While many will be staying home for the holidays this year, some will still be venturing out for their festivities.
Here are some helpful holiday safety tips to keep your holidays going smoothly.
1. If traveling by car, you will need to make sure that your vehicle is prepared for winter conditions. You might also want to leave early in case there is heavy traffic. Also, get plenty of rest so that you will not be getting tired behind the wheel — and make sure to stay off your cell phone.
2. Lots of time will be spent decorating this holiday season. Make sure that your artificial trees are labeled as “fire-resistant,” so that they won’t easily catch fire if one were to happen. Also make sure to keep trees at least 3-4 feet away from any heaters or fireplaces.
3. There will be some families that will have small children in the home. Keep small, breakable decorations or ornaments out of reach of the kids so they won’t be able to break them or possibly choke on them. Also try not to buy presents for them if they are under the recommended age that it says on the box.
4. Clean out your chimney once per year to stay safe, and put your candles in places where they will not be knocked over or catch something on fire. It is also good to keep matches and lighters in high places where kids cannot access them.
5. Proper hygiene is important while preparing meals. Some ways to avoid possible food poisoning are by washing hands before, during, and after cooking. Also make sure your meat is cooked enough to kill the bacteria by checking the temperature. Try to keep the raw meats and fresh produce from cross-contamination, and do not eat your leftovers more than three days after they were prepared because there is a good chance that they went bad.
I hope that some of these tips will help you stay safe this holiday season, and that you can enjoy it with your families without complications.
