Holiday Safety
The winter holidays are a time for relaxing, entertaining, and spending time with family and friends. Safety might be the last thing on your mind this season, but nevertheless, it is something that should always be a concern. There are a few easy preventative measures you can take that will keep everyone safe and comfortable (and out of the ER) on Christmas Eve.
Fire Safety
Fire is common to many holiday celebrations: Hanukkah is the celebration of lights, with candles playing an important role, and many families will also use candles in their windows for Christmas. No matter what the holiday, a few basic steps will keep the fire where it is supposed to be and prevent it from spreading.
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The US Fire Administration has a number of helpful tips for fire safety during the holidays. In summary: - Buy a fresh tree
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- The best way to know if your tree is fresh is to look for green needles that are hard to pull from the branch. When you bend the needles between your fingers they should not break.
- Keep your tree watered.
- This can't be stressed enough. A dry tree is a serious fire hazard and can ignite within seconds.
- A healthy, wet, well-watered tree is difficult to ignite (the testers at the USFA had to use a propane torch!) and once ignited, will not stay lit for long.
- Cut a couple inches off the trunk when you get the tree home; this exposes the fresh wood, which will easily absorb water.
- Place your tree wisely.
- When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators, or portable heaters. These items will dry the tree out and make it a fire hazard. Place the tree out of the way of foot traffic and do not block doorways.
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- Don't leave your lights on when you aren't there to appreciate them.
- Lights can be a hazard for electrical fires and can ignite a tree if it is dry or artificial.
- Choose your decorations carefully.
- Look for "flame-retardant " or "fire-resistant" labels on any decoration. This is especially important if you decide to use an artificial tree.
- Don't burn wrapping paper .
- The chemicals used in the paper can give off sparks and dangerous gasses.
- Use caution with candles .
- Always make sure your candles are stable in their holders or in your menorah .
- Never leave burning candles unattended.
- Never allow small children to play with candles; do not leave them where children might knock or pull them down.
- Never light candles on a Christmas tree or bring lit candles near it.
- Never place candles near an open window or drafty area, and don't place them near curtains.
- Fireplace maintenance is important.
- Make sure your fireplace is clean and your flue is in good working order.
- Keep appropriate cast-iron, brass, or steel fireplace tools handy at all times; you don't want anyone trying to "make do" with a broom or anything else that might ignite.
- Never leave a fire burning when you are out of the house or asleep; extinguish all fires when you are finished enjoying them.
- Keep a small fire extinguisher near the fireplace, easily accessible; familiarize yourself with the directions on how to use it.
- Water your tree.
- It's so important, it's in here twice.
Light Safety
Before you start covering your entire house in Christmas lights like Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation , read through these important safety tips.
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- Check all lights.
- Even if you just purchased a new batch of lights , check them all--both indoor and outdoor lights.
- Make sure all the bulbs work, and confirm that there are no frayed wires or broken sockets.
- Don't use electric lights on metallic trees.
- Faulty lights can electrically charge the tree. Anyone who touches the tree can be electrocuted.
- Outdoor lights should be certified for outdoor use.
- This may seem obvious, but make sure those outdoor lights actually say they are intended for outdoor use only.
- Secure lights with hooks or insulated staples. Never use nails or tacks.
- When removing the lights, never pull or tug on them.
- Plug it in correctly.
- All outdoor decorations and lights should be plugged into ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCI.
- This will prevent electrocution or any potential shocks.
- Turn off the lights.
- This is not just a mediocre Nelly Furtado song, it's also really good advice! Turn off decorations at night or before you leave the house.
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Pet Safety
The holidays can be a stressful time for your pets. If you go to a lot of parties, they might miss your company, and if you have a party or two at your house, all the strange people and sounds might frighten them. Keep your pet healthy and happy through the new year with some of these ideas.
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- Pets and parties don't mix.
- If you're going to have a big to-do at your house, the best bet is to put Buster and Oreo in an off-limits area. (This is assuming that they get along well, otherwise you'll need multiple off-limits areas.)
- For smaller, quiet gatherings, pets can be loose in the house as long as they don't make any of your guests uncomfortable. Many pets will retreat to a quiet area if they aren't fond of crowds anyway.
- Make sure that there are enough high surfaces on which your guests can leave plates and cups--this will prevent Rover from stealing a few snacks.
- If you have a fire blazing or any open flames, make sure the cats won't catch alight or knock candles over.
- Things you shouldn't feed your pet:
- Your pet should really only eat pet food or very plain, unsalted human food that you make specifically for him or her. There are a few things that you should never, ever give your pet.
