The Holidays are upon us, and if you have been to any department store, the sounds of Christmas are ringing out. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, over 400 homes are destroyed annually by causes related to Christmas tree fires. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission hospital, emergency rooms treat over 12,900 people each year for injuries such as falls, cuts, and shocks related to holiday lights, decorations, and Christmas trees. Before you put up the lights or cut down the tree, we wanted to provide you with a few safety reminders to keep you and your family safe this holiday season.
The Tree
- Keep Christmas Trees Fresh; water regularly.
- Keep trees away from heat sources.
- Take Christmas trees down before January.
- Do not burn the trees in your fireplace.
- Avoid placing breakable tree ornaments, or ones with small detachable parts, on lower branches where small children or pets can reach them.
- When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant”.
Lights
- Only use lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.
- Never string together more lights than are recommended by the manufacturer.
- Make sure extension cords are rated for the intended use.
- Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
- Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
- If you use a timer for your outdoor lights, make sure it is rated for outside use.
- Outdoor lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)
Ladder Safety
- When putting up holiday decorations, always use the proper step stool or ladder to reach high places. Don’t stand on chairs, desks, or other furniture.
- A straight or extension ladder should be placed one foot away from the surface it rests against for every four feet of ladder height.
- Use ladders with slip-resistant feet.
- Never stand on top two steps.
Insurance coverage is designed to provide reimbursement for damage to the structure and contents of the home caused by certain perils like fire, wind and theft. The liability portion will also be your first line of defense against a lawsuit from someone injured on your property due to your negligence.
Your home is probably the most expensive purchase you will make in your lifetime. To protect this important asset, you want to ensure you have the best homeowners insurance policy in place – with the highest level of protection – at a reasonable price. Your mortgage holder will, in most cases, require you to have this insurance, but you have options. At Allen & Furr Insurance in Roswell, Georgia, we work with our local clients to identify the homeowners insurance policy that will best protect you in a wide range of unexpected events.
Established in 1981 and located in Roswell, Georgia, we are dedicated to providing excellent service and competitive pricing but most importantly, professional analysis of the insurance needs of our clients. Our state of the art computer network allows us to make rate comparisons with several insurance companies to ensure that our clients receive the best we have to offer. We can help you with all your insurance needs including auto/car insurance, business insurance, life insurance, and wealth management.