Decorating for the holidays is fun for the entire family. However, there are many items in homes during the holiday season that can be dangerous, that require extra supervision – especially in homes with young children.
To keep your holidays merry and safe, follow these safety tips:
Temperatures are dipping and snow flurries are flying. HAVE FUN this winter & follow these tips to remain safe & injury-free:
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
For sledding, skiing, and snowboard safety, visit our Winter Safety Page.
Protect your child from burns in the home. Every day more than 400 children are treated in emergency rooms for burn-related injuries.
Take burn safety precautions to prevent injuries and dangerous situations:
Keep children and pets in mind when placing decorations on a tree:
Source: HIPRC Burn Safety; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
The holidays can be stressful.
BE MINDFUL this winter & follow these tips to remain safe & injury-free:
Source: HIPRC Suicide Prevention Guide; HIPRC Mental Health toolkit
Falls are the primary cause of injury among older adults. More than one in four adults (age 65 and older) fall each year. There are several tools and programs to help reduce risk of falling and fall-related injury.
BE PREPARED this winter & follow these tips to remain safe & injury-free:
Source: HIPRC Fall Prevention
Carbon monoxide poisoning is an illness that occurs from breathing in carbon monoxide (CO) gas. It’s a medical emergency and needs treatment right away. CO is a colorless, odorless gas made when fuel burns. Fuels include wood, gasoline, coal, natural gas, and kerosene. Breathing in carbon monoxide fumes prevents the body from using oxygen normally. This can harm the brain, heart, and other organs.
Most carbon monoxide exposure happens in the winter. This is because the most common source of CO poisoning is an unvented, kerosene or gas fueled space heater in the home. It vents the gases into the room, instead of outdoors. A space heater that is not installed right or not working correctly can release carbon monoxide and other toxic fumes into the room. It can use up much of the oxygen in the room.
Carbon monoxide can also leak from home or camping appliances that use oil, wood, gas, or coal and are not working properly, such as:
To prevent CO poisoning:
Here’s a list of resources to prepare for the weather:
Credit: Nationwide Children’s // University of Washington, School of Medicine
As you deck the halls this holiday season, be fire smart. A small fire that spreads to a holiday tree can grow large very quickly.
Picking the tree
Placing the tree
Lighting the tree
After the holidays
Source: National Fire Protection Agency