The season of good cheer is an exciting time of year. The day after Thanksgiving, lights are already going up all over Collinsville. However, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can lead to all kinds of unfortunate accidents. You already know about the hazards of deep frying a turkey or climbing on an icy roof to put up Christmas lights. So instead, we here at Paul Davis Emergency Services of Collinsville have gone the less obvious route. Here are 8 off-the-beaten-path holiday safety tips to protect your loved ones and your property from dangers.

1. FIRE IN THE FLUE: When you’re lighting up the wood fireplace, you have more to worry about than just soot or creosote residue causing a fire in your flue. There’s also the risk of barbecuing a raccoon, squirrel, or bird that’s gotten wedged in your chimney. That’s a good reason to have your chimney swept and cleaned before you light up that Yule log. Just have the chimney sweep check to make sure it’s not Santa stuck up there.

2. WARM AND TOASTED: Perhaps you live up north but have your California cousins staying over the holidays. Using a space heater for the guest room may seem like a good way to keep the shivering relatives warm. However, space heaters are involved in 25% of home heating fires (and cause 75% of home heating-related fatalities). It might be safer to simply turn up the thermostat on your central heating to keep everyone cozy.

3. WINTER SLIP AND SLIDE: A blizzard can make it difficult to open a door; but even a small snowdrift can make it tough to close your sliding glass door. When you slide the door open, snow that’s piled up on the other side falls down into the track. This creates an icy obstacle in the door track and leaves a pile of snow to melt on your floor, creating a slip and fall hazard. To prevent this, keep the outer sliding screen closed during snowy weather. It will act as a buffer to keep most of the snow from direct contact with your glass door.

4. NOT SO WARM TIDINGS: Did you know that homes located along lakes or major rivers can be at risk for flooding during the winter holidays? Winter windstorms can create tidal flooding, ice jams can break suddenly, or an unexpected winter thaw can cause a sudden rise in water levels. FEMA provides a full list of ways to protect your home from flood damage – download PDF here.

5. THE DE-ICE THAT’S NICE: De-icing your walkway is a smart safety tip; but it can cause damage to your property. Regular rock salt can harm concrete and kill vegetation. Treat the pathway to your home with more environmentally friendly magnesium chloride instead. Mix this ice melt product with green sand to cut down on salt contamination even further and add a festive look to your walkway.

6. GET A WARM GLOW: Christmas lights installed alongside walkways during snowy and icy weather are actually a good safety tool. These lights give off a soft glow at night - unlike harsh halogen lamps that create glare. If you pick a neutral color like gold or white, you can leave them in place even after the holidays are over.

7. THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GASHING: Cuts from scissors or knives used to open gifts are some of the most common gift-related accidents. Keep your party from turning into a bloodbath by purchasing gifts that are easy to open and avoiding those sealed clamshell plastic packages. Remember, everybody loves a gift bag!

8. CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER: It’s all fun and games at Christmas until someone puts their back out. Cords from holiday decorations and toys can create a spider web of tripping hazards across the floor. Make sure to keep at least one pathway in the front room clear at all times.