- Chocolate: It is highly toxic to dogs. Not good for cats either, but they don't like it much.
- Alcohol: It might seem like an amusing idea, but alcohol is bad for any pet. (It's not very good for you, either.)
- Cooked bones: Raw bones may be OK (consult your vet), but cooked bones are brittle and can shatter, which could hurt your pet's sensitive gums and esophagus.
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- Pets and Decorations
- Pets, especially dogs, seem to love creating chaos, which may spell disaster for your carefully decorated tree. Make sure that there is nothing at dog-mouth level (this is especially true of edible decorations like popcorn, cranberries and gingerbread cookies).
- Make sure that any other decorations are safely out of harm's way.
- If you have holiday plants around the house, keep them where your pets cannot reach them. If you have cats, better to not buy plants at all: poinsettia ,yew ,holly , and mistletoe are all highly toxic. Most species used as Christmas trees will also cause a number of unpleasant symptoms if eaten.
- Outdoor Safety
- Winter wonderlands can be a lot of fun for your pet, but there are a number of dangers present in the great outdoors.
- Antifreeze is dangerous to pets, even in small amounts. Don't let your dog or cat lick anything off the driveway or garage floor.
- Salt on the sidewalk can severely irritate a dog's paws (especially if he or she has any open cuts) and may be toxic if your dog licks his or her paws after a walk. Although they may appear a little silly, booties for dogs are good protection from road salt.
- Make sure your dog is warm when you go out. If you have a breed with short hair, or an especially small animal, a winter coat can protect him or her from severe cold and wind.
- Dry your dog off thoroughly after walks in the snow.
- Surprise Pets
- Never give a pet as a gift unless the recipient knows that he or she will be receiving one and confirms that it is OK.
- Unwanted "Christmas puppies" are cute when they are little but often wind up in shelters when they are full-grown adults.
- Be Prepared
- Keep your first aid kit handy, as well as the phone number of your veterinarian's office.
- If there is an animal emergency hospital or clinic near you, find out if they will be open on Christmas and New Year's. This way, if your usual vet is closed for the holidays, you will have somewhere to go just in case.
- If your pet is expecting a litter and your vet will be away over the holidays, make sure you go over what you need to do to help her deliver.
Toy Safety
With all of the gift-giving taking place, new toys will be found everywhere. Utilize these helpful tips to keep your little ones safe.
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- Children under age three can choke on small toys.
- Only allow them to play with toys specifically designed for their age group. Government regulations specify that these toys cannot have parts under 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long. Anything smaller than this can be dangerous!
- No plugs for children under ten.
- Children could burn or electrocute themselves with plug-in toys. Instead, buy battery-operated versions.
- No strings attached.
- Watch out for toys with long cables or pull strings, as they can be a hazard.
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Alcohol Safety
The holidays are surely a time for partying. But, please, do it responsibly.
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- Be responsible for your guests.
- Don't allow anyone to drink in excess.
- Provide snacks and plenty of non-alcoholic drinks at any party you host.
- If possible, collect everyone's car keys as they arrive. Only give them back if you are convinced your guest is able to drive safely.
- Make sure you have a few extra places for guest who need to crash. A couch is usually enough, but have pillows and blankets readily available.
- Know your limits.
- If you know that one glass of champagne will make you tipsy, then only have half a glass.
- Keep your stomach full by eating something heavy before you go to a party.
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Food and Drink Safety
Consuming over- or undercooked foods can pose a health hazard. Be sure to read up on these safety tips so that no one gets sick!
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- Make sure all meat and poultry is cooked thoroughly. A good cooking thermometer is essential to ensure the bird will be safely cooked, but not overdone.
- Have your children wash their hands constantly. The same goes to you!
- Thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits.
- Prepare eggnog carefully.
- Homemade eggnog should be cooked to 160 degrees before you serve it.
- Cooking will kill any salmonella bacteria from the eggs.
- You can also use pasteurized eggs or premade eggnog without worry.
- You can't always accommodate every food preference or allergy.
- However, if you serve a wide menu, you will probably have something for everyone.
- Ask your guests if they have any serious food allergies, and do the best you can to accommodate them.
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Safety Around the Home
Just a few helpful tips and reminders.
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- Keep all walkways and driveways well-shoveled or clear them with a snow blower.
- Salt or sand any areas where guests will be walking.
- Make sure your ladders are in good condition before using them to hang up decorations.
- Don't string your lights in such a way that guests might trip on an extension cord.
- Even though you should have checked your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in October when you set your clocks back, the holidays are a good time to check them again (or for the first time).
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