Holiday Health & Safety Tips

It’s the holidays! A time to relax and celebrate with friends and family. Unfortunately, the holidays do not come hazard free and we’re here to make you aware of hazards so you can have a happy and healthy holiday.

The endless string of parties, cooking new recipes in your home, even shopping can be hazardous to your wellbeing. The following tips will help you stay risk free this holiday.

Avoid Flammable Christmas Trees

More than 400 residential fires involve Christmas trees every year. These fires result in as many as 40 deaths and 100 injuries during the holidays. Though Christmas trees cause the fewest holiday-related fires, they account for the greatest percentage of deaths, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Avoid Deep Fried Turkey Fires

Deep-frying your turkey is a delicious way to cook your bird, but deep frying can be so dangerous most companies that produce deep fryers refuse to stamp any fryers on the market with its iconic UL logo. From 1998 to 2007, there were at least 138 incidents involving turkey fryers that caused 36 injuries and more than $7.8 million in property loss.

Avoid Gift Opening Hazards

In addition to the troublesome questions about the safety of the toys themselves, did you know each year about 6,000 people in the United States visit the ER with wounds from trying to pry, slice, or stab open gifts encased in hard plastic containers or held down with a thousand metal twist ties? Crazy, right? Be conscious of what you’re opening and how you’re opening it to avoid this holiday hazard.

Avoid Decoration Disasters

Did you know more than 5,000 people are injured in decorating-related falls each holiday season? To make sure you’re not a statistic this year try the following when stringing lights or hanging mistletoe.

• Check that the ladder is on secure and level ground
• Don’t step on the top two rungs of the ladder
• Space the ladder 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet high it reaches
• Stay centered between rails and do not overreach
• For roof access, extend the ladder at least 3 feet above the roof
• Keep the top and the bottom of the ladder clear of obstacles
• Make sure the ladder is locked open

Avoid Choking

Did you know that Nearly 3,000 people in the United States die each year from choking? To avoid choking, take small bites, chew slowly and carefully, and avoid talking or being distracted while eating. Be wary of high risk foods including grapes, candy with nuts, and hard fruits and vegetables.

Avoid holiday weight gain.

Christmas cookies, giant family meals, eggnog— All that holiday joy adds up to at least a pound a year, but studies suggest that you never really take it off. Make sure to follow your exercise and diet routine even throughout the holidays. If you want to splurge make sure to substitute somewhere else in your diet. And keep moving!

These are just a few of the hazards to avoid to keep your holiday safe.