Keep your holidays safe, happy, and healthy

If you’re planning on having houseguests over the holidays like we are, there’s a lot of planning, prepping and straightening on the horizon.

I know that’s the way it is in my house. Everything needs to be “just so.”

Fresh towels. Guest soaps. And other assorted niceties for the folks coming by.

Even though some of those “guests” are my kids coming back home. 

I really should be putting THEM to work, but I’m just thrilled we’ll be all back together again. 

The house will be all decked out. But among the garland and the ornaments are some things that I’ll admit, make me nervous. 

For the holidays also bring some hazards. And I don’t like being painted as a “worry wart.” But I like to be prepared, just in case.

With holiday candles, Christmas lights and other potential fire hazards making an appearance, I always take this time of year to perform one safety check: testing the smoke detectors. 

And I’d recommend you do the same. 

Housefires are a major concern. And while terrifying, they’re also often preventable. 

The truth is, it’s often the smoke, not the flames that are the real hazard to you and me. 

You want ample warning if something’s amiss in your house. And the few minutes it takes to make sure your smoke detectors have fresh batteries, and each detector is in good working order, is well worth the effort. 

Do me a favor. Promise you’ll make time for this quick check around your home. 

It’s a little thing that can make a big difference to keep your holidays safe, happy and healthy.