The holidays are just around the corner – and with them all of the fun, parties, decorations, and family gatherings we treasure so much. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the best way to enjoy this time in happiness and safety is to be aware of some of the risks that come with the season.
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- Christmas trees and candles – They are undoubtably beautiful, and fill our homes with holiday cheer, but they are also a leading cause of fires at this time of year. Be careful with candles; don’t leave them unattended, and don’t let little kids light them or go near them. Keep candles away from flammable items like curtains and pillows.
If you have a real tree, make sure it’s well watered and doesn’t get too dry. Also, while it’s understandable to want to hold onto the season as long as you can, don’t keep a real tree beyond its time – the risk of fire will only increase as it gets more dry and brittle.
Whether your tree is real or artificial, check your lights every year to make sure they are still in safe working order, and aren’t close to an ornament that could melt or become a risk if next to a source of heat.
- Meal prep – The holidays bring out the chef and baker in all of us! And while that means some mouth-watering goodies to enjoy, it also means a greater risk of kitchen fires. Don’t leave things to cook on the stovetop unattended, and be sure you have a fire extinguisher handy. It’s also a great idea to understand how to handle different types of fires – for example, never attempt to put out a grease fire with water – deprive the fire of oxygen by covering it with a lid or cookie sheet.
- Party safely – It’s fun to share a cup of holiday cheer or crack open that bottle of wine with friends, but be careful not to overserve your guests. Besides the risk to life involved, should an inebriated partier leave your home and get into an accident, as the host you could face some legal liability.
- Shop smart – Do you know if your personal insurance covers identity theft? Most policies don’t automatically have this provision, so be sure to have a conversation with your broker about this. In the meantime, as the holiday shopping season ramps up, take care to shop only on secure sites, and opt for credit over debit as a payment method. When shopping in brick and mortar stores, protect your cards by carrying them in an RFID-blocking wallet.
Contact the professionals at PA Auto Insurance Outlet to learn more information on preventing insurance claims this holiday season!