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The gourmet recipes, the festive decor and quality time with family and friends are all staples of the holiday season.  However, they also bring a little extra risk into your home too.

Alvarez Construction Community Builders want to ensure that you end the year on a high note, so we put together this quick safety guide to help you get through common safety risks that might get overlooked.

Candles are a great way to add some cozy vibes to your home, but they need to be handled with caution. Start by choosing a location for them away from furniture, decor and other flammable materials. Try not to leave candles unattended especially as you are moving from casual conversation to dinner. It is a safety hazard and also a waste of your specially selected scents if you are not in the room to enjoy them.

The same strategy applies to the fireplace. Always check the damper or flue before you start a fire and clean up the area around it. Once you are finished, make sure the fire is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house. 

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are the three most dangerous days of the year for house fires and 20 percent of them involve cooking equipment.

Plan ahead and cook as many things as you can before the main course so that you can minimize distractions. It may also help to run over your safety plan with your family so everyone knows how to handle (or who to call for help) in the event of a stovetop or oven fire and where the fire extinguisher is stored.

This is also a good time to check your smoke detectors if you did not as part of your fall maintenance routine.

Whether they are barking or begging, dogs can feel in the way if you have extra guests in your home. Try to designate a space where they will be warm and safe like a back bedroom or laundry room so they are not forgotten outdoors. Short-coated and thin dogs, as well as young puppies, get cold more quickly. 

And before sharing scraps from your plate, read through a guide like this one from the American Kennel Club that outlines different foods that are safe and healthy. 

To learn more about Alvarez Construction and the ways we build smart and healthy homes in Baton Rouge, call Banessa at (225) 240-4662.