Without preparation and the development of an organizational system, the holidays can become quite stressful. When you are tired and stressed, it’s nearly impossible to enjoy the time spent with family and friends. There are numerous steps you can take to ensure that your holiday is stress-free and immensely enjoyable.
Preparation is one of the first steps involved in creating a safe and happy holiday. Statistics indicate that there is a significant increase in home fires during the holiday season. If you do not have smoke alarms throughout your home, this would be a good time to invest in some. If you have detectors in place, check the batteries. It is also advisable to have a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen and possibly other areas of your home.
It is not wise to multi-task while cooking. Plan your cooking schedule so that you can remain in the kitchen while cooking. An unattended stove can be potentially dangerous. It is advisable to make the kitchen a kid free zone when stove top cooking is in progress.
It’s quite possible that more visitors will pass through your home during the holidays than any other time of year. You can gain peace of mind by inspecting your home and fixing any safety hazards you see. You don’t want visitors tripping over electrical cords connected to holiday decorations, lamps or electronics. It’s also a good idea to make sure candles are not placed in areas where they can easily be knocked over. The National Fire Protection Association statistics show that almost half of all home decoration fires start with candles.
As part of your holiday preparation, you should review your home and auto insurance policies to be sure you have the coverage you need. An increase in holiday traffic raises the risk of accidents. Extra cooking, more visitors and holiday decorations also increase the risk of having to file some type of insurance claim during the holiday season.
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