What could be better than enjoying the holiday season at home? It is not only the stuff of holiday movies and carols—but what people want this time of year. Whether it is your home or a relative’s, people idealize spending the holiday being cozied up inside with loved ones. While, there may be no place like home for the holidays, this does not mean there are not perils that lurk inside. Many of the accidents that tend to occur this time of year, often take place inside of the home. So while you are decking the halls this season, keep in mind these important tips to make your home a safer place to hunker down for the holidays:
- Have a plan in the kitchen. A holiday is never complete without a feast– which means that at least one member of your household will be spending some quality time in the kitchen. While cooking for a crowd can be fun, is often stressful and hectic. Chaos in the kitchen is often a recipe for an accident. To avoid a kitchen mishap, create a cooking plan. Make as many components ahead of time, to avoid too much going on in the kitchen at once. Remember that people care less about the number of dishes that you make and more about the quality of the company.
- Look at things through the eyes of a child. While an adult may look at a poinsettia as a beautiful living piece of holiday décor, to a small child it may look simply delicious! Many plants used for decorations, including poinsettias, mistletoe, and holly, are all potentially poisonous, so best kept out of the reach of children. Tree trimmings can also be a danger to a child who could put one in his or her mouth and choke or becomes injured on the breaking glass. Alcohol poisoning is also a potential risk around the holidays. To prevent a child from accidentally consuming alcohol, make sure that cups with alcoholic beverages are out of the reach of children.
- Tidiness is important. Most people concentrate the majority of their cleaning efforts to the period before their guests arrive. However, it is important to make sure to keep your home tidy whenever you have a home full of people. Toys, papers, wrapped gifts and other items, especially left on the floor can lead to trips, falls, and injuries.
- Mind the tree. The Christmas tree is often a focal point in every home during the holidays. However, in the midst of a frenzied household, a tree can be a 6-foot accident waiting to happen. To keep your tree from tumbling over, make sure it is in a safe area, preferably up against a wall or in space that is not in the middle of a major walkway. If your tree is quite large, you may also want to take steps to secure it to a wall.
If you or a family member was seriously injured in a home mishap this holiday season, it is important that you seek the advice of a seasoned Kansas City Injury Attorney. Only an experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Attorney can thoroughly review your case and make the determination if the wrongdoer can be held liable. To make sure that your rights are protected you need to hire the right attorney. The attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. have helped countless injury victims, in both Kansas and Missouri, and are ready and willing to help you. Our compassionate team of attorneys will make sure that justice is served. To schedule an initial consultation with one of our Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys, contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673.