With the holiday season coming up, you might be planning to have family and friends over for a party. Following these tips can keep your loved ones safe.

Identify and Address Safety Hazards

If a guest gets hurt and you file a homeowners insurance claim, your premiums can jump. Before the party, go through your house and look for any safety hazards. Think about the people who will be visiting your home, their ages and any specific risks or challenges they might face. 

Senior citizens might struggle to walk up and down steps. Installing non-slip runners on indoor stairs and a ramp outside can reduce the risk of an accident. If you discover a loose railing, have it repaired before your get-together.

Children love to explore new places, and they often don’t realize how dangerous common household items can be. Move things that a child could easily knock over and make sure that cleaning products, medications, and other hazardous substances are securely stored out of reach.

Be Careful with Food and Alcohol

Find out if anyone on your guest list has food allergies. If so, make a plan to accommodate them. You might have to prepare or buy dishes that don’t contain a specific allergen. If you serve something that contains an allergen, clearly label it or notify an individual who is allergic to that ingredient so they can avoid it.

At parties, guests sometimes overindulge in alcohol. If you’re concerned that that might be a problem, consider limiting the number of drinks each individual may consume, not serving hard liquor, or not serving alcohol at all. You can also invite guests to spend the night at your house so they won’t drink and drive.

Don’t Forget About Your Pet

If you have a pet, think about how it will most likely react to a large number of people and loud noises. Even if your pet is generally calm and well behaved, a party can make it feel stressed and overwhelmed. An animal that’s agitated might bite or scratch a guest.

Your pet might also be thrilled to have company over. If your dog jumps on people when it gets excited, that can be a problem, especially if you have older adults or children come to the party. Consider keeping your pet in a room away from all the commotion.

Review Your Homeowners Insurance Coverage

This is a good time to look over your homeowners insurance policy and make sure that it fits your needs. You might realize that you need to adjust your coverage, or you might be hoping to lower your premiums.Petruzelo Insurance has a team of experts who can help you select the right coverage and find a policy that fits your budget. Contact us today to compare quotes from top insurers.