VashonBePrepared: Holiday safety

Safety tips for wherever the holidays take you.

November 30, 2024 9:30 am
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says nearly 15,000 people get emergency room care each year for injuries related to holiday decorating. About 40% of holiday decoration accidents are falls. Stay safe on ladders. Have a partner work with you to steady the ladder, for example. Wear shoes that give you traction against slips and falls. Never stand on chairs or furniture to hang decorations.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says nearly 15,000 people get emergency room care each year for injuries related to holiday decorating. About 40% of holiday decoration accidents are falls. Stay safe on ladders. Have a partner work with you to steady the ladder, for example. Wear shoes that give you traction against slips and falls. Never stand on chairs or furniture to hang decorations.

One of the riskiest activities during the holidays turns out to be decorating around your home. Also, foodborne illness due to unsafe handling of food spikes at Thanksgiving and continues to be high right through the end of the year.

Here are safety tips for wherever the holidays take you — at home, on the road, or visiting friends and family.

Decorating

In addition to ladder safety, consider these additional safe decorating tips:

• Discard strings of lights with broken sockets or frayed wires.

• If you go for an artificial tree, check that it has a label saying “fire resistant,” and consider getting a fresh live tree if you go the natural route.

• Keep candles out of reach of kids and pets and well away from flammable items such as Christmas trees. Never leave a burning candle unattended.

• Decorations do not belong in front of the fireplace. Mixing candles with boughs of greenery on the table or mantle is asking for trouble.

• Turn off holiday lights when leaving the house or turning in for the night.

Cooking

• Safety-conscious cooks wash their hands frequently.

• Avoid cross-contamination by using different cutting boards and utensils for prepared foods and uncooked foods such as raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs.

• Use a food thermometer to test foods such as fish and meat for doneness. Aim for 140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to stay out of the hazard zone between 40 and 140 degrees. For food-specific guidelines, see tinyurl.com/USDATempChart.

• Don’t let food sit around. Refrigerate buffet items within two hours at 40 degrees. Any leftovers should be tossed after four days.

• Check out more safe food handling tips on the USDA website: tinyurl.com/FoodHandlingBasics.

Security

• Park in well-lit areas.

• Don’t leave purchased gifts and other valuable items in plain view. Lock them in the trunk.

• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. If you have multiple credit cards, carry only the ones you plan to use.

• Check your bank and credit card activity frequently to catch cyber theft early. Report suspicious activity right away to your bank or card issuer.

• Stay aware of your surroundings. Criminals watch for distracted people and target them for theft or robbery.

• Drink responsibly because criminals watch for obviously drunk victims.

• Carry your handbag cross-body style to help prevent grabby thieves from snatching it.

• Flashy jewelry works like a criminal magnet. Don’t label yourself as wealthy to reduce your chances of being targeted.

Traveling

• Ask your hotel or host to recommend safe areas for shopping and other activities.

• Let friends or family know where you are going and when you will reach your destination or return home. Check in with your safe contacts at least daily.

• Keep digital copies of important documents. For instance, having a copy of your passport will make it easier to replace it if stolen or misplaced.

• Know the emergency services numbers for your locale. It is not 911 everywhere in the world!

• If available, use the hotel room safe to secure your passport and cash.

Driving

• Follow the three P’s described in our last issue. Prepare. Protect. Prevent. Here’s a link in case you missed it: conta.cc/3YXlRwD.

• Check the condition of your vehicle, including lights, battery, tires, and windshield wipers.

• Carry an emergency kit in case of a breakdown: tinyurl.com/WinterDriverKit.

• Make sure your spare tire is inflated if your car has one. If not, carry an emergency tire sealant and inflator. Know the location of your car jack and lug wrench and how to safely use them. Consider buying roadside assistance insurance.

• Charge up your cellphone so you will be able to call for help and get current road information.

• Buckle up, and seat children under 12 in the much safer back seat. Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an airbag.

• Stay alert by resting well before your trip, rotating drivers, and taking breaks every few hours.

• If you must stop on the road or shoulder, make your vehicle visible to other drivers by turning on the emergency flashers and dome light.

• Alcohol and drugs never mix with driving. Appoint a designated sober driver or call a rideshare or taxi. Surveys show that half the population regards drinking as a holiday tradition.

• If it’s wet, icy, or snowy, slow down and leave extra following distance.