The hectic holiday season can catch you off guard. With the rush of this time of year, it is easy to get preoccupied and forget to think about what is going on in your surroundings. Take a quick break and check out these 13 Holiday Safety Tips That Can Save You Both Money and Your Life.
Shopping Savvy
Of course, shopping goes hand in hand with this season. Couple that with packed stores and shorter daylight hours and you can find yourself in less than ideal parking and purchasing situations. And thieves love to take advantage of these facts.
- Park in well-lit areas or shop during daylight whenever possible.
- Do not have a conversation on your cellphone in the parking lot or in the store unless absolutely necessary as it distracts you. Some people mistakenly believe that you are safer if you are talking on the phone to friends or family. The thought goes, “If something happens, I can just have the person I am on the phone with send for help”. Wrong! By the time the person on the phone could get you help, the incident would be long over.
- If you have a clicker that will unlock your car from a distance, do not use it until you are close to your vehicle. I learned this tip from our local sheriff’s department’s self-defense class. Unlocking the vehicle when you are not in clear sight line of it may allow unwanted individuals to slip into your car before you drive off. Sorry, this means no clicking to find where you parked.
- Make sure that you put any valuables or shopping bags out of site in your vehicle while you run errands. Less temptation for someone up to no good.
Home Safety Tips
Holiday time means activities that we do not normally do the rest of the year such as putting up Christmas lights. You might be tempted to prop up your ladder on the side of the house in an awkward position to get those twinkle lights up. Or go bounding up the attic stairs without inspecting them to get to decorations that you pull down once a year.
Refrain! More than 90,000 people receive emergency room treatment from ladder-related falls each year (West Bend). Make sure that you are not one of them by taking the time to do things right.
Other Holiday Home Safety Tips to Be Aware Of Include:
- Whether your tree is live or artificial, make sure that it has the proper size stand to keep it from easily tipping over.
- Ensure that if you have young children or pets, that you keep glass decorations and potentially harmful seasonal plants out of reach. The plants that should not be munched on include holly, mistletoe, and to some extent poinsettias.
- Also, keep batteries out of the reach of children and pets. So many gadgets and toys are powered by them, so be mindful. Especially attractive and dangerous for young kids are the button batteries that operate watches, remotes, flameless candles, and a whole host of electronic devices (National Capitol Poison Center).
- Make sure that you unplug electrical decorations before you leave the house or go to bed (ESFI).
Festive Food Precautions
Nothing screams holidays quite like all sorts of decadent food and drink. Many celebrations involve a heaping helping of both. To enjoy your holidays without a permanent after taste:
- If you are taking on a turkey this year, check out these helpful turkey roasting tips from the USDA. For guidelines for preparing turkey in other ways, check out the quick tips from Foodsafety.gov.
- Many holiday dishes include chocolate as a major ingredient. Be sure and keep this people food out of the mouths of your pets as it can be harmful to them.
- Take extra care with your kiddos in the kitchen. Especially when you are hosting a holiday gathering, it is easy for a child to slip out of your sight and into trouble. Pulling a hot pan down on themselves or ingesting something they shouldn’t can quickly make the celebration go sour. Appoint a dependable family member to keep an extra eye on your child.
- Finally, if it contains raw eggs, skip licking the bowl. I know this may rule out that yummy cookie dough or brownie mix, but it is worth some caution to avoid getting food poisoning.
Your holiday will likely be memorable for all the right reasons if you follow these holiday safety tips.
For More:
16 Places To Find Free Holiday Entertainment
5 Ways to Save Money On Holiday Decorations
