The holidays bring family, friends, and visitors into your home, but this increase in new faces can also increase the risk of accidents. The safety concerns of a 40-year-old couple differ vastly from those of a home with seniors, young children, or people with disabilities. Part of being a good host means preparing your home to help guests stay safe and enjoy their time, and in many cases, improving safety for others can benefit your entire family.
Install Nightlights for Overnight Guests: If you’re hosting overnight visitors, nightlights are a simple yet highly effective way to help them navigate your home in the dark without forcing them to wake up the whole house with hallway lights. Guests unfamiliar with your home will appreciate the added visibility, especially when waking up in a dark or unfamiliar space. It can also help younger guests feel safer in a new environment.
Cover Electrical Outlets to Protect Children: Childproofing your electrical system helps kids and some adults stay safe from potentially dangerous shocks. Electrical outlets are particularly dangerous, as curious children may attempt to stick objects or fingers into them. Installing outlet covers throughout your home is an easy way to eliminate this risk. Just make sure to place them in all rooms where children will spend time and possibly even in other rooms they may wander into without supervision.
Check Your Pool Area for Safety: Florida requires nearly all pools to maintain fencing around their perimeter to reduce young child accidental drownings, a stat that, unfortunately, tops the list compared to other states. When by the pool, even with fences and covers in place, keep a close eye on visitors and install pool alarms for an added layer of safety when no adults are relaxing by the water.
Install Handrails for Stairs and Bathrooms: If you’re expecting elderly guests or guests with specific health limitations, an accessible home can make all the difference. Sturdy handrails along stairways provide extra support for those with weak legs, poor balance, or general fatigue and energy levels. You can also add temporary grab bars near the toilet and shower to prevent disastrous slips and falls, even going so far as to provide alarm systems for at-risk guests. Emergency pagers can be purchased online for as little as 20 dollars, allowing senior guests to alert family members in a dangerous situation. Seniors are at a higher risk of injury from any type of fall, so these minor adjustments can make a big difference in helping them feel comfortable and safe during an extended stay.
Lock Away Hazardous Chemicals and Medications: This advice applies to your own home, too, but hazardous chemicals and medications should be out of reach of grabby hands, especially with very young kids or pets in the house. Store cleaning supplies, medications, and other dangerous substances in locked cabinets, high shelves, or far-away locations like a garage or shed where they can’t be accessed accidentally.
Check Smoke Alarms and Fire Extinguishers: The holidays are joyful and fun because of family members and guests, but their arrival is often dependent on one thing: delicious food. However, holiday cooking is also more dangerous, as it may be the only time of the year that home cooks roast or bake a meal overnight at high temps. Plus, with so many moving parts and dishes, the possibility of simple errors skyrockets. Test smoke alarms before guests arrive, and have a fire extinguisher nearby – one rated for the type of fires you can expect in a home kitchen. Once you do this preparation, you will also benefit from this added safety as you and your family continue to cook decisions meals together.
At a more macro level, the best way to protect you and your family from all major concerns this holiday season is to ensure your insurance covers every possible issue, from fires to slips and falls. Contact Anderson & Associates Insurance Group today to speak to an agent and learn more about your insurance options this holiday season.
