The holiday season brings with it a lot of decorating, socializing and cooking for millions of people around the world. However, additional dangers exist that are also fairly unique to this time of year. These dangers include increased risk of fire, carbon monoxide exposure and an increased risk of home invasion. Knowing what these dangers are helps you to be fully prepared for them, allowing you to enjoy the holidays safely and with increased peace of mind.

Fire Risks and Carbon Monoxide

Christmas trees carry a risk of fire, especially if you use a real tree. The tree dries out over time, and the heat from your Christmas lights can cause the tree to catch fire if you’re not careful. Always have a fire extinguisher within reach of your Christmas tree as a safety precaution, and check the tree regularly to make sure it is not getting too dry or brittle. Also make sure you don’t overload your outlets by running more electricity than your circuits can handle.

Fire places and furnaces also carry a higher risk of a fire getting out of control, and the colder weather normally associated with the holiday season means that they are in use more frequently. This is why it is so important to have your furnace and chimney inspected annually before the winter starts. This not only helps you prevent accidental fire, it helps protect you against carbon monoxide exposure as well. Furnaces and fireplaces vent out carbon monoxide if they aren’t functioning properly, and the gas is odorless.

Have carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home, and check the batteries every winter to make sure they work properly.

Theft

Burglars tend to be a lot more active during the holidays, because they know you likely have a lot more merchandise in your home and car than normal as you conduct holiday shopping. That’s why it is so important to keep up with good security habits like locking all of your doors, using your blinds and curtains effectively and using your exterior lighting to keep strangers away at night.

Financial theft is also a risk. Regularly check your financial accounts, because thieves often try to hack credit and debit accounts during times when people are buying a lot of goods and services. The increased activity on the accounts makes the fraud harder to detect if you’re not paying attention.

Accidents

The winter is typically colder for most of the United States, and this raises more safety concerns. Ice and snow make driving more hazardous, so you need to keep your car maintained and prepared for less traction and freezing temperatures.

Your car is not the only thing that slips on ice. If your steps or patio are icy, you or your family can also suffer a dangerous fall. Regular shoveling and de-icing of your walkways help keep everyone safe from a falling injury.

Likewise, be very careful when hanging lights and decorations of you need a ladder to reach high places. Make sure the ladder is stable and have someone hold onto it the entire time you’re on it. Wear a helmet and a safety harness if you have to climb to the roof to finish your Christmas lights, and wear shoes or boots with very good traction.

Every year, it appears that someone playing Santa Claus gets stuck in a chimney somewhere and either suffocates or requires rescue. Never climb into your chimney for any reason. If you think it needs a repair that requires you to go inside of it, hire a professional to do the job.

Keep your holidays enjoyable by keeping yourself and your home safe. One bad judgment is all it takes to ruin the entire season, so stay diligent and don’t take any unnecessary risks during your holiday preparation and celebration. Developing good security and safety habits help to ensure an enjoyable season for years to come.