Safety Tips: Winter Holidays

• When purchasing an artificial Christmas tree, choose one labeled Fire-Retardant. While it won’t prevent fire entirely, it will resist burning and extinguish quickly
• When buying a live, natural Christmas tree, look for signs of freshness. Ensure the needles are green, difficult to pull from the branches, and can bend between your fingers without breaking. Water your natural tree every day. A dry Christmas tree poses a fire hazard, as it can burn very quickly and at a high temperature. Make sure your tree stand is large and sturdy enough for your tree, and that it can hold at least one gallon of water. The average six-foot tree has a four-inch diameter trunk and can consume up to one gallon of water per day
• When setting up your Christmas tree inside, keep it away from traffic and doorways, and at least three feet from heat sources, such as fireplaces, portable space heaters, heating vents, electronics and electrical equipment
• Dispose of your Christmas tree immediately after the holidays. Take it to your local trash drop-off site or recycling center before it dries out and becomes a fire hazard

• Read the manufacturer’s instructions for the number of light strands to connect
• Before using holiday lights each year, carefully inspect both new and old strands, discarding any that have frayed or pinched wires. Cracked sockets and frayed, bare or loose wires can pose a serious risk of electric shock or a fire. Look for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) mark on light strings, electrical decorations, and extension cords and only use the ones rated for outdoor or indoor use
• Never overload outlets or extension cords by plugging in too many decorations. Do not run electrical cords under rugs
• Keep cords and lights away from a tree’s water supply
• Turn off all lights on trees and electrical decorations before leaving home or going to bed
• When the holidays are over, take down your lights. Light strings shouldn't be up for more than 90 days

• Use only non-flammable decorations
• In houses with small children and pets, avoid decorations that are sharp, breakable, have small parts or look like food or candy

• Never use lit candles to decorate artificial or natural Christmas trees
• Never leave children and pets unattended in a room with lit candles, and keep candles, matches, and lighters out of the reach of children
• For a much safer alternative, consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell, and feel like real candles
• If you use lit candles, place them in sturdy, non-combustible candleholders that can collect dripping wax and won't tip over, at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn, and away from areas where they could be knocked over by a person or a pet. Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep

• Use a step stool or stepladder when decorating the tree’s higher limbs and a wooden or fiberglass ladder near power lines and electrical wiring
• Place the ladder on a stable, level surface. Steer clear of soft or muddy ground. Never exceed the ladder's weight limit or the maximum load rating. Never stand on a step ladder's bucket shelf. Read and follow the warning stickers for the highest standing levels
• Face the ladder when climbing up or down, keeping your body centered between the side rails and never carry decorations or equipment while climbing. Wear a tool belt or have someone hand them to you

• Never place paper-wrapped or paper-bagged gifts near open flames or electrical connections
• Make sure to clear away all wrapping paper, boxes and any other trash from underneath the tree right after opening the gifts to avoid fires and accidents

• Never leave food unattended while cooking on the stove or in the oven. Always set a timer, even if you believe you won’t need it. It’s likely you may lose track of time or get distracted
• Prevent kitchen accidents by keeping children and pets away from cooking areas
• Avoid burns by keeping pots on the back burners of the stove, turning handles inward and placing cooking utensils away from the edge of the stove
• Be careful with allergies. Make sure you know if your guests have any food allergies, and be alert for any symptoms of allergic reactions. Call 911 immediately if someone has difficulty breathing, as this is a sign of a serious allergic reaction
• Keep a working ABC-rated home fire extinguisher nearby in case of a fire emergency and make sure you know how to use it

• Test your home's smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and check their batteries to make sure they are in good working condition. Replace any smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old and any carbon monoxide detectors that are more than 5 years old
• Ensure that everyone in your household is familiar with the sound of the smoke alarm and understands how to react when they hear it. Additionally, make sure to have suitable alarms for family members who are deaf or hard of hearing
• Have a family fire escape plan and practice it twice a year to make sure everyone in the home knows what to do in case of a fire emergency

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, and for good reason. The holiday season, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, is one of the busiest and most dangerous times to drive. Increased traffic and celebrations lead to a rise in impaired driving accidents, resulting in thousands of injuries and fatalities each year.

During this holiday season, we all have a responsibility to help keep impaired drivers off the streets. Here are some ways to plan for safety if you are going out to celebrate:

• If you think you might have a drink, designate someone you trust to stay sober as your driver. If you'll be on your own, plan to take a taxi or ride-share home or arrange to stay the night. If traveling in a group, choose the designated driver early, before going out for the night. Ensure the driver understands their responsibility to stay sober and look out for all members of the group. Alcohol is toxic and can be deadly in large amounts. Be sure to eat plenty of food and also drink non-alcoholic beverages

If you are hosting a holiday party, consider these tips for keeping your guests safe:

• Upon greeting all guests, find out their plans for the evening. Know ahead of time if they will be drinking and how they will be getting home
• Don’t let guests mix their own drinks. Assign a bartender who can keep track of the size and number of drinks consumed
• Serve plenty of food along with drinks
• Stay sober and in control as the host. Don’t hesitate to say no to someone who has had too much, including refusing another drink or their car keys. About 90 minutes before the party ends, close the bar and offer dessert and coffee to give guests time to sober up. Remember, only time can sober someone up—coffee won’t help

Even if you're not drinking or celebrating, be cautious when driving during the holidays. Nighttime driving is particularly dangerous as partygoers are more likely to be on the road, and intoxicated drivers are a greater risk. Always ensure that everyone in your car is wearing a seatbelt—it's your best defense against impaired drivers.