Introduction

Christmas is a time to enjoy family, friends and the joy of the season. The best way to ensure happy holidays for yourself and your loved ones is to be aware of the common hazards associated with the season and some simple tips for avoiding these mishaps. Merry Christmas to all and to all a safe night!

Monday – Christmas Tree Safety

The Christmas tree is one of the most iconic symbols of the season and there are few things more cherished than a fresh cut Christmas tree to decorate the home. As much joy as a Christmas tree can bring to the household, it can also bring destruction if not cared for properly. Today we will share a few tips on maintaining your live Christmas tree, so it brings only joy to your home.

• Water your tree daily. A dry brittle tree can go up in flames in seconds.
• Keep it clear of other fire hazards. Make sure your fireplace is only roasting chestnuts and not your Christmas tree.
• Keep an eye on little ones around your tree. Those twinkling lights can be very enticing to a child and can easily be pulled down toppling your tree and the little ones along with it.

Tuesday – Electrical Safety

Most everyone looks forward to fantastic Christmas light decorations in the neighborhood but with those twinkling lights comes a major electrical burden to the circuits powering your home. You must also consider any major appliances that are already plugged into the existing circuit before adding extra load through decorations. If you plan to use more power than usual, spread it across multiple circuits to prevent overload.

Wednesday – Secure Your Home from Possible Break-Ins

During the holidays, your home may contain more expensive merchandise than usual in the form of gifts waiting to be received. Also, with many families taking trip out of town to visit loved ones, it’s an extra enticing times for burglars to make their rounds. Make sure your home is properly secured before leaving for a trip. It’s also good practice to schedule gift deliveries to arrive when you will be home to avoid sticky fingers from lifting your loot. There are also many effective and affordable home security systems available to provide extra peace of mind when your home may be most vulnerable.

Thursday – COVID-19 Precautions

Unfortunately, we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic along with the added typical seasonal illnesses such as the flu and the common cold. This year may require a few extra precautions to keep you and your loves ones safe.

• Limit family gatherings, especially for higher risk friends and family and incorporate loved ones virtually so everyone can still be included.
• Regularly clean commonly touched surfaces before and after gatherings.
• Wear a mask and practice social distancing whenever feasible, especially in high traffic common areas such as grocery stores and department stores.
• Check in with friends and family after the holiday and report any recently developed illness symptoms prior to returning to work.

Friday – Open Discussion

This week we’ve cover some common hazards and simple tips for mitigating mishaps. Now let’s open it up to the group to discuss your experiences.

• Have you ever experienced a Christmas mishap? What happened?
• What are some steps you take to keep your loved ones safe during the holiday?
• What other tips can you share with the group on Christmas safety?

DOWNLOAD SAFETY TOPICS HANDOUT (PDF)