Hazards of a Holiday Host

By Ashley Lucas (Director of Education)

It’s hard to believe, but the holidays are quickly approaching.  Fall decorations, pumpkin spice, and Christmas trees have been around for a few months, but the holidays always have a way of sneaking up on us.  If you’re like me, there are more things to do than time in the day.  Put up the lights, set up the tree, find the perfect ugly Christmas sweater, buy presents, and host Christmas Eve lunch!

Whether your team ham, team turkey, or follow the beat of your drum and opt for something uniquely you… there’s a lot of planning that goes into an event.  

What do the holidays look like in your house?  Are you visiting friends and family or lucky enough to host for the holidays?  With all the joys that come with opening up your home, there are several hazards to keep in mind you may not have thought of.  Here are Four Hazards of a Holiday Host to think about for your upcoming gathering.   

Hazard 1: Electricity

Everything is plugged in, and extension cords are scattered around the house. The Christmas tree is all aglow with your favorite ornaments and surrounded with presents. Space is typically at a premium under the tree. Presents get shoved and stacked into beautiful Tetris-like displays of assorted wrapping paper, bows, and gift bags with excessive amounts of tissue paper.  

All those neatly hidden cords, lights, and beautiful presents tightly packed can create a dangerous hazard scenario. According to the National Fire Protection Association, half of all Christmas tree fires are caused by an electrical problem or a heat source too close to the tree. 

What can you do? 

• Use a table for extra gifts away from electrical outlets and lights. 
• Consider using indoor decorative gates to create a barrier or speed bump, depending on the scaling abilities of children and pets. 
• Raise the height of lights and ornaments to out of reach. 
• Water live trees regularly to avoid drying out and becoming an increased fire hazard.
• Check all smoke detectors to make sure they are operational. 

How to respond:

• NEVER use water on an electrical fire! 
• Use a Class C fire extinguisher; most home extinguishers are rated for ABC use. 
• Disconnect the electricity if you can do it safely. 
• Have all occupants exit the home to a safe distance. 

Hazard 2: Plumbing and Water Damage

According to Roto-Rooter, the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for plumbers.  Why? Cooking and hosting an event means excessive water usage, including cooking, washing dishes, laundry, and using bathrooms. Sewer backup during the holidays is typically a result of fats, oils, and debris entering the sewer system through sinks, garbage disposals, and toilets. They solidify once in the sewer system, leading to blockage and backups.

Turkey’s favorite companion, stuffing/dressing, typically contains onions and celery. Fibrous and stringy foods can be difficult to pass through drains, especially with existing blockages. Another common holiday side is potatoes, which may be a surprising culprit for clogs. Starchy foods can create a glue-like texture, wrapping around garbage disposal blades and creating clogs by collecting debris. 

What can you do? 

• Talk to your local Rollo Insurance agent about your current coverage limits.
• Use a strainer in your sink drain to collect debris.
• Wipe pots and pans with a paper towel before washing in the sink or dishwasher. 
• Dispose of leftovers in the trash instead of the drain, even if you have a garbage disposal. 
• If you are using a garbage disposal, turn it on and let it run for a few seconds before adding food.  Turning on the disposal during or after foods are added results in larger chunks of food in the drain that may result in a clog.

Hazard 3: Liability Claims

It’s also important to clearly understand your liability exposure when inviting guests into your home.  We hope there won’t be an incident that harms another or results in a lawsuit, but both are possible when hosting a gathering for the holidays. Let’s look at three key areas for possible liability claims: slip and fall accidents, children, and pets. 

Slip and fall accidents are common occurrences when welcoming guests into your home. They may be unfamiliar with the home, and slight height differences in walkways and entrances can be hazardous.  Opening presents often results in wrapping paper, toys, and gifts strewn across the floor. Those with sight and balance issues are more prone to falling while trying to navigate these hazards.  

Children’s safety is an important consideration when hosting an event.  Never underestimate the curiosity and determination of a child; things we think are hidden or out of reach can be quickly found. Younger children may use furniture to pull themselves up or to climb, opening up the possibility of furniture tipping onto them. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) examined data from emergency departments around the country and found that as of 2022, nearly 18,000 people went to the emergency room with tip-over injuries, and about 40% were children.

Many of us are animal lovers and want to include our pets in the festivities. Even well-behaved pets can become overwhelmed with stress and anxiety by unfamiliar people, loud noises, and commotion in general.  Children should always be supervised with pets.  According to Forbes, as of 2023-2024, 66% of U.S. households, or about 86.9 million families, own a pet. Those in rural areas are even higher at 71%.  The number of dog bites increases during the holiday season, so always be mindful of those who enter your home and the impact the day’s excitement and change in routine may have on your pets.

What can you do?

• Ask your local Rollo Insurance agent about the benefits of increasing your liability limits and adding an umbrella policy for additional liability protection. 
• Add a pop-up trash can to the middle of the room when unwrapping presents; you’ll be surprised how quickly shooting wrapping paper baskets catches on.
• Purchase anchoring brackets to secure furniture safely to the wall.
• Safely secure all medication, firearms, and items that may be harmful to children and guests. 
• Create a quiet place for your pet to retreat or be kept secure during the festivities.

Hazard 4: Open Flames

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, with over three times the daily average. Christmas Day and Christmas Eve rank second and third, having nearly twice the daily average, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Open flames at the holidays could come from turkey frying, using a gas stove, lighting a fire, and even lighting candles.

Frying a turkey is a popular way to cook quickly and produce flavorful, moist meat. Deep frying, especially a large turkey, can be dangerous if precautions aren’t taken before, during, and after.  

1. Measure oil carefully to avoid overfilling the pot.
2. When cooking any meat, it should be completely dry and defrosted.  When water is introduced to hot oil, it instantly turns to steam and can cause a violent explosion. 
3. When selecting a location to set up a turkey fryer, always choose a spot away from the home, never in the house, garage, or covered area. Flames can quickly rise, causing an even bigger issue: a house fire. 

Holiday meals are filled with delicious dishes needing countertop space and stove burners. As food is made and brought by guests, it’s a choreography of shifting and rearranging to make it all work harmoniously, leaving no dish cold or forgotten.  During this dance, it’s easy to see how containers and serving dishes could get too close to burners, leading to a fire.

Finding a spare minute during the festivities may sound like an opportunity to take the trash out or say a quick hello to an aunt who has just arrived, but you should NEVER leave food unattended while cooking.  This is the leading cause of cooking fires and fire-related deaths. Stay in the kitchen or near the cooking equipment you’re using. Quick tasks can easily take longer than the few minutes you anticipate.

What can you do?

• Review the U.S. Fire Administration’s Turkey Fryer Fire Safety Guide to learn about safely cooking this holiday staple. 
• The kitchen is often the heart of the home and a favorite congregating space for family and friends.  Consider changing your congregating area to a living room or just outside the kitchen to avoid injury, especially to children.
• Trim candle wicks before burning.  Untrimmed candle wicks can cause a candle to create a large flame and burn too hot. 
• If serving buffet style from the kitchen, turn off all burners before serving. 

Your local Rollo Insurance Agent can walk you through your insurance policies, coverages, endorsements, and exclusions to ensure you are appropriately covered for your upcoming holiday gatherings. 

Let your Rollo Account Manager know if your family received any Christmas gifts that may need to be added to your homeowners policy, like jewelry and electronics such as cameras or computers.  

Hosting an event for everyone to gather and catch up with loved ones is a cherished time during the holidays. As we plan for the upcoming holidays, remember the Hazards of a Holiday Host and what you can do to prevent and prepare to make this a safe and memorable holiday season.