Top 12 Christmas Safety Tips
Christmas is here! The hustle and bustle of people coming in and out of your home creates opportunities for Christmas accidents. Avoid a Christmas accident by following some basic Christmas safety tips. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 15,000 people were admitted to the Emergency Room for holiday decorating injuries alone in November and December, 2012. Many Christmas accidents involve falling from ladders while hanging lights, cuts from stepping on broken ornaments or burns from cooking or candle fires. Alcohol causing impairment is also responsible for its share of Christmas accidents.
Top 12 Christmas Safety Tips
Follow these 12 Christmas safety tips to keep yourself and family safe this Christmas:
1. Buy age appropriate toys from reputable manufacturers.
2. Pick up and vacuum regularly, looking out for small items that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Common Christmas hazards are Christmas tree ornament hooks or small parts that have fallen off toys.
3. Watch out for potential fire hazards; keep Christmas decorations and cards away from heat sources.
4. Don’t leave burning candles unattended and never put real candles on your Christmas tree.
5. Replace old lights with LED lights as they meet much higher safety standards. Disconnect the lights when leaving the house and while sleeping. Do not let children play with light bulbs as it is a swallow hazard.
6. Keep Christmas decorations with small, removable parts out of reach of small children and pets.
7. Set aside plenty of time to prepare and cook your Christmas dinner. Rushing in the kitchen can lead to accidents with knives, pots boiling over, and hot fat.
8. Have scissors on hand to open packaging as they are much safer than using a knife. Have screwdrivers available to assemble toys. Using scissors instead of a screwdriver is a common cause of stabbing and cutting oneself.
9. While installing and plugging in new electronics, gadgets and appliances watch out for trailing cables and wires and always read instructions.
10. With extra people and clutter in the house, a trip and fall accident is more likely. Try to at least clear clutter as it accumulates and wipe spills right after they occur. Stairs and walkways should be kept well-lit.
11. Do not drink and drive. Plan for a designated driver or to spend the night. If you are taking a road trip to see family for Christmas, plan to drive while you are wide awake.
12. Keep your tree well-watered so that it is not a dried-out fire hazard by Christmas day.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
