The holidays are likely our busiest time of the year. We’re doing more shopping, more working (as we prepare to be out of the office), more driving, more cooking, etc. In our haste, we need to be careful not to overlook our personal safety.
The National Safety Council has compiled a great list of holiday safety precautions, which we borrow from liberally here.
Talkin’ Turkey
Fried turkey is delicious to eat, but can be dangerous to prepare, as our Fire Department communicated in this award-winning video.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports there have been 168 turkey-fryer related fires, burns, explosions or carbon monoxide poisoning incidents since 2002. CPSC says 672 people have been injured and $8 million in property damage losses have resulted from these incidents.
Talkin’ Trees
Tree safety is more than just keeping that natural tree well watered, as the Fire Department communicated in yet-another award-winning video.
The included infographic, created by Protect America, tells you pretty much everything you need to know about keeping that tree safe this season.
And it’s not just trees that burn. About 2,200 deaths were caused by fires, burns and other fire-related injuries in 2013, according to Injury Facts 2015, and 12 percent of home candle fires occur in December, the National Fire Protection Association reports. Increased use of candles and fireplaces, combined with an increase in the amount of combustible, seasonal decorations present in many homes means more risk for fire.
- Never leave burning candles unattended or sleep in a room with a lit candle
- Keep candles out of reach of children
- Make sure candles are on stable surfaces
- Don’t burn candles near trees, curtains or any other flammable items
- Don’t burn trees, wreaths or wrapping paper in the fireplace
- Check and clean the chimney and fireplace area at least once a year
You can also recycle your Christmas tree at our Recycle Center.
Talkin’ Gifts
No award-winning video to plug here. (Maybe next year!) We’ve all heard it’s important when choosing toys for infants or small children to avoid small parts that can be pulled or broken off and might prove to be a choking hazard. Here are some additional gift-related safety tips you might not have heard about:
- Select gifts for older adults that are not heavy or awkward to handle
- Be aware of dangers associated with coin lithium batteries; of particular concern is the ingestion of button batteries
- For answers to more of your holiday toy safety questions, check out this Consumer Product Safety Commission blog
- See which toys have been recalled
Talkin’ Travel
Many people choose to travel during the holidays by automobile, with the highest fatality rate of any major form of transportation. In 2013, 88 people died on Christmas Day, according to Injury Facts 2015. Alcohol-impaired fatalities represented 31 percent of the totals.
- Use a designated driver to ensure guests make it home safely after a holiday party; alcohol, over-the-counter or illegal drugs all cause impairment
- Make sure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up no matter how long or short the distance being traveled
- Put that cell phone away; distracted driving causes one-quarter of all crashes
- Make sure the vehicle is properly maintained, and keep an emergency kit with you
- Be prepared for heavy traffic, and possibly heavy snow
Remember, when guests are staying in your home, make sure areas have night lights or easy-to-reach lamps in case they need to get up during the night. And, whether you are visiting someone else’s home or you have guests in your home, make sure all medications are kept up and away and out of sight from young children.
