During the holiday season, you're likely to have children in your home for various parties and gatherings. With the holidays come many decorations and activities that may pose a risk of injury to children. While your homeowner's insurance likely covers medical expenses due to injuries that occur on the property, you may be held liable in a personal injury case if the expenses exceed your insurance policy's cap. In order to protect your assets (and the safety of children), follow these tips to childproof your home in preparation for the holiday season.
Choose tree decorations wisely.
Don't hang glass ornaments or any that have sharp edges within the reach of a child. It's even better to avoid glass ornaments all-together. If young toddlers will be in your home, avoid hanging ornaments that are small enough to fit in a child's mouth. He or she could choke on them. Also, don't use metal hooks to hang your ornaments on the tree. They may cause serious puncture wounds to children who may grab them.
Don't place lights near the bottom of the tree.
Children may become tangled in the lights and accidentally strangle themselves. They may also bite the electrical cord, causing electrocution. In order to keep your lighted tree child-safe, place lights only on the upper portion of the tree, and make sure the cord leading to the lights is well tucked away behind the tree. Also, plug the lights in to a circuit interrupter outlet for extra protection from shock.
Keep cords neatly stowed.
During the holidays, it's common for homeowners to run extension cords across the floor to plug in decorations. These cords present a tripping hazard. Keep them tucked behind furniture and against walls so that a child, or even an adult, does not fall over them.
Don't light candles.
Sure, candles give off a lovely holiday ambiance, but they're simply not a safe choice when children are around. You can enjoy the same glow if you invest in a battery-operated candle. If it's a holiday scent that you crave, choose a battery-operated candle warmer instead of a flame candle.
Don't light a real fire.
While a fire burning in the fireplace adds warmth and comfort to the party, it's not safe for children. Save the real wood fire for a party where all guests are over the age of 18. Even young teenagers may be tempted to play with the fire, and they may become injured while doing so.
Keep candy bowls out of reach.
If there's one thing children love, it's candy. Unfortunately, children left unobserved for even a second can grab candy out of a candy bowl and choke on it while running around and playing. Keep your candy bowls stashed on a high-up table, where children cannot reach it. If you want to offer children candy, check with their parents first, and then make sure they are sitting still while they eat the candy so that they can chew it properly and avoid choking.
Place your knives in a high cupboard.
When parents are busy chatting and enjoying holiday goodies, kids sometimes end up grabbing items off of the counter unexpectedly. The last thing you want that item to be is a knife. Before a holiday gathering where there will be kids, move your butcher's block to a high cupboard. If you're cooking while the guests are over, make sure you place the knives out of reach as you finish using them.
The holidays are a time to celebrate with family and friends. Don't let an unfortunate injury and lawsuit ruin your celebration. Follow the steps above before your young company arrives, and your home will be a safer place for everyone this holiday season. Continue here to get more info.