The number of fire accidents is significantly higher during the Christmas season because of home cooking fires, the use of “holiday” candles, and faulty decorations. Even the seemingly innocuous Christmas tree accounts for a large number of fire accidents because people place them too close to a heat source like a fireplace, stove, and furniture.
To help you celebrate the holiday safely, we list down some easy-to-follow safety tips and tricks for your mobile home.
General home safety tips
Every mobile home should have a smoke alarm detector, a relatively cheap device that saves lives and protects property. In the event of a fire, toxic gases spread way faster than heat; this is why smoke inhalation is the leading cause of death due to fire – not the fire itself.
Aside from installing a smoke alarm detector, make your mobile home safer by following the tips below:
- Opt for flame-resistant Christmas decorations. When shopping for these products, choose brands with a label that says “fire-resistant” or “fire-retardant.” While they often cost a bit more, they are a worthwhile investment you shouldn’t skimp on.
- Follow the packaging’s instructions. If the label says “indoor light only,” don’t try to use the product outdoors to avoid injury and property damage.
- Hang Christmas lights using clips rather than nails. You don’t want to damage the cords, which are known to cause fire.
- Avoid fireworks. Most mobile homes parks in Fernley NV and city ordinances prohibit fireworks in residential areas because of the risk of injury and fire. But if you really need to use them, at least follow these safety protocols: don’t touch a firework that didn’t ignite; don’t let pets roam around outside during Christmas and New Year’s Eve; and only use them in an open area (and with a bucket of water nearby).
Safety tips in the kitchen
Did you know that cooking causes around 173,000 home fires in the US every year, with the number historically spiking up every Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and Thanksgiving Day? However, you can do these safety hacks to avoid being part of the statistics.
- Turn your kitchen into a “child-proof” area. Keep knives and other sharp objects out of reach, keep chairs and stools away from the stove, use appliance and cabinet locks, and practice safe cooking. You may also want to keep people out of the kitchen unless they’re helping with the meal preparation to minimize the risk of accidents.
- Never leave your fryer and stove unattended while cooking. But in case that you really need to go outside the kitchen (for instance, a delivery guy is ringing your doorbell), make sure that you bring with you a ladle, spoon, or anything that will remind you that you’re cooking.
- Use your fryer correctly. Did you know that frying accounts for more than half of kitchen-related fires? Grease, fat, and oil are highly flammable materials, so make sure that you don’t overfill your fryer and always have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. The general safety advice is to have at least one fire extinguisher on each floor.
Decoration safety tips
- Inspect your Christmas lights; throw away anything with broken sockets, frayed wires, and loose connection. Also, opt for products with a CPSC stamp, which means they passed the strict safety guidelines, including over-current protection, strain relief, and minimum wire size.
- Turn off lights before you go to bed or leave the house to avoid fire accidents.
- Keep trees away from heat sources. A good rule of thumb is to keep them at least 3 feet away from wood stoves, portable heaters, fireplaces, and other heat sources.
- Secure your candles. Never leave lit candles unattended, and always make sure that they are on a sturdy base to prevent them from tipping.
- Hydrate your Christmas tree. If you’re using a real tree, don’t let it dry out, which catches fire faster than a well-hydrated one. Use a gallon of plain tap water to “hydrate” your tree every day before throwing it away by mid-January; don’t let it linger in your property months after the holiday season because it poses a fire risk.
Final Word
Christmas is a special time of the year when you spend more time with your friends and family, so make sure that your home is safe for everyone by following the safety guidelines mentioned above.
Happy holidays from everyone at Storz Management Company! If you are looking for a charming mobile home park in Fernley NV, check out Rancho Estates Mobile Home Park, which provides a breathtaking view of the natural landscape but still offers an easy commute to Reno and the Truckee River.
Rancho Estates Mobile Home Park offers on-site amenities that include a community garden, playground, RV storage, on-street parking, and elementary/high school bus stop.
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