for outdoor use on an indoor tree.
Before placing lights on the tree, look for broken or loose bulbs and frayed or exposed wires. If a strand displays any of these issues, throw it away and purchase new lights.
Do not overload power strips, and only use strips equipped with circuit breakers or surge protection.
Turn off lights when you go to bed or leave home, even if you’re only leaving for a few minutes.
Never use extension cords designed for indoor use for outdoor lighting or holiday displays.
Use low-heat LED strip lights on trees and shrubs.
Do not stretch extension cords across dry grass or through water puddles.
Never decorate dry, dead trees or shrubs with lights.
Cooking
Holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving have the highest number of fires during cooking because of increased cooking times and distractions. These are some precautions when preparing holiday meals:
Make sure kids stay at least three feet away from stoves and ovens. Or, make your kitchen a kids-free zone during holiday meal preparation.
Always remain in or near your kitchen while cooking. Don’t cook your holiday turkey or ham overnight, while you are asleep or while you’re away from home.
Plug cooking appliances directly into an outlet, and avoid connecting them to an extension cord.
Never use a deep-fat turkey fryer indoors, even in a garage. Place the turkey fryer on concrete at least three feet from dry grass or shrubs. Or purchase an oil-less turkey fryer for safer cooking.
Do not place flammable materials such as bags, cooking oil and grease containers, food packaging, oven mitts, towels and wooden utensils near stove burners. Likewise, do not wear baggy clothes when cooking to prevent contact with stoves. If you have long hair, tie it in a ponytail or bun and use a head cover.
Place completed dishes on back burners to avoid accidental burns.
Clean grease from stove tops and countertops to avoid flare-ups.
Avoid serving excessive amounts of alcohol. Inebriated partygoers could sustain an injury or cause an accident.
Make sure intoxicated party guests have a designated driver or go home by taxi or rideshare. According to the National Safety Council, nearly 1,100 people in 2017 died in traffic accidents on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, one-third of which were attributed to alcohol impairment
Candles
Using battery-operated candles, kinaras and menorahs is the best way to avoid burns and fires during the holiday season. If you choose to use real candles, follow these tips to keep your family and home safe:
Only use durable candle holders made from glass or metal.
Never leave candles unattended. Extinguish candles before going to bed, when you leave home and when you leave the room for more than a couple of minutes.
Keep candles out of reach of kids and pets.
Never place candles less than three feet away from flammable materials such as beds, carpeting, curtains, holiday trees, sofas and tablecloths.
Don’t let candles burn to their base. Extinguish them when they reach two inches from the holder.
Avoid wearing baggy clothing around candles and secure long hair in a ponytail, bun or head covering.
Secure matches and lighters out of reach of children and at least four feet from open flames.
Don’t use candles for outdoor decoration.
Fireplaces
A fireplace enhances the ambiance of any home, especially during the holiday season. To prevent fireplace mishaps during the holidays, follow a few extra precautions:
Hire a licensed specialist to inspect and clean your fireplace and chimney before winter arrives.
Keep fireplaces clean by promptly removing ash and coals after each use.
Store combustible materials such as newspaper, kindling and wood three to four feet away from the fireplace.
Always open the flue before starting a fire and avoid closing it until the fire has completely burned out.
Never use a flammable liquid to start a fire. Use only matches or lighters.
Prevent embers from escaping the fireplace by placing a metal mesh or glass screen in front of it. Attached glass doors can provide a better alternative.
Always use dry wood in your fireplace because wet wood can cause a chimney fire if creosote buildup occurs.
Do not use your fireplace to dispose of items such as boxes or wrapping paper, because some materials produce toxic fumes when burned.
Never burn a holiday tree in a fireplace.
Always extinguish a fire before going to bed or leaving home.
Store fireplace ash in a metal can – at least 10 feet from your house, and store dry firewood at least 30 feet from your house.
Remove tree branches that grow over your chimney and keep the roof around your chimney free from leaf and pine needle debris.
Fit your chimney with a chimney cap to prevent embers from escaping and to keep animals and leaves out.
Install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in your home. Many insurance companies offer discounts for installing these safety devices.
Do not allow small children or pets within three or four feet of your fireplace, especially when the screen is removed or glass doors are open.
Furnaces
Typically, gas furnaces do not require special consideration during the holiday season – but you can take these additional steps to ensure everyone’s safety:
Have your furnace inspected and cleaned before winter by a technician that has earned North American Technician Excellence certification.
Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home to warn you in the event of a dangerous gas buildup.
Never operate your furnace with a dirty burner or filter.
Make sure your furnace’s door panel remains closed during use to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Never store combustible materials near your furnace, including boxes, gasoline cans and newspapers.
Pets
Our family pets often don’t understand dangers, so it’s up to us to keep them safe during the holidays by following these simple tips:
Prevent pets from accessing electrical cords as they often see an electrical cord as a chew toy, especially cords on light strands and extension cords. When possible, run cords under furniture or cover them to prevent your pet from suffering a serious electrocution injury.
Avoid giving pets table scraps during the holiday season unless you know the food is safe for your pet’s species.
Research holiday plants before bringing them into your home. Plants such as mistletoe and poinsettias are toxic for some pet species.
The bottom line is the holidays are supposed to be the most magical time of the year. Make sure you and your family are protected against the worst.