Safety First!

Your holiday plans are ready. You’ve checked your home for safety, and you cleaned your oven (because you read our previous blog). You’ve bought everyone’s favorite holiday meal goodies and you are ready to cook the meal for the big day. Great job!
 
But wait!!! Safety first! Here are some last minute safety tips for you and your Thanksgiving guests:
 
Outdoors:
 
Rake the leaves. Leaves can be very slippery when wet. Now that we have entered the rainy season, it is time to rake up any leaves that have fallen, especially on your sidewalks and walkways to make sure no one slips.
 
Wear gloves when working outdoors! You never know what’s in those piles of leaves! From stickers and pointy debris to (yuk) dead birds and rodents, you never know what you might be in for. Gloves can help prevent blisters from raking and protect your hands from ickies and stickies.
 
Are your gutters cleaned?  A clogged gutter is definitely not a good thing! Make sure all leaves and debris are cleared out of your gutter to prevent pooling water on your roof (and the damage it can cause). If you’re not 100 percent steady on a ladder, be sure to hire someone to assist you with this task. Safety first!
 
Indoors:
 
When was the last time you checked your fire extinguisher? Be sure that your extinguishers have not expired! The last thing you want is a fire in the kitchen that you can’t put out because the extinguisher doesn’t work! – And remember NEVER try to put out a grease fire with water. The water will turn your burning grease into a kitchen destroying grease explosion.  Click here to see what happens when you put just one teaspoon of water into a grease fire. You’ll be amazed!
 
The best way to stop a grease fire is prevention. Stay in the kitchen and  keep an eye on what you are cooking. If you do end up with a grease fire in a pan on your stove, your best line of defense, if the fire is small, is smoothing the fire by putting a lid on the pot that is burning. Be careful with glass lids as these may break from the extreme heat of a fire. You can also use baking soda to smother a grease fire, but it takes a LOT of baking soda. Your next line of defense is a chemical fire extinguisher designed for this purpose. Grease fires are hot and aggressive. The sooner you get help, the better, so if things are feeling even a little out of hand, it is time to call 911.
 
Finally – is your toilet leaky? Did you know that the busiest day of the year for plumbers is Thanksgiving? All those extra “guest” flushes are sometimes more than your system can handle. If your toilet is an inefficient older model or is leaking, think of the holidays as the perfect time to upgrade. It may not prevent a “sewer line melt down” but if you have a more efficient toilet, you may “lighten the load” enough to prevent having an extra guest (your plumber) at your Thanksgiving gathering.

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Stay Safe!

 7 Tips to Avoid a Shocking Holiday Season 

As we (believe it or not) move closer to the holiday season, we begin thinking of planning family gatherings, meals and gifts for the ones we love.
 
One thing I hope you do every year is a pre-holiday safety check. This can help you avoid some of the “unfortunate memorable moments” such as smoking ovens, dangerously overloaded outlets or the impromptu family opportunity to pretend you “live off the grid” and do shadow puppet shows by candlelight.
 
Here are a few things to consider as you prepare your home for winter and holiday entertaining.
 
1. When was the last time you cleaned your oven? Thanksgiving dinner is a terrible time to discover that your oven needs cleaning, has a temperature setting that is not correct OR that it doesn’t work at all!! Consider purchasing an oven thermometer to make sure your oven is baking at the same temperature you think it is! If it has been awhile since you’ve cleaned your oven, microwave or broiler, what better time to make an afternoon of it. Put on your favorite music and have a personal oven cleaning party!
 
2. This month daylight savings ends. Most fire departments suggest that when setting your clock to standard time, also replace the batteries in your smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.
 
3. Check your fireplace! The beginning of the season is a great time to call your local chimney sweep for an inspection to make sure your chimney is safe. Before you burn, make sure the flue is open and do take care if using fire salts, which produce colorful flames when thrown on a wood fire. These contain heavy metals and should be kept out of the reach of children and pets.
 
4. Remember that yummy treats for people could be poisonous to pets. Chocolate especially is dangerous for dogs and cats. Additionally, macadamia nuts, avocado, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, chives and Xylitol (an artificial sweetener) are all very dangerous for your pets and should not be shared with them under any circumstances.
 
5. If you’re not used to having children around the house and your guests will include children, take some practical measures to keep your breakables and the kids safe. While parents will do their best to keep an eye on junior, your home may be very tempting to explore and with all of the activity, his every move may not be noticed. Make sure scissors, sharp objects and choking hazards are out of reach. If very small children will be visiting consider using plastic socket covers to keep little fingers safe.
 
6. If you are traveling for the holidays, be sure to set your burglar alarm. Don’t discuss your plans casually with strangers and be sure to have a trusted neighbor keep an eye on your home.
 
7. If you’re using a portable heater, be sure to keep your heater a safe distance from flammable items such as draperies and carpets. Do not use an extension cord to plug in an electric heater. There have been many recent recalls of portable heaters. Go to  www.cpsc.gov and check for your model to be sure it has not be recalled.
 
And finally if you need someone to hang that new overhead light so your thanksgiving table is perfectly lit, or you want to install a dimmer switch, consider hiring an electrician. Working on electrical wiring is tricky. That’s why you should only hire a licensed electrician to make sure that the job is done correctly and safely.
 

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