Holiday Safety Tips
The holidays are here! Along with holiday cheer comes cold weather. The Injury Prevention Center of Greater Dallas warns families about the dangers of space heaters and holiday decorations.
Here are some tips to help you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season.
Christmas tree hazards
If not properly cared for, Christmas trees can catch on fire. Keep these things in mind when selecting and maintaining your Christmas tree:
- When buying a fake tree, look for the label “fire resistant.”
- If buying a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree’s green needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break.
- Keep the tree away from fireplaces, radiators, or portable heaters.
- Cut a few inches off the trunk of the tree for better water absorption.
- Check all inside and outside holiday lights. Make sure all light bulbs work and there are no damaged wires.
- Turn off all lights before going to bed or leaving the house.
Cold weather safety
Not looking forward to the cold weather? Check out these five tips to stay warm this winter:
- Stay inside and have a stocked supply kit for all your emergency needs.
- Wear more than one layer of clothing, and keep dry.
- Let water slowly drip from the sink to keep the pipes from freezing.
- Use space heaters safely. Don’t leave them on when you are away. Never leave children unsupervised around a space heater.
- Don’t leave your pets outside when it’s below freezing and make an emergency kit for them as well.
For more information about holiday safety tips, visit www.injurypreventioncenter.org.
