The 12 Days of Holiday Safety
In the true spirit of the season, and to help keep family and friends out of harm's way, here are some tips and helpful hints for The 12 Days of Holiday Safety:
On the First Day - prepare for the holidays and safety. Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and a first aid kit. If you live in an apartment or are staying in a hotel, know where the fire alarms and emergency exits are located.
On the Second Day - make a plan. Your family may not be together when an emergency occurs. Plan how to meet or how to contact one another, and discuss what you would do in different situations.
On the Third day - think about special needs. Establish a personal support network of friends, relatives, health-care providers, and neighbors who understand your personal needs. Write down details about accommodation needs, allergies, family medical history, medical conditions, etc.
On the Fourth Day - decorate with safety in mind. Never leave burning candles unattended and keep them away from children and pets, decorations and wrapping paper. Cut candlewicks short to prevent a high flame, and if candles are used in a centerpiece, make sure candles don't burn low enough to ignite decorations.
On the Fifth Day - make your tree safe. When buying a real tree, check that it is fresh (needles are hard to pull off). Water the tree daily - trees can consume up to a gallon of water a day. Place the tree away from high traffic areas, doorways, heating vents, radiators, stoves, fireplaces and burning candles. If young children are around, use safe decorations.
On the Sixth Day - keep lights bright. Make sure you use indoor lights inside your home and outdoor lights outside. Check the light strings and extension cords, throwing out any that are frayed or have exposed wires, loose connections or broken sockets. Never run electrical cords through doorways or under carpets. Turn off all holiday lights before you go to bed or leave your home.
On the Seventh Day - choose appropriate toys. Always follow age recommendations when choosing toys for children.
On the Eighth Day - get ready for severe winter weather. Blizzards, ice storms, and high winds can develop quickly. Set up weather alarms on your smart phone or listen to local radio or television stations for severe weather warnings and advice.
On the Ninth Day - prepare your car for an emergency. Install winter tires and make sure windshield washer fluid is always filled. Prepare a kit to keep in your vehicle in case of an emergency, with items such as a blanket, a candle in a deep can and matches, and first aid kit with a seat belt cutter.
On the 10th Day - prevent illness. A flu shot is the safest and most effective way to prevent infection, reduce the severity of the symptoms if you do get sick, and to keep from spreading the virus to others.
On the 11th Day - learn first aid. Knowing first aid could save a life.
On the 12th Day- know the risks. All across the United States, we face a number of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and wildfires in California, blizzards in Dakota, ice storms in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma and Winter Snowstorms in the Northeast and Midwest. Knowing the risks where you are can help you better prepare and eliminate stress... especially during the holiday season.
