Being safe with family over for the holidays

As Christmas is upon us, we all have family coming to stay over. Here are a few tips to make your house a little safer with so much foot traffic during the ‘silly season’.

1. If you have little ones or elderly family coming over, stairs are always unsafe. Be certain that the handrails are sturdy and put safety gates up to keep children off the stairs.

2. Have non-slip rugs in the shower and in the bathrooms to prevent slipping if the floor gets wet.

3. Do not place candles or flammable materials near curtains and do not leave candles unattended. Blow them out before leaving the room.

4. Don’t leave small things lying around, as they may be a choking hazard to toddlers.

5. Keep chemicals, paint and medicines in a cupboard that is out of children’s reach or has a lock on it. Be certain that there are no dangerous things in the fridge.

6. Unfortunately, one cannot remove all the knives from the kitchen, but they can be kept locked away.

7. Garden tools can be a threat, so always be certain they are locked away in the garage and make sure that the lawnmower and other power tools have been unplugged.

8. Be certain to tell everyone when the stove is on, but don’t leave it unattended as it could result in someone being burned.