By Matt Hall
Merritt Hall Insurance
The holidays are a time when we turn our attention to family, friends and the celebrations of the season. None of us want to see a loved one suffer an injury over the holidays, but unfortunately, based on statistics, there will be about 8,700 holiday-related injuries this year… and more than 400 house fires. Please take a few moments to think through potential hazards around your home and resolve them before all the excitement and celebrations begin. Following a few simple safety precautions will help your holiday events unfold just the way you planned.
Trees
When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
Frequently check your tree to make sure it isn’t too dry. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin
Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.
Lights & Decorations
Never use electric lights on a tree with a metal frame. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use. To secure lights, string them through hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them.
Check all tree lights-even if you’ve just purchased them-before hanging them on your tree. Make sure none of the bulbs are broken and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks, and never connect more than three strands of lights to any single extension cord.
Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals.
Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a young child to eat them.
Remove all wrapping papers, bags, paper, ribbons and bows from tree and fireplace areas after gifts are opened. These items can pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child or can cause a fire if near flame.
Toy Safety
Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could create a strangulation hazard for babies.
Safe Conditions for Visitors
Keep your driveway, sidewalk and steps clear of obstacles, ice and snow.
Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
Take medications and medical supplies out of your purse, pockets and drawers and put them in a cabinet or other place out of the reach of children.
Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots.
Keep a laminated list with all of the important phone numbers you or a baby-sitter will likely need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, your pediatrician and the national Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222.
Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child’s stress levels. Trying to stick to your child’s usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce stress.
Fireplaces
Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area, and check to see that the flue is open.
As fun as it may seem at the time, do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely, and the burning paper can float back out of the fireplace.
Matt Hall Merritt Hall Insurance 2421 Production Drive, Suite 203 Indianapolis, IN 46242 317-247-7737