Nothing says Halloween like a glowing jack o’ lantern. Still, even if they are popular and famous everywhere, jack o’ lanterns can produce serious safety risks to tenants and rental houses alike. As a Fruita rental property owner, it is necessary to share with your tenants what they can certainly do to avoid fires and injuries. By sharing a few safety tips, you can help your tenants to have a good time with their holiday celebrations without accident or injury.
Jack o’ lanterns are common holiday decorations that are commonly positioned on porches, patios, and railings, and are traditionally lit with small candles. However, positioning carved pumpkins next to doorways, walkways, and other easily accessed areas can result in several safety hazards. As an illustration, carved pumpkins can deteriorate in just a few days, creating a slimy mess of rotting pumpkin that can make stairs and sidewalks slippery. Pumpkins can, likewise, lure hornets and other pests. These kinds of insects will sting or bite if disturbed.
Adding candles to a jack o’ lantern is another safety issue, mainly when the pumpkins are placed too close to doorways where the costumes or clothing of visitors could catch fire. Annually, Halloween decorations cause an estimated $13 million in property damage, dozens of injuries, and even deaths. The big news is that there is a lot you and your tenants can execute to prevent such a tragedy from happening.
Among the best ways to prevent pumpkin-related messes and spills is to reduce the amount of time that carved pumpkins are left sitting outside. The longer the pumpkin is exposed to the outside elements, the faster it will start to rot or attract unwanted pests. If your tenants are plotting to carve and display pumpkins, advise them to wait until just before Halloween to set them outside, and then to properly dispose of them without delay henceforth. This can be helpful to preserve doorways and walkways free of stinging insects and slippery spills.
A different but equally effective way would be to make your tenants carve hardshell gourds or craft pumpkins rather than the the usual pumpkin. Gourds don’t break down and rot as pumpkins do, so they can be displayed for a far longer duration. Craft pumpkins look like the real thing and they are developed out of foam or other materials that continue to last for a long time. These materials can also be carved or decorated and displayed safely year after year because they never come apart.
Conceding that these actions can help lower many risks, in all likelihood, the main safety issue with jack o’ lanterns is when they are lit. Candles, for some time now, have been the illumination source of choice for carved pumpkins, though their open flames can create a serious fire hazard. In case your tenants are preparing to make use of candles in their decorations, make sure that they get the full picture. This means they understand really well that they definitely need to prepare significant precautionary measures.
Tenants should clear away dry leaves and other debris from the area where lit pumpkins will be placed. They should, likewise, be aware of the necessity of never leaving lit candles unattended and to set them at a safe distance from doorways and walkways. Needless to say, one of the best and safest choices might be to strongly prompt your tenants to utilize an alternative lighting source, such a glow sticks, that are non-flammable, do not use batteries or electricity, and are weatherproof. Glow sticks can also be used to illuminate craft pumpkins, unlike candles which should never be used in these decorations.
Carving and displaying jack o’ lanterns is an enjoyable part of Halloween, but only if it is done with the utmost care and precaution. Teaching your tenant jack o’ lantern safety is a crucial responsibility, but one that really needs a lot of time. If, so to speak, time is a valuable resource, then perhaps you need to rethink if tenant education is an excellent use of your valuable time. On the other hand, think about employing Real Property Management Now to implement it for you. Our comprehensive property management services include important safety advice to your tenants, supporting you in ensuring them and your property are free from injury and fire hazards. To understand more, related to what we have to offer Fruita property owners like you, contact us today.
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