Holiday Safety Tips

Holiday Safety Tips

November 13, 2012

Prepared by Lila L. Miller November 13,2012

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FIRE SAFETY TIPS FOR THANKSGIVING


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According to the United States Fire Administration, each year on Thanksgiving Day there are more than 4,300 fires in homes causing 15 fatalities, about 50 injuries and nearly $27 million in property damage. The number of cooking fires that occur on Thanksgiving is more than double the number of fires that occurs on an average day.


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Do not wear clothes that are very loose or have long flowing sleeves. The safest clothing to wear while cooking should fit well and have short sleeve.

Keep food storage wraps and containers, pot holders and kitchen towels at least three feet away from stove burners and other sources of heat while you are cooking.

Keep pot handles turned inward when they are on the stove to avoid the possibility of spills causing flash fires or burns.

Never leave the stove unattended while you are cooking. If you must leave the room have someone watch the stove or turn off the burners. A pan of cooking oil can ignite in just a few seconds.

Never put water on a stovetop grease fire. Water causes a grease fire to expand. Instead keep a matching cover to the pan nearby and if a fire should erupt, use the lid to smother it.

Keep children away from the stove while you are cooking. Make it a practice to keep a safe zone of three feet around the stove that is child free.


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Keep a fire extinguisher within 10 feet of the stove. Place it on the side of the room with the exit.

Never leave candles burning unattended. Make sure to check that all candles are extinguished before going out or going to bed.

Keep lit candles away from materials that are combustible.


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FOOD SAFETY TIPS FOR THANKSGIVING


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Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food, after handling any raw poultry or meat and before eating.

Keep your food preparation surfaces and utensils clean and sanitized to reduce the risk of salmonella poisoning. Use separate cutting boards - one for meat, poultry and fish and one for cooked foods, vegetables and fruits. Sanitize the cutting board after each use.

Wash all vegetables and fruits before you prepare them.

Thaw a frozen turkey safely in the refrigerator allowing 3-4 days for thawing or approximately one day for every five pounds.

Another way to safely thaw a frozen turkey is submerging it in cold water. Replace the water every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. This method takes approximately 30 minutes for each pound the turkey weighs.

Refrigerate a thawed, or fresh turkey for no longer than two days before cooking.


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Immediately cook a small turkey that has been defrosted in the microwave.

If you cook your stuffing inside the turkey, stuff it just before roasting.

Always use a meat thermometer to see if the turkey is completely cooked. The temperature needs to reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit when inserted in the thickest area of the thigh.

Refrigerate all leftovers within two hours after cooking.

Leftovers should be eaten within three or four days. If you are going to freeze leftovers, do that right away, not after they have been refrigerated for several days.


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PET SAFETY TIPS FOR THANKSGIVING


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Never give your dog or cat raw or undercooked turkey as they, like people, are susceptible to salmonella bacteria. Make sure their holiday turkey nibbles are well cooked.

Do not give your pets stuffing since herbs, such as sage, even in small amounts can cause an upset stomach and gastrointestinal problems.

Never give your pets turkey bones.

Never give a pet raw bread dough. The dough expands once it is eaten, causing vomiting, pain and bloating. Surgery may be required to correct the condition.

Keep the kitchen trash can covered and out of the way of curious pets.

Keep fresh flowers and plants out of the reach of cats and dogs. Many beautiful flowers are highly toxic to pets if ingested.


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TRAVEL TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS


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This Thanksgiving holiday, more than 13 million Americans will travel to spend the holiday with friends and family, leaving their homes empty for opportunistic burglars.


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Remove fall-related objects that might allow access to your home. For example, ladders for cleaning leaves out of gutters can be used to enter a window or scale a fence

Don’t post Thanksgiving or Christmas travel plans on Facebook, Twitter or MySpace letting people know that you will be out of town

Turn your telephone ringer down so no one outside can hear repeated rings; and review your answering machine message to make sure it does not imply that you are away

Make sure to have all mail, newspapers, and deliveries stopped or picked up by a neighbor, friend or relative

Never leave a key hidden outside. Burglars know all the best hiding places

Secure all windows, including those upstairs and reduce the chance of easy entry by cutting tree limbs away from second-story windows


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Have a friend move your car occasionally if it is parked in the driveway

Use timers to operate lights


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Top 5 busiest airports for Thanksgiving travel Chicago O’Hare International Los Angeles International Logan International (Boston) LaGuardia International (NYC) San Francisco International

91% of Thanksgiving trips are made by car

56% of drivers will travel at least 100 miles, with the average long-distance trip length being 214 miles

In 2010, 24 million people traveled by plane during Thanksgiving season


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HAPPY THANKSGIVING


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DRIVING TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS


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During the Christmas holidays there are more cars, more people, and more confusion than any other holiday during the year. So when driving, make safety your number one job.


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Avoid driving alone or at night.

Keep all car doors locked and windows closed while in or out of your car. Set your alarm or use an anti-theft device.

If you must shop at night, park in a well-lit area.

Avoid parking next to vans, trucks with camper shells, or cars with tinted windows.

Park as close as you can to your destination and take notice of where you parked.

