Submitted by Thurston County Public Health and Social Services
During the holiday season, many of us will find ourselves welcoming family and friends into our homes as well as being guests in others’ homes. Visiting with friends and family helps us strengthen our community connections in the darker, colder seasons and we want to make sure to create safe, healthy spaces for everyone who walks through our doors. Before guests arrive, consider these simple ways to prepare your home for a memorable and worry-free gathering. Many of these same tips will help make you a welcome guest!
Eliminate Tripping Hazards
Before your guests arrive, take a walk around your home to look for tripping hazards like area rugs and cords. If practical, pick up loose rugs and make sure cords are tucked away. Block off indoor stairs with a gate, especially if young children are visiting. If you ask guests to remove their shoes at the door, have slippers or non-skid socks available for their comfort.
When visiting other places, be aware of tripping hazards and ask to roll up loose rugs if traveling with children or elders. Bringing your own night light can help make nighttime bathroom trips easier to navigate or use the flashlight on your phone. Tuck cords behind tables and keep electronic charging stations high on counters to avoid dangling cords.
Secure Medications
It is very important to keep medications out of the reach of children, pets and guests. This protects against accidental ingestion and misuse. Medication misuse often starts with people taking medications from friends or family members. Consider keeping medication in a locked place and out of sight. Safely get rid of unwanted medication before guests arrive at one of the free disposal locations around town.
When traveling with medications, make sure they are in a locked bag in a secure location when not in use.
Practice Safe Food Handling
When preparing and serving food to your guests, follow safe food handling practices to prevent food-borne illnesses. Make sure to wash your hands before preparing and handling food, use clean utensils, cook food to the appropriate temperature, and store food at safe temperatures.
When eating as a guest, wash hands before sitting down and help clean up after the meal so leftover food can be put away immediately after the meal. If eating out, make sure take-out containers go into the fridge as soon as you return home.
Pet Precautions
If you have a pet or if one of your guests is planning to bring along their furry friend, make sure all guests are aware of any special instructions for interacting with the pet. This will help prevent accidents or injuries.
If you are traveling with your pet, make sure to pack plenty of food to sustain your pet through your trip, and bring along a flashlight for nighttime potty breaks.
Septic System Maintenance
Arrange to have your septic system inspected and pumped, if necessary, before hosting guests for an extended amount of time. Regular maintenance is essential to prevent potential issues. Follow general tips for septic system care to keep your plumbing in excellent working condition. Make sure guests know that your home is on a septic system and the toilet is not a trash can: They should never flush wipes, cotton swabs, condoms, feminine products or anything else down the toilet.
Safeguard Hazardous Products
Store any household hazardous products like cleaners or art supplies out of the reach of both children and pets. Dispose of any unwanted household hazardous products safely and for free, at your local disposal site, HazoHouse, before guests arrive. Improve the health of your home by choosing products that are safer for kids and pets, and less likely to cause asthma or allergy symptoms.
Emergency Preparedness
Share your emergency preparedness plan with guests, like where the escape routes are in your home in case of a fire or other emergencies. If you don’t have an emergency preparedness plan, here is a guide on how to make one. Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries before guests arrive, if needed.
When traveling, know where the escape routes are located and make a plan with your companions in case an emergency should happen.
Declutter and Recycle Electronics
Before guests arrive, take the opportunity to reduce clutter in your home. Recycle any broken or worn-out electronics through programs like E-Cycle Washington, which promotes responsible disposal of electronic waste.
Bringing family and friends together can bring joy and warmth into the winter season. Follow these tips and create memories that will bring warmth throughout the year. To learn simple, low-cost ways to keep your home and yard healthy and safe year-round, sign up for the Thurston Home & Garden e-newsletter delivered to your inbox every other month.
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