Tips to Staying Safe and Healthy During the Winter Holidays
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From trees and outdoor lights to New Years’ Eve celebrations and driving, there are risks that come along with the holiday season. Don’t let your celebrations become tragic. Follow a few simple guidelines and you’ll be sure to keep your family and your home safe this season.
Trees and Lights:
- Water your tree regularly. Dried up trees are more fire resilient.
- Keep an eye on electrical equipment. Overloaded cords can heat up and catch on fire. It’s important to connect lights to a wall outlet if possible.
- Don’t leave the lights on 24/7. Turn them off at night.
- When stringing lights outside, do so safely. Ladders present a falling hazard, as do flimsy limbs of trees and walking around on your roof.
Travel:
The roads often get packed during the holidays and people are in a hurry to get where they are going. It’s important to always stay alert.
- Stop and take a rest if experiencing fatigue.
- Take a companion along on your trip so you can share the driving.
- Defensively driving is in your best interest and will put your safety first. Bend to the frustrations of disgruntled drivers by letting them pass you.
- Avoid distractions while driving. Consider putting your cell phone on Do Not Disturb to stay focused.
- Don’t drink and drive, and if you plan on drinking, always designate a driver to safely take you where you need to go. Prevent others from drinking and driving and help protect everyone on the roads.
- Manage your stress to stay healthy. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a break. One of the greatest stress reducers is making sure you get plenty of sleep.
Cooking
- Don’t leave your cooking unattended on the stovetop and check the oven regularly when baking.
- Be mindful of the floor and any potential tripping or slipping hazards.
- Watch your oven mitts and dishtowels near the stovetop.
- In the event of a cooking fire, do not pour water on it. The oil has the potential to splash and spread the fire, which poses a serious risk to you and those around you, as well as your home.
- Be sure to handle food properly and make sure it’s been cooked thoroughly.
- As always, practice proper hygiene, wash your hands, and avoid cross-contamination.
Sure, this all seems like common knowledge, but the holiday season and the hustle and bustle that comes along with it can leave us absent-minded. Stay alert and have a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!
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