(NC) With the holidays around the corner, many of us are readying our homes with special lighting or candles, more electronics and power bars and favorite treats prepared in the kitchen.
Keep your season happy and safe by protecting your family from fire hazards.
Most fires caused by candles start after being left lit and unattended or when someone falls asleep. To make sure your holidays stay bright, only light candles in rooms you are in and use sturdy, burn-resistant candle holders big enough to collect dripping wax.
Never burn candles in high traffic areas where children or pets could accidentally knock them over. Don’t place lit candles near windows, curtains or other flammables.
Take your safety one step further by using battery-powered candles to give your room the ambiance without the risk.
Next to candles, power bars can amp up your holiday fun. Just be sure to avoid overloading them or covering them with fabric or rugs. Remember to place them in areas where wires are safe from being damaged.
While entertaining this season, remember kitchen safety. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and related injuries, with half of the kitchen fires resulting from grease or oil, the fastest spreading and most destructive type of fire.
Some good practices to avoid running into problems while cooking or baking are to keep your pot handles turned inwards, stay in the room when broiling or stovetop cooking and never move a flaming pot or pan.
Having a pot lid or cookie sheet nearby can help in the event you need to smother a fire.
Fire spreads quickly. Prepare yourself and your family now with an escape plan to use if a fire ever gets out of control. Homeowners insurance typically helps protect personal belongings from specific risks.
It’s a smart idea to start an inventory of your personal belongings so that, in the event of any damage to your home, you are adequately compensated.
Some insurance providers like Belairdirect have personal inventory forms online that you can use.
Find more information and access the downloadable inventory document at belairdirect.com.