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Holiday Safety Guide

Keep the holiday season  holly and jolly by following important safety guidelines.   Take the proper safety precautions  to prevent falls, burns, cuts, shocks, and other injuries related to holiday lights,  trees,  and decorations.   After all, the holidays  are better spent with friends and family than in the emergency room.  

Safer Trees
  • When purchasing an artificial Christmas tree,  look for the label "Fire Resistant. "
  • Look for the freshest tree possible, as older trees will drop their needles faster, thus creating a hazard and a mess.
  • Place Christmas trees  away from doorways and out of the way of body traffic.
  • Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more flammable.
  • Keep tree trimmings with smaller parts out of the reach of children.  
  • Many Christmas ornaments  may resemble toys, making them very appealing to a child's eye--it could be very dangerous if they are misused.

Bright Ideas

 

  • Check sets of Christmas lights for broken sockets, frayed wires, or loose connections.
  • New lights should carry the European CE mark  and many new models now run on a very low 12 to 36 volts via a mains transformer. It is worth remembering that light sets  which do not have a transformer will have 240 volts running through them, increasing the danger of an electric shock if they become faulty.
  • Wires should be double insulated, and firmly attached to the plug by the cord restraint.
  • Never hang any indoor lights outside.  You will want to be sure you have purchased the proper lights before hanging them.
  • DO turn off all lights  when you go to bed  or leave the house.  You never know when the lights could short and start a fire. 

Friendly Fireplaces
  • Know how to start your fire properly, maintain it and put out fires if they occur. 
  • Keep the right equipment on hand: kindling, tapers, dustpan, small brush, shovel poker, and a container for firewood.
  • Do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace.   A flash fire can occur as wrappings  ignite quickly.
  • You should not have any holiday decorations near the fire either.  This includes evergreens,  boughs,  and papers.  
  • Have a fire guard or screen  available to keep sparks or embers that may be discharged from the fire, from landing on furniture or flooring.
  • A wraparound guard  that attaches to both sides of the fire is needed if there are children, elderly persons, or pets in the home.
  • A fire extinguisher  should be kept somewhere in close proximity to the fire in case of emergency.

 Don't Slip

 

  • Remove and drain all outdoor hoses.   Any leaks will only lead to a frozen surface! 
  • Shovel  out all walkways after a snow storm.  A snow blower  can also be your new best friend.
  • Use ground salt  on the side-walk to prevent the formation of slippery ice.
  • Sledding  on the roadway is not safe; look for shallow slopes free of obstacles.  
  • Dress in layers of warm clothing  suitable for winds and cold weather.   Look for weather-resistant  products to keep dry and warm.
  • Create a winter safety plan for communicating with your family members in case road conditions make it difficult to get home--and always carry your cell. 

 Happy Hosting

 

Dangers for Dogs

 

  • If you walk your dog on side-walks that have been treated with de-icer, make sure to wash  the dog’s paws when you get home; these chemicals can irritate the skin.
  • Don't feed your pet any cooked bones; they can splinter or get lodged in your pet’s throat and can cause some serious damage.
  • Never--we repeat, never--leave chocolates within easy reach! Chocolate  is toxic to a canine stomach.
  • The leaves of poinsettia plants,  mistletoe,  and holly  can be deadly if consumed.  Keep these out of a dog's way. 
  • Christmas tree decorations  can cause a nasty accident or be fatal to your pet. Young pets will show a great interest in hanging decorations, so do try to use larger unbreakable ornaments.  You will also want to avoid tinsel  or ribbons, as these are dangerous to the gastrointestinal tract if your pet swallows them.
  • If your pet  is a chewer, keep electrical wires  out of reach.

Alcohol Safety

 

  • First of all, never drink and drive.  Do NOT get behind the wheel if you are intoxicated.
  • Be especially careful never to leave your drink unattended, even if you are going onto a dance floor or to the loo.  If you do leave it unattended, get a new drink and scrap the old one.
  • If someone you do not know or trust offers to buy you a drink, either decline politely or accompany them to the bar and watch that nothing is added to your cocktail.
  • Don't tip back too much on the eggnog.   You will want to keep your wits about you so that you can be aware of your surroundings. If you feel uneasy about someone at the party or at the pub, there may be a reason--don’t give them personal details about yourself and don’t arrange a second date.
  • If you are going to have a few drinks, please remember to always drink responsibly!

Related Guides

Christmas Trees

Tree Ornaments and Lights

Hosting a Christmas Party

Indoor Decorations

Outdoor Lights

External Links

  • About.com: An article on pet safety for the holidays.
  • eHow.com: Check out this video on how to build the right size fire.
  • ReadersDigest.com: A holiday safety check list.