The holidays are supposed to be a happy time for everyone involved. Thanksgiving is often a favorite holiday simply because of all the great foods you get to enjoy. Every family gathering is supposed to be a joyful time for everyone who attends. To keep it that way, you need to start thinking about making sure everyone is safe and that the risk of accidents is minimized. Apply these simple and effective homeowners’ thanksgiving safety tips to make sure your family stays safe.
1. Kitchen Safety Tips
The kitchen is often the place where accidents happen. From wielding the knife to carve the turkey to keeping small children away from a hot stove, it is necessary to keep an eye on what is going on. If you have several pots cooking on top of the stove, turn the handles inwards so that they will not get tangled in your clothing and pull off the stove. The same is true for hot cups of coffee. Make sure to place them towards the back of the counter to keep a child from pulling it off and getting injured.
2. Keep Your Home Clean and Tidy
When you have many people crowding into your home, you should make sure that your home is as clean as possible. Make sure that the floors are clutter-free, the toys picked up, and pathways are well lit. Remove any tripping hazards and pick up loose rugs that may cause one of your elderly relatives to slip and fall. Look around your home for any small items that may pose a choking hazard for small children who attend your family gathering. Check outside your home as well. Remove anything that can cause an accident and make sure that all lawn debris is cleared.
3. Take Care of Your Family
After making sure your home is a safe and welcoming area, the next step is to take care of your family. If you are serving alcohol, try to keep an eye on your family members so that they don’t consume too much. If you know these same family members are driving, take their keys, and make arrangements to have them taken home. Keeping your family safe may be as simple as calling them a cab and making sure they have what they need to get home safely.
4. Secure Your House
Both the hosts and the visitors need to secure their homes on Thanksgiving. Thefts and burglaries occur more around the holidays because the thieves know that people are likely to be away from home. If you need to travel for Thanksgiving, even if it is for a day or two, set your burglar alarms and put lights on timers. Additionally, let your trustworthy neighbors know when you will return so they can report any suspicious activity to the police.
Another way to secure your homes is by purchasing the correct homeowners’ insurance. At The Schwab Agency, we are well aware of the risks that often accompany a family gathering. That is why we work with our clients to offer critical homeowners safety tips along with appropriate homeowners’ insurance for you. Our team of insurance agents is always willing to help you.