Gay-(enter)taining
 

 

ENTERTAINING SAFELY

Ensuring your guests safety is a necessity when it comes to entertaining, whether it be inside or out. You should thoroughly and vigorously go through your home and eliminate any risk of injury or harm to the friends and family that will be visiting.

Outside

The first step is making sure when it comes to acess to the house, that it is safe at all times.  In winter, de-ice the entrance and the steps leading to the house to prevent the risk of a bad fall. Spreading salt on these surfaces is an easy way to do this. If you’re entertaining in the evening, make sure there is sufficient lighting outside as well as in the entrance hall.

Inside

The number of guests always matters. Make sure that you have enough room for all your guests to move and mingle easily. If necessary, you can move furniture temporarily to make extra space.

Making a detailed guest list will give you a clearer idea of how to best arrange the rooms, provide enough seating and adapt the space according to people’s specific needs. For example, if you know you will have guests with reduced mobility or who need assistance, make sure they have a comfortable chair to sit in.

Avoid running electrical cords or extensions along the floor. They’re unattractive, for one thing, and secondly, your guests — especially children — might trip over them.

Fire safety

A houseful of guests means constant vigilance to minimize the risk of fire. The kitchen is probably one of the busiest rooms in the house when you’re entertaining, and if you’re frying or baking, supervising the stove is a must. If you have to leave the stove or kitchen area, always ask someone to keep watch while you are away.

Use the normal safety rules for the fireplace: don’t use accelerators or flammable liquids to start the fire, always place the fire screen in front, don’t make any movements that could pose a risk when adding logs, etc.

What could be better than softly flickering candles to create a warm, friendly atmosphere? If you do decide to use candles, place the candlesticks on a stable surface where they are not likely to be tipped over, are well protected from drafts, and out of children’s reach.

If you are decorating your home for the occasion, as you might during the holiday season for instance, make sure you do so safely.  Also, check that they are all switched off once the party’s over. During the holiday season, pay special attention to your Christmas tree, especially if it is a real one. If you let it get too dry - you’ll notice its needles beginning to drop — it will be more susceptible to fire. Keep it well away from heat sources at all times.

If you allow guests to smoke in the house, make sure no hot cigarette butts are thrown directly into wastepaper baskets or garbage cans. Consider emptying ashtrays into a tin can that you can leave outside, to be on the safe side.

Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers are essential fire-prevention aids that you should have nearby at all times. Simply check that they are in good working order.

Kids’ corner

Children love having their own special place to play. Make it safe for them, and ensure you have easy access to check on them every so often and to get to them quickly if necessary. Cover any electrical outlets not in use so that little hands will not be tempted to insert objects into them. If you think that the stairs could be a hazard, it would be wise to install a safety gate to prevent falls.

Children can be tempted to pick up bottles of perfume, cosmetic cream, shampoo or household cleaning products. Remember to store these articles in a cupboard out of their reach.

If there are going be very young children present, their parents will be grateful for a quieter room in which to cradle them or rock them to sleep.

Finally, store your favourite knick-knacks out of harm’s way, so there is no danger of their causing cuts or scratches or being broken.

Provide comfort

Always pay attention to the temperature of your home so that your guests are neither too hot nor too cold. In winter, placing an extra heater near the front door is a good idea: it creates a cozy atmosphere as soon as your guests step inside and helps keep that area warm even with the door opening frequently.

In the bathroom, provide sufficient bathroom tissue and a hand towel for guests. Leave out some washcloths or wipes handy for parents to clean their children’s hands when they’ve finished eating.

Harsh weather conditions, alcohol, fatigue, long distances to travel… Whatever the reason, your guests will be extremely grateful for your hospitality if they need to stay overnight. Do you have everything they might need? Leave them with happy, lasting memories by paying special attention to the little things that will make their stay an enjoyable and comfortable one.

You will likely already have made up the guest room or spare bed with clean, comfy bedding. It would be a shame, then, if your guests were cold or uncomfortable during the night. Provide some extra blankets and pillows near the bed, to make sure they feel nice and snug. A bedside lamp, some storage space and hangers for their clothes are also practical.

Make sure your guests also feel at home when they use the bathroom before going to bed or in the morning. As well as providing enough towels, why not fill a basket with travel items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash and soap? These small, inexpensive details will make all the difference, and your guests will remember them for a long time.

PEACE OF MIND WHEN LEAVING THE HOUSE

Planning to go and stay with friends or family for a few days? You’ve remembered a gift for your hosts, made a list of the items you need to take with you and brought games to keep the children occupied during the journey. But have you thought of making sure the house is safe while you’re away? Avoid unpleasant surprises by taking a few simple precautions in advance.

As if you were home

As well as locking the doors, there are some essential things you should do to keep away unwanted visitors while you’re gone. The trick is to give the impression that there is someone home. For instance:
  • Leave a radio or TV on while you’re away.
  • Stop newspaper deliveries or ask a neighbour to pick up your mail during your absence. That way, you’ll avoid envelopes and papers piling up — a sure sign that the house is empty. You can also have the post office hold your mail for a period of time.
  • Connect some lamps to a timer switch so that the house is lit in the evenings.
  • Have your entrance and paths cleared of snow, or ask a friend, neighbour or relative to clear them for you. You can also ask them occasionally to park their car in your driveway.
  • Ask a neighbour you trust if they would mind checking your home once in a while. Don’t forget to give them a key, let them know when you’ll be back and leave them a telephone number where they can contact you if necessary.
  • If your house is equipped with an alarm system, don’t forget to turn it on and to supply the monitoring centre with the name of a person to contact in case the alarm is set off.

No unpleasant surprises

Most insurers require you to take certain steps to limit the risks of damage that might occur during an absence of several days. Before you leave, inspect all the rooms of the house, if only to make sure that the windows are closed. It is risky to leave while washing machines, dryers or dishwashers are running. It is also advisable to shut off the main water supply and, if you’re going to be away for more than a couple of days, to switch off the water heater.

As well, lowering the temperature in your home will reduce the risk of fire and save on your electricity bill. If you can, have someone you trust come to check the plumbing and pipes from time to time while you’re away. This could be the same person who has agreed to feed your cat or water your plants, for example.

Prepare for your return

Depending on how long you’re going to be away, you’ll have a lot to do and to think about when you get back: picking up your mail from the post office and resuming delivery, retrieving the key you left with your neighbour, unpacking your bags, going to the supermarket, etc. To avoid having to do even more, remember to leave your house clean and tidy when you go: empty the garbage cans, wash the dishes, do the laundry and put the clothes away. When you get back, you’ll congratulate yourself on having taken the time to do those chores before you left.
A worry-free party is a successful party

With a few simple precautions and some advance planning, your guests will be in safe hands when they visit you, and you will have complete peace of mind when you leave your house. Make a list of priorities and enlist the help of those around you to help make your celebration a successful one. Enjoy yourself!
 
These are the perfect ways to practice safely in your home and remember when gay-taining to always keep these steps in mind. They could save a life and even more than that make an enjoyable and memory that lasts forever.