|
|
|
1-888-8 PUEBLO (1-888-878-3256)
       
|
|
Home > Consumer Focus Archive > Holiday Safety (Part 1)
 |
Consumer Focus:
Holiday Safety (Part 1)
This is an archived document. |
|
Go
to Part 2
Holiday Safety
 The nights have gotten colder and the days shorter…yes, the holiday season has arrived. Evenings and weekends are about to be filled with trips to the mall, visiting relatives, and happy children. The holidays are so busy that you may not have time to finish everything you need to do, let alone make time for thoughtful preparation. So we got together back at the FCIC and came up with some tips about holiday safety that we hope you’ll keep in mind so your celebrations will be fun for everyone.
Posted: November 1, 2005
|
|
 Holiday Fire
Oh Christmas tree….Ohhhh my, the tree is burning. Sadly, Christmas trees account for 400 fires annually, resulting in 10 deaths, 80 injuries and more than $15 million in property damage. Christmas lights, Menorahs, and Kwanza Mshumaas also have a history of having shorts or being knocked over and starting fires. So, here are some tips about fire safety during the holidays:
- When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant."
- When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
- When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
- Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
- Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.
- Make sure that you use a sturdy, fire-safe menorah.
- Place menorah on a steady table and make sure nothing is too close to the candles' flame.
- Avoid placing menorah in small, closed areas, such as closets or between bookshelves.
- Keep candles away from anything flammable.
- Avoid putting your menorah in windows or near doorways. If they catch fire, your exit could be blocked.
- Check the candles often to make sure they haven't burned down too low.
- Make sure your Kinara (candle holder) is sturdy.
- Remember that straw Mkeka’s can burn easily
- Keep a fire extinguisher handy in your home, make sure everyone knows where it is and how to use it.
- And don’t deep fry a turkey inside of your house or on a wooden deck.
Top
E-mail this page to a friend |
|
 Is Meat Supposed to be This Color?
Close your eyes and think back to the smell of wonderful holiday foods like roast turkey, mashed potatoes, fried latkas, and sufganiyot. As the holidays approach we like to celebrate by entertaining friends and family, throwing parties, and preparing feasts. Unfortunately, thanks to e-coli, poor sanitation, and a host of other bacteria, the holiday foods that we love send thousands of people to the hospital each year. Fortunately, there is a lot of information available to help you keep your food microbe free and have a wonderful holiday meal. Be sure to keep food safe by following basic food safety tips.
Top |
|
 Shop, shop till you drop
Tis’ the season to go shopping. According to the Direct Marketing Association, Americans plan to spend $299 billion on holiday gifts this year. Which means, besides having to navigate ever changing sale prices and small print on deals, all of the scamsters and fraudsters will be out trying to get into your wallet. But there are plenty of ways to avoid traps and have a safe and fun holiday shopping experience.
In Store Shopping:
Here are some tips that the FTC offers for shopping wisely:
- Shop around. A "sale" price isn't always the "best" price.
- Read sale ads carefully. Some may say "quantities limited," "no rain checks," or "not available at all stores."
- Take time and travel costs into consideration. If an item is on sale, but it's all the way across town, how much are you really saving once you factor in your time and the costs of transportation and parking?
- Look for price-matching policies. Some merchants will match, or even beat, their competitors' prices.
Online Shopping
If you’re buying items from an online retailer or auction website, the FTC offers this advice to help you make the most of your shopping experience:
- Know who you’re dealing with. Which company owns the website that you are using?
- Make sure the page is secure before you enter credit card information. There must be a letter "s" after http (or https://) for the transmission to be secure.
- Know exactly what you’re buying.
- Know what it will cost.
- Check out the terms of the deal, such as refund policies and delivery dates.
- Keep a paper trail.
- Don’t email your financial information.
- Check the privacy policy.
Top |
|
Other Resources
This is just a brief overview. For more information, check out these resources:
Read these publications online or order them from FCIC:
Websites*:
* Names of resources and organizations
included in this online article are provided as examples only,
and their inclusion does not mean that they are endorsed by
the Federal Citizen Information Center or any other Government
agency. Also, if a particular resource or organization is not
mentioned, this does not mean or imply that it is unsatisfactory.
*If you click
on these links, you are leaving FCIC's website. Please bookmark
us before you leave so you can return easily. FCIC is not responsible
for the content of these websites.
Top |
|
|
We will not retain or use this
information for any other purpose.
Top
|
|
|
For
more information on other popular consumer issues check out
FCIC's Consumer
Focus Archive.
Top |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
This service is provided by the Federal Citizen Information Center of the . E-mail us your comments or questions. |
|
|
|