Never leave your car unoccupied with the motor running or with children inside.

Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your car. This creates temptation for thieves. If you must leave something in the car, lock it in the trunk or put it out of sight.


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Be sure to locate your keys prior to going to your car.

Keep a secure hold on your purse, handbag and parcels. Do not put them down or on top of the car in order to open the door.

When approaching or leaving your vehicle, be aware of your surroundings.

Do not approach your car alone if there are suspicious people in the area. Ask mall or store security for an escort before leaving your shopping location.

Be courteous and respect the rights of pedestrians and other drivers.

Allow extra time for heavy traffic and slippery roads.

Stay alert for the driver who has over-celebrated.

Expect the unexpected from pedestrians carrying large Christmas packages.


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AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINE (ATM) TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS


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AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINE (ATM) TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a police station, mall, or well-lit location.

Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.

Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you.

Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.


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SHOPPING TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS


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Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member. Dress casually and comfortably.

Avoid wearing expensive jewelry. Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible. Always carry your Driver License or Identification Card along with necessary cash, checks and/or a credit card you expect to use.

Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings.

Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.


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Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible. Keep cash in your front pocket. Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.

Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home. Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, transportation terminals, bus stops, on buses and other rapid transit.

Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.

Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, "con-artists" may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.


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TIPS ON CHILDREN FOR THE HOLIDAYS


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If possible, leave small children at home with a trusted babysitter.

Teach your child to go to a store clerk and ask for help in case your child is separated from you.

Teach children to stay close to you at all times while shopping. Never allow children to make unaccompanied trips to the restroom.

Children should never be allowed to go to the car alone and they should never be left alone in the car.

Teach children their full name, address and telephone number to give to police officers or mall security.

Teach children to immediately inform you if a stranger is bothering them


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TIPS AT HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS


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Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes.

Indoor and outdoor lights should be on an automatic timer.

Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied.

Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows and doors of your home.

When setting up a Christmas tree or other holiday display, make sure doors and passageways are clear inside your home.

Be sure your Christmas tree is mounted on a sturdy base so children, elderly persons or family pets cannot pull it over on themselves.


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CHRISTMAS TREE FIRE SAFETY FOR THE HOLIDAYS


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Decorating homes and businesses is a long-standing tradition around the holiday season. Unfortunately, these same decorations may increase your chances of fire. Based on data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), an estimated 240 home fires involving Christmas trees and another 150 home fires involving holiday lights and other decorative lighting occur each year. Together, these fires result in 21 deaths and $25.2 million in direct property damage.

An eight-foot pine can burn completely in just 27 seconds and create tremendous heat


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Place your tree away from heat sources and open flames

Check the lights before placing them on the tree. Look for loose sockets or broken and frayed wires

Keep water in tree base container and check it often

Turn lights off when you leave your home unattended

Never use a regular string of lights on a metal tree. The danger of shock is great. Use a spotlight to illuminate a metal tree


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CHRISTMAS DECORATION SAFETY FOR THE HOLIDAYS


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Selecting a tree for the Holidays— Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches— Needles should not break if the tree has been freshly cut.— The trunk should be sticky to the touch— Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many of the needles fall

off, the tree has been cut too long and, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard

Caring for your tree— Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. Heat will dry

out the tree causing it to be more easily ignited by heat flame or sparks.— Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks— Place your Christmas tree in water or wet sand to keep it green.— Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times

Holiday lights— Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or

cracked sockets and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up— Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe— Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet— Periodically check the wires, they should not be warm to the touch— Do not leave holiday lights unattended.


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Holiday decorations— All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents— Make sure your artificial or metallic tree is flame retardant— Ensure that trees and other holiday decorations do not block an exit way…blocked entry/exit

ways put you and your family at risk— Never put wrapping paper in the fireplace. Wrapping paper in the fireplace can result in

dangerous sparks and embers that may result in a chimney fire— Avoid using candles. Consider using battery-operated flameless candles.— If you use candles, make sure candles are in stable holders and place them where they cannot

be easily knocked down.— Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that can burn— Never leave a candle unattended


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HOSTING A PARTY FOR THE HOLIDAYS


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HOSTING A PARTY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

When giving a holiday party, be a friend first – then a host

Have non-alcoholic beverages available for party guests

Never force drinks on a guest. If they say "No," don't insist

Plan to close the bar at least one hour before the end of the party. Offer coffee or soft drinks as the "one for the road“

Never let a guest drive away from your party under the influence of alcohol. Ask someone to drive the guest home or call a cab


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ATTENDING A PARTY FOR THE HOLIDAYS


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Holidays bring a dangerous combination, the throttle and the bottle. More than half the automobile accidents that occur during the holidays involve people who have been

drinking.


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Arrange for an official designated driver who will not drink at all

Have something to eat before consuming alcoholic beverages

Eat high protein foods that will stay in your stomach longer and slow the absorption of alcohol into your system

Try the "one for one" plan, one 1-ounce drink per hour. This spacing of drinks will help avoid getting too much alcohol in your system

Know your safe limit

Remember only time will eliminate the alcohol from your body

Never drink and drive


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HAVE A WONDERFUL AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON


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Holiday Safety Tips

Self Improvement