Outside Your Home 

With the holidays approaching, more visitors will be coming to your home. Dark, wet, windy, and icy conditions pose a safety risk. Take steps to ensure both your guests and you have safe access to and from your home this winter.

• Maintain outdoor lighting and adjust timers if needed to coincide with shorter daylight hours.

• Keep walkways and stairs clear of debris and ice.

• Check gutters and downspouts regularly to make sure they are clear of debris and flowing freely.

• Keep storm drains clear to prevent flooding.

Inside Your Home 

Colder temperatures and holiday festivities increase exposure to fire risk. According to a study by the National Fire Protection Association the number of home fires caused by candles nearly doubled in December compared to any other month.  Christmas Day was the peak day of the year, followed by Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.

• Take care to burn candles at least one foot away from any combustible materials, out of reach from pets and small children, and on sturdy holders that cannot tip easily. Extinguish all candles before bed or leaving the house. Turn off all the lights and walk through each room to check for any lit candles you may have missed.

• Avoid overloading electrical outlets. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for connecting the maximum string of holiday lights. Check for any damage to electrical cords (don't forget extension cords).

• Water the Christmas tree daily to keep it from drying out and becoming a fire hazard. Never leave holiday lights on when leaving the house or sleeping.

• Have the chimney inspected and cleaned, especially if you use a wood stove or fireplace regularly. On average, your chimney should be cleaned after every two cords of seasoned, dry wood is burned.

• Portable heaters should be placed on a level, non-flammable surface at least three feet away from any combustible materials such as furniture or curtains. Turn off and unplug heaters when unattended. Do not use portable gas heaters or charcoal grills indoors. They emit carbon monoxide which can be deadly.

• Inspect all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (if you don't have these devices, purchase and install them without delay) to ensure they are working properly. Replace batteries in each device annually or sooner if needed.

• Purchase a portable fire extinguisher and keep it accessible and fully charged.

• In the event of a power failure, prepare an emergency kit consisting of at least a three-day supply of food, water, medicines, pet supplies, flashlight, battery-powered radio, spare batteries, and a first aid kit.

Let's not forget our furry, four-legged friends this winter and holiday season!

• Consider your pet's personality when extra houseguests are expected. If they are shy and prefer a quiet home, give them a special place out of the way of traffic and the festivities. Make sure their quiet space is complete with a cozy bed and fresh water.

• Both mistletoe and holly can be harmful to pets if ingested. The results can range from nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea to more serious gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems. If you have pets, opt for the artificial version. The imitation plants look very convincing and can be used over and over for years to come.

• Kitties love to play with string-like objects such as tinsel and ribbon. But once these 'toys' are swallowed they can easily obstruct the digestive tract causing vomiting, dehydration, and possibly surgery. I experienced this personally when my friend's kitty swallowed a mouthful of tinsel. Luckily for him he recovered fully, but only after a stressful and expensive episode. Avoid tinsel altogether when decorating the tree and eliminate using ribbon on gifts that will be left under the tree.

• If you have outdoor pets, be sure they have a cozy place to snuggle when out of the house. As temperatures drop, water bowls freeze and need to be monitored to ensure they have fresh water to drink.

It's a wrap ~

Instead of buying rolls and rolls of wrapping paper that will be thrown away on Christmas day, be creative and wrap gifts with paper products you already have around the house. Magazines and the funny pages from the newspaper make interesting and colorful wrapping paper. Brown paper bags can be cut into flat sheets and decorated with colorful stamps, paints, crayons, or colored markers. Let your little ones be in charge of your paper decorating and see how much fun they have!

Light up the season ~

This holiday season, make the change to light emitting diode (LED) lighting to decorate your tree and home. ENERGY STAR-rated LED lights use about one-tenth the amount of electricity as traditional mini lights. They last much longer and are safe and cooler to the touch. Made of plastic, they are extremely durable for outdoor use. Give the gift of energy efficiency this holiday season.

Tree-cycle ~

Support the Boy Scouts and have your tree recycled. Visit Operation Dry Needles for a map identifying which troop is assigned to your neighborhood and the location and dates they are collecting trees for recycling.  King County's Solid Waste Division website includes information on tree-cycling in your neighborhood. Note: The 2011 tree-cycling schedule for King County has not yet been posted. Check the site closer to the holidays for this year's current information.