The Do's & Don'ts of Holiday Decorations for Your Practice
While you're decking your halls (and waiting rooms) this season, don't forget to make safety a priority.
Posted in Articles on Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Making the office look festive is a fun way to bring about holiday cheer and high spirits for your patients and staff. But even Santa would say that safety comes first—here are a few things to consider if you're decking your halls this month.
According to statistics from FEMA, faulty lighting equipment is involved in more than 40% of Christmas tree fires. If you put up a tree, it's important that you don't block any exit doors and you keep it at least three feet away from fireplaces, space heaters, or even heat vents. If it's a real tree, make sure it's well-watered—the likelihood of a fire increases with a dry tree.
Check these lists twice to make sure you stay on the nice list ... and off the naughty list.
The Nice List
- Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything burns, and designate someone who is responsible for making sure they are properly extinguished every day.
- Test the smoke alarms
- Use battery-operated flameless candles
- Use proper exterior/interior power cords
- Use clips, not nails, to hang up lights
The Naughty List
- Overdoing a circuit
- Using strings of lights that have frayed connections
- Hanging up lights while using a metal ladder (opt for wood or fiberglass)
- Using electric lights on metallic trees.
- Using glass ornaments
By prioritizing safety while decorating for the holidays, you can create a joyful atmosphere that enhances the office without compromising the health and safety of those who come into your practice.
Happy decorating, and may your office be filled with cheer this holiday season.