 Holidays are a great time to reunite with family and friends. In many cases, with all the celebrating, we over look a few safety precautions.

 Use nightlights to light the hallway and bathrooms for visitors that are not familiar with the layout of your home.  Remove any poisonous chemicals from the reach of children  Do not light candles near holiday decorations  Keep children away from the range or stove while cooking.  Keep all doors and windows locked.  Review fire escape plan with guests.  Show guest where to locate fire extinguishers  Keep stairs, steps, and landings free of clutter.

 Natural trees should be cut at a 45 ⁰ angle at the base and placed in water.  Use only non-flammable decorations.  Use lighting evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).  Inspect lights for frayed wire or t other defects before use.  Do not leave lights on unattended.  Keep natural tree stands filled with water. Christmas Tree Fire Click link to view video

Decorating Safety  Purchase only UL approved lights.  Check all indoor and outdoor lights for frayed cords. Replace old lights if necessary.  Never use lights as decorations with an empty socket.  Check outdoor lights to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.  Turn lights off, prior to leaving your home or going to bed.

 Use flame-resistant materials to trim a tree.  Avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, and keep trimmings with small parts out of reach of children and pets.  Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food.  Wear gloves to avoid eye irritation while decorating with spun glass “angel hair”.  Follow container directions carefully while decorating with artificial snow sprays.

 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.  Read the directions before allowing your child to play with a toy.  Avoid toys with strings or cords which could entangle and strangle a child.  Remove and discard plastic wrapping/bags as soon as the toy is opened.  Dispose of toys with small broken parts that could become lodged in an infants throat.

 When preparing large meals for family and friends, please be sure to do the following:  Wash hands, utensils, since and anything else that comes in contact with raw foods.  Keep raw foods and cooked foods separate.  Foods that require refrigeration should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours.  For questions concerning holiday turkey preparation call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at

 Be a smart party host/guest and don’t drink and drive. Use a designated driver.  Don’t drive while drowsy.  While running errands or shopping, plan a reasonable number of errands.  Park in well lit areas and be aware of your surroundings.

 Shop with a friend rather than shop alone, especially at night.  Do not make multiple trips to your car to drop off packages.  If you travel to another shopping location, don’t leave packages in open view in your car.  Dress casually and comfortably.  Notify credit card issuer immediately if your card is lost, stolen or misused.  Be aware of your surroundings.

 Home Safety –  Shopping Safety –  Tree Safety –  Food Safety –