With the holidays upon us, you may be getting ready to host a party in your home, and that means you have a lot to consider. From creating the guest list to planning the food and decor, there is a lot of prep involved in hosting an event and ensuring your guests have a good time. But, you should also consider their safety. Ahead of your event, consider these tips to ensure you, your guests, and your home are all safe at the end of the night.
- Clear front steps and walkways of any potential hazards such as snow, toys or tools, shrubbery, and low hanging branches. You’ll also want to be sure to turn on outside lights so guests can see where they’re walking.
- If you’re cooking, never leave the stovetop unattended when in use and keep cooking areas clear of potential flammable hazards such as towels and potholders. Keeping a fire extinguisher close by can also help keep your mind at ease in the event of an incident.
- Remind yourself of the proper food handling safety tips to reduce the risk of guests getting sick from contamination.
- Have a close eye on lit candles and place them in a safe place where guests won’t accidentally knock them over. A safer alternative is to use battery-operated candles.
- Keep your personal valuables out of sight of guests. In addition to ensuring none of your guests walk away with them, keeping valuables in a safe place helps avoid accidental damage and destruction.
- Offer plenty of non-alcoholic beverages and serve food throughout the night to help keep guests from overindulging on alcohol. Cutting off alcohol an hour before you anticipate guests leaving and offering coffee and tea can also help keep guests from overdrinking. When possible, you may also want to consider having a designated driver or ride-service on hand to ensure guests get home safely.
- Check with local ordinances and rules to obtain any permits you may need ahead of your party. If you plan to have many guests who will be parking in your neighborhood, you may need to let your town know ahead of time or find alternative parking options nearby.
- Identify potential hazards within your home and take the necessary steps to fix them. Loose floorboards, sharp-edged furniture, and dangerous items can all increase the risk of accident and injury.
- Check your home insurance policy before your party to make sure you are properly covered in the event of an incident – injuries and damage or loss of personal items should all be covered under your policy. Contact your local agent to discuss any improvements you can make to your home or policy to maximize your coverage and reduce your liability risk.
- If you plan to have outside vendors (caterers, bartenders, entertainment, etc), make sure they have their own liability insurance policy to cover themselves in the event of an incident.
We hope these tips help keep you and your guests safe throughout the holiday season.
If you have more questions, however, we work with over 500 independent agents who are ready to help. Visit our website to find a local agent near you: bit.ly/QuincyFindAgent