Safety

Holiday Safety
By Susan Tianen

The Holiday Season has approached and with party-going and party-giving, the hustle and bustle of shopping, decorating the house, coping with inclement weather… everyone is more prone to have accidents during this holiday season than any other time of the year.  To help make this a safe and happy holiday season, here are some safety tips.At this time of year there are more cars, more people, and more confusion than any other time of the year.  So when driving, make safety your number one job.

• Before leaving for a shopping spree or a big family reunion, be sure your car is holiday safe (water, umbrella, jacket or coat).
• Be courteous and respect the rights of pedestrians and other drivers.
• Allow for extra time for heavy traffic and slippery roads.
• Stay alert for the driver who has over-celebrated.
• Expect the unexpected from pedestrians carrying large packages.

Throttle and the bottle
More than half the automobile accidents that occur during the holidays involve people who have been drinking.

• When attending a party, try the” one for one” plan.  One 1-ounce drink per hour.  This spacing of drinks will help avoid getting too much alcohol in your system.
• When giving a holiday party, be a friend first- then a host.
• Provide non-alcoholic drinks for your guests who may not want alcohol.
• Never force drinks on a guest.  If they say “No.” don’t insist.
• Plan to close the bar at lease one hour before the end of the party.  Offer coffee or soft drink as the “one for the road.”
• Never let a guest drive away from your party under the influence of alcohol.  Ask someone to drive the guest home or call a cab. 

What is an America’s number one fire hazard? 
If you said the home you were right.  Fifty-seven percent of all home fires are caused by defective heating equipment, especially during the holiday season.  The cold weather of the holiday season puts extra demands on your heating system: 
Check your furnace.  It should be cleaned and checked.

Inspect your fireplace for safe operations.  Use a screen or glass front.  Never leave your fireplace unattended.  Don’t burn gift wrappings, tissue, or evergreens in the fireplace.

Holiday lighting can cause fires. 
To reduce the chance of fires from derocative lights: 

• Only use lights approved for outdoor use outdoors.  Check for UL label.
• Make sure circuits are not overloaded.
• Place cords away from traffic areas and heat sources, not under rugs.
• Check cords and plugs for wear, frayed insulation. Cracks and loose connections.

Christmas trees are another serious threat to holiday safety. 
An eight-foot pine can burn completely in just 27 seconds and create tremendous heat.  Some safety tips to remember:

• Place you tree away from heat sources and open flames
• Check the lights before placing them on the tree.  Look for loose sockets or broken and frayed wires.
• Keep water in tree base container and check it often
• Turn lights off when you leave you home unattended
• Never use a regular string of lights on the metal tree.  The danger of shock is great.  Use a spotlight to illuminate a metal tree.

Make your home “Fall-free”

Sidewalks and driveways should be kept free of ice and snow. 

Walkways should be considered when you are arranging furniture to make room for the tree

Ladder, not stools or chairs, should be used for those out-of-reach decorating jobs.

Toys, boxes, paper, etc., become tripping hazards when left on floors or stairs.

Don’t let an accident mar your Holiday Season.  Think safety all the time !