Holiday Safety Tips
for Entertaining

Front door of brick home decorated with holiday wreath and decor.

Holiday safety tips for entertaining. Okay, we know how to entertain people our age. But what about our friend's Mom, who travels with a walker?

People sometimes ask if they can bring their extended family for a get-together, especially around the holidays.
When planning your holiday gathering, it's important to consider your guests' ages and any potential special needs.

As the host, you play a crucial role in ensuring a safe visit for all your holiday guests. Here are some holiday safety tips for entertaining that will help you take control and create a secure environment for everyone.

Holiday Safety Tips For Entertaining - Creating A Safe Entry

One often overlooked aspect of holiday entertaining is ensuring our home's exterior walkway and entry areas are safe for visitors of varying ages and mobility levels to navigate.

Few things can torpedo a festive gathering quicker than a slick walkway that surprises an arriving visitor - and your celebration to a hospital room. These holiday safety tips can help smooth things out.

To prevent slips and falls, clear sidewalks, porches of kids' toys, or anything else - such as snow or wet leaves - that holiday visitors might trip over.

Make sure your house number is clearly visible and the walkway well-lit so that the moment guests arrive at your home, they can safely make their way into the festive environs inside.

Holiday Safety Tips For Entertaining Inside Your Home

Inside, make sure there is a clear, well-lit walkway that someone in a wheelchair or with a walker can safely navigate.

Take up slippery area rugs. Mark any changes in floor level with plants or furniture. This will help ensure the safety of your youngest and most senior guests in the home.

Holiday Safety Tips For Entertaining - Safe Seating

Even if you're planning a stand-up cocktail party, you should always have a few seats arranged in small, cozy groups.

This makes conversation easy and audible. It also provides a restful place for those who can't stand for long periods. After all, we are trying to prevent holiday accidents here.

Create Places to Place Things

Position small tables near some seating so guests can put their drinks or food down. Ensure the lighting is pleasant but strong enough so the tables can be seen en route to finding another cheese ball.

Holiday Safety Tips For Entertaining - Prepare Food For All

Prepare some plain, low-fat foods that have little or no salt.

Regardless of your theme, make it safe and easy for people with allergies, on diets, or simply finicky to find something to munch on.

What could be worse than having a guest leave hungry Remember that warm and cold foods often cannot be safely left out for more than an hour or two, and plan accordingly (Get food safety tips here.)

Holiday Safety Tips For Entertaining - Pet Precautions

How could anyone not love Fluffy? And Bruiser wouldn't hurt a fly, would he? Tell that the Grandpa who sneezes when you say "cat." Or to Aunt Alice, who's terrified of anything that barks.

Or to Great-grandma Susan, who broke a hip when a friendly pup jumped on her.

Yes, this is your pet's home. But they have to make compromises, too.

Warn guests if you have a boa constrictor like my friend Rada in San Francisco.

Since she let Michael, her teenager, bring "Rosy" home, I've been inclined to be more attentive when my youngest is with me.

Keep all animals and reptiles safely confined during guests' visits as much as possible. Dogs can get territorial when strangers wander around the house in the dark.

And you don't want Cousin Flora to be afraid to go to the bathroom during an evening visit. Think of where she might wander...

Now you can relax and enjoy your holiday visitors, knowing you've done all you can to keep guests of all ages safe in your home.