jesselangwell's Journal

Dec 2017
12:47 AM BST

Irwin Consulting Services Review - How to ensure household safety during the holiday season

Many of us are really looking forward to the holiday season because it is the time when people are diligent in filling their houses with holiday decorations, preparing gifts, searching online for more delicious recipes, and a lot more activities related to this season. It is indeed the time of the year for enjoyment, sharing, giving, and loving together with your family and friends.

However, despite all the positive things we're expecting to this season, accidents could still happen. This season also includes the challenge of the cold weather. And because people would like to experience more warmth, others sometimes misuse heaters and electric blankets and cause accidents on warm fireplaces. Irwin Consulting Services, a consulting company that is committed to public safety, prepared some important thoughts below that could help you maintain the safety of your whole family during this holiday season.

It is necessary to exercise proper care and caution during this season to avoid kitchen fires, electrical fires, and fires caused by flammable objects placed too close to heat sources. You can prevent kitchen fires by being focused and careful while you're cooking. Cooking requires constant attention so don't let anything distract you while preparing food for your family to avoid any accidents. Keep everything in order and don't cook a lot of dishes at the same time since it could lead to disarray. Never bring outdoor grills inside your home because it could be very dangerous.

Live Christmas trees were often the choice for many households because it provides a fresh feeling and of course an enchanting appearance, but this can be the largest fire hazard in a home. Keep it watered every day and ensure that it can absorb water up to its trunk. Decorative lights on the tree must be labeled for indoor use and were approved for its safe use through a UL listing. As said earlier, fire accidents can be a possibility with this kind of tree, so make sure to install it in a spot away from fireplaces and space heaters. Make a clear path leading to exit doors as well. Do not put live candles on live trees to prevent ignition of a fire. Irwin Consulting Services would also like you to make it a habit to turn off and unplug the decorative lights whenever your family goes outside or is going to bed.

Children should not also play with decorative candles, so as much as possible put those in places that are out of reach of your small kids. Organizing decorative lights should be done with a careful process to ensure a proper electrical wiring. Instead of nails, hang decorative lights using plastic clips to prevent accidents of nails penetrating through the wirings and result in shorts. Check the conditions of each string of wire and confirm if all are safe to use to avoid overloads and faulty wirings. You must not plug one extension cord to another extension cord because this can lead to voltage drop and overheat, so be extra careful in using such cords. Both indoor and outdoor lightings are much safer if connected through power strips. Other important things to remember include making sure that the smoke alarms in your house were in good condition and working properly, and that the fire extinguishers were in easy to reach places. It is also advised to buy weather alert radios so consider it as well.

Don't forget to put a grate or screen in front of the fireplace and see to it that the chimney flue was properly cleaned. Avoid putting stockings and other holiday decorations close to a lit fireplace. The Christmas tree and the pile of gifts should be gathered in one safe place that is away from the fireplace.

Make creating a good escape plan a priority as well and once you're done with it, discuss it with your family and if you will be having a lot of visitors this holiday season, brief it to them. The path leading to your doors should not be compiled with huge furniture and decorations to avoid hindrance and blockage in case of emergencies. To guarantee a safe use of heat in your house, ensure that your gas lines were checked by professionals. Fire extinguishers should be available in your home and must be charged. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors were also a necessity to assure the safety of the entire family. Choose space heaters with tip-over switches and put them in a safe spot with no flammable materials near to it. You must not bring outdoor heaters inside for indoor heating; materials meant for outside use should remain there.

Irwin Consulting Serviceswanted you to spend the holiday season with your friends and loved ones with a big smile on your face and peace in your heart. Enjoy this season with no worries in keeping your whole family safe by making proper preparations and following the instructions of professionals and the local authorities.

Tags: How to ensure household safety during the holiday season, Irwin Consulting Advisors Services Review

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Jan 2018
1:27 AM BST

Irwin Consulting Services Review - How to decorate safely this holiday season

You're probably surprised seeing this kind of post because it may seem a bit late to some, but the time is not yet running out for you to decorate your home for the holiday season. You simply need to dedicate some time hanging those beautiful decorations you have. But the joy of holiday traditions may also bring some safety hazards.

During the holiday season, your neighborhood can still be sparkling and bright even if it's night because of the decorative lights spread out from one house to another. However, you must remember a few things, not just the feeling of excitement and joy in decorating, but also things to consider in keeping your home and family safe.

Even if it's cold, no one can stop many families in decorating their homes to celebrate the holiday season. But keep in mind to check the extension cords and older wiring in putting bright lights outside and inside your home. Irwin Consulting Services would like you to be careful in doing such activity. It might be a bother to some people but it is really advised by experts to check how much current is running through the cords. You must not also put candles near to combustibles and decorative trees close to heat sources such as fireplaces and space heaters. Keep the tree away at least three feet from those heat sources.

If you personally prefer a real or live Christmas tree to place in your house, then a fresher tree is recommended since a dry tree can be a magnet to a fire. The first thing to do before putting the tree on a stand is to quickly cut 1-2 inches from the base of the trunk and fill it with water to guarantee water absorption. Irwin Consulting Services also needs you to water the tree's stand daily.

Experts also added not to use extension cords for the heaters. If you are currently decorating your home, see to it that there were no heat sources near you to avoid accidents. The holiday season can be cold so be careful on using heaters inside and even outside your home.

You also need to confirm if all extension cords and electrical decorations used for decorating your house outside were all labeled for outdoor purposes. Putting beautiful decorations outside can be exciting and all, but don't forget to determine the proper usage of each material you are going to use. Remember that the power needs of electrical products on amperage should match the amperage rating of extension cords. Plug outdoor electric lights and decorations on circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters or GFCIs.

Check the surroundings first before decorating and avoid being near to power lines. It would be better to have at least 10 feet distance between yourself and the power lines. Overloading should also be avoided thus ensure that electrical outlets don't have a lot of decorations or electrical devices plugged into it. We know that such can lead to overheating and even start a fire.

Cords must have proper insulation too so prevent them from being pinched in windows, doors, or under heavy furniture. Make sure that the light strings would be safe from any damage to their cord's insulation, so be careful on mounting or supporting such lights. In changing the bulbs or fuses, see to it that electrical decorations were unplugged. Before going to bed or leaving the house, turn off all the indoor and outdoor electrical decorations.

You may also choose artificial candles over the real ones for better safety, but if you really prefer real candles then just make sure that you won't leave them unattended. Put candles on a good distance away from combustibles as well and put out its fire before going to bed or leaving the house.

With its trusted fire, communications, and EMS consulting services to organizations, Irwin Consulting Services wishes for your safer and happier holiday season.

Tags: How to decorate safely this holiday season, Irwin Consulting Advisors Services Review

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Username: jesselangwell

Gender / Age: Male, 35

Location: United Kingdom