State Representative Shares Holiday Safety Tips
District 41 State Representative Veronica Gonzales shares Holiday Safety tips with her constituents.
Dear Friends:
The holiday season is here and many of us will spend the next month shopping, decorating, baking, traveling and celebrating. As we enjoy these joyous times with family and friends, it is important to remember to take safety precautions to prevent accidents. I have provided a few ideas to keep your family and homes safe during these busy times.
Have a blessed and joyous holiday season.
Sincerely,
Veronica Gonzales
Trees
- Only purchase artificial trees that are fire resistant.
- Live trees should be fresh, with green needles that are hard to remove and do not break when bent between your fingers. A fresh tree's trunk will be sticky, and should not lose many needles.
- Keep trees away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters and out of the way of traffic and doorways.
- Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood to improve water absorption which will keep the tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
- Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.
- Dispose of the tree by taking it to a recycling center or having it picked up by local services.
Lights
- Check all tree lights before hanging them to ensure bulbs work and to check for frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections.
- Make sure lights are certified for outdoor use. Use string, hooks or insulated staples to hang lights instead of nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them.
- To avoid shocks, plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters.
- Do not overload electrical outlets with more than three light strands and connect strings to an extension cord before plugging lights in.
- Do not leave Holiday lights on unattended.
Decorations
- Choose tinsel or artificial icicles made of plastic or nonleaded metals.
- Never use lighted candles on a tree or near greenery. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
- In homes with children, avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of children's reach.
- Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.
Fireplaces
- Before using a fireplace, remove all decorations from the area and ensure that the flue is open.
- Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace and clear paper away when presents are open.
Shopping
- Stay alert of your surroundings and try to shop during the day light hours.
- Park in a well-lighted space, lock vehicles and hide shopping bags and gifts in the trunk.
- Avoid carrying large amounts of cash and don’t carry too many large packages at once.
Home Safety
- When traveling, use an automatic timer for lights and ask a neighbor to watch your home.
- Don’t display gifts where they can be seen from the outside.
- After opening gifts, do not leave boxes of new electronics or other expensive items out near trash collection sites so that thieves can see them.
Celebrate Responsibly
If drinking alcohol at a holiday party, use a designated driver, cab or other form of safe transportation to protect yourself and other drivers on the road.