The holiday season has arrived! While it is a time for celebrations and fun, it is important take the time to stay healthy, avoid fires and injuries, and celebrate the season safely. Here are a few tips to ensure you and your family have a safe and healthy holiday season!
Stay healthy
Keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick over the holidays. Wash your hands with warm water and soap for 30 seconds. When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve, not your hands. Make sure to get vaccinated, as this can help prevent you from getting sick and even passing it along to family members.
Also be sure to stay warm as the temperature drops, as this can cause health problems, especially for children and older adults. Stay dry and warm with multiple layers of clothing and hats and gloves.
Stress can also cause health problems, so make sure to relax and limit stress over the holiday season. Get plenty of sleep and know your health limits. Prepare for trips in advance to avoid last minute stressful situations.
Fire Safety
Residential fires are common around the winter and holiday season. If you are planning on having a Christmas tree, keep the tree away from fireplaces and heaters. Make sure the tree is always hydrated as dry trees can catch fire much more quickly. Keep a fire extinguisher close to the tree just in case. If you buy an artificial tree, make sure the tree is fire resistant.
Keep candles away from anything flammable and away from children and pets. Never leave candles unattended and be sure the candles are secured on a steady base, so they won’t tip over. Install a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in your home. Test them once a month, and replace batteries twice a year.
If you are hanging up decorative holiday lights, use hooks or insulated staples to avoid damaging the chords. Make sure none of the wires are frayed and that there are no broken sockets. Turn off all decorative lights before bed and when you’re not at home to avoid electrical fires. Also, do not overload electrical outlets. Do not link more than 3 light strands, unless indicated that its safe. Check the wires once in a while to make sure they are not warm.
Prevent injuries
Injuries are quite common around the holiday season. If you are hanging decorations, make sure to use a proper ladder or step stool instead of furniture, and always work with at least one other person. Be sure to use proper safety when lighting fireworks too.
If you have children, keep fragile ornaments out of their reach or use non-fragile ornaments. Also avoid small decorative pieces or fake food decorations as they may be a choking hazard. Also be sure to place poinsettias and other holiday plants out of reach, as they may be poisonous when eaten.
Have a wonderful and safe holiday season!