The holidays can be a joyful but chaotic time, and all the preparations, festivities and travel can lead to safety oversights in your home. 

Whether you’re lighting the menorah or stringing Christmas lights, enjoy more peace of mind by following these important safety tips.

Smart Home Tips

Make holiday travel easier with smart home automation  that lets you monitor everything remotely. Since thefts tend to rise in November and December, have someone check on your home or consider using security cameras while you’re away.

  •  Before heading out of town, use timers to operate lights or adjust your ADT smart lights remotely with the ADT app.
  • With ADT smart home security, you can arm and disarm your system remotely, adjust your smart locks, regulate the thermostat, view your security cameras and receive alerts if motion is detected.
  • At home, put a festive chime on your doorbell camera , greet holiday guests and get packages safely inside and away from porch pirates.

Decorating Tips

Holiday decorating is a fun, time-honored tradition but always keep safety in mind as you deck the halls. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that an average of 160 decorating-related injuries occur each day during the holiday season with almost half involving falls [1].

  • When hanging decorations always use a ladder or stepladder—never a chair, table or other unstable surface.
  • Put the tree in a sturdy stand to avoid falls if bumped by a child or pet.
  • Replace any worn light strings with broken cords or loose bulb connections.
  • Never place anything flammable in or around lights, candles or a fireplace.

Lights, Fire, Safety

The holidays are all aglow with lights, candles and lit fireplaces, and it’s especially important to remain vigilant. Fires can occur at any time, but the holidays pose a special risk. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), more than 1/3 of holiday home décor fires are started by candles, and almost 1/3 of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems [2].

  • Don’t leave lit candles unattended. Blow them out before you leave the room.
  • Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
  • Water your Christmas tree every day to prevent it from drying out. A dry tree can be dangerous because it can catch fire easily [3].
  • Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights [2].

Protecting Your Pets

Don’t forget about furry loved ones who can get into mischief during the holidays, such as climbing the Christmas tree and tearing through decorations. But more serious is your pet chewing on wires or consuming harmful plants. Many holiday plants can be poisonous to your pet.

PetMD lists these holiday plants to keep away from your pet [4]:

  • Poinsettia
  • Holly and mistletoe
  • Lilies and daffodils
  • Amaryllis
  • Christmas cactus

[1] Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), November 2021.

[2] Source: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

[3] Source: U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

[4] Source: PetMD, November 2019.

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