From now until New Year's Day there are all sorts of things to celebrate. Unfortunately, decorations, food, and alcohol all present dangers, particularly to young children. A few common-sense precautions can help keep your holidays safe and happy.
Candles, colored lights, Christmas trees, artificial snow, and plants add a lot of beauty to festive occasions. Unfortunately, young children (pets, too!) often like to play with these. Kids may even try to taste these lovely decorations, or experiment with that candle flame. Make sure decorations are kid-safe or out of reach. Watch out especially for small ornaments, button batteries, and festive yet poisonous plants such as mistletoe, poinsettia, and Jerusalem cherry. (Hard or chewy candy can choke children, so keep it away from them, too.)
Candles are also popular, but
don't let yours go up in smoke! Speaking of candles, have you
ever let one get too close to some greenery, paper, or a
tablecloth? You know what can happen. Keep an eye on those
candles. Never leave them burning unattended, and never place
them too close to other objects. (Light candles only in
containers meant for lighted candles--many candles are not meant
to be lit in their original, usually decorative, containers.)
Keep those lighters and matches out of children's reach, too.
If you use outdoor lights, make sure they're approved for outdoor use. For indoor and outdoor lights, inspect them for broken or missing bulbs, and check the cords for fraying before you use them. Don't place cords where they can trip people, and don't run them under furniture, rugs, carpeting or other objects, or around doors and windows.
A crackling fire in the
fireplace is a welcome sight. Keep yours safe. Make sure the
fireplace and chimney are clean when you begin using it each
year. Call a professional to clean and inspect your flue. Keep
the area in front of the fireplace free of combustible material,
and use a screen to keep sparks from flying out. Again, keep
young children and pets away from the fireplace.
There's plenty to eat during
the holiday season. Unfortunately eating food that isn't prepared
right or that has been sitting around too long can turn happiness
to misery. Foodborne illness can make you very sick. It can also
kill. You should always be aware of food safety precautions and
follow them no matter what time of year. If you are hosting a
celebration, be sure to follow safe handling, cooking, and
re-heating practices, especially for meats and eggs. These
precautions can usually be found printed on the food packages and
in published literature, such as cookbooks or health department
brochures. Don't take a chance by eating food that is not fully
cooked, seems to have been sitting out too long, or that contains
raw eggs--not even cookie dough!. The risk of serious illness is
just not worth it.
Many holiday celebrations
include alcohol consumption. If you do drink, never drink and
drive. Watch out for guests and make sure everyone is riding with
a sober driver. Provide plenty of alternatives to alcohol such as
soft drinks, coffee, tea, and cocoa. Stop serving alcohol a few
hours before your party ends. Also, never leave drinks around
where youngsters and pets can get them. Alcohol can make them
very sick. Collect used glasses and cups quickly and lock up your
supply.
Finally, make sure your home is equipped
with smoke detectors and, if your home uses a fossil fuel heat
source, carbon monoxide detectors. Test the batteries
frequently--some people find it helpful to replace the batteries
twice a year when Daylight Savings Time begins and ends. If your
home has been vacant for several days test the detector batteries
when you return. The low-battery alarm may have sounded while you
were away and could be silent when you return. The battery may be
dead and you won't know unless you check. Don't let accidents
spoil your holidays. Plan now to play it safe this year and every
year and have a great attitude about workplace safety.
Happy Holidays!
