Tips to Staying Safe and Healthy During the Winter Holidays
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!
Please follow and like us:
