The holiday season should be a time for fun, family, and festivities. All of that holiday cheer can disappear quickly, though, if someone gets hurt or there’s an accident. From everyone at the Law Offices of Wax & Wax, we want you and your family to have the best and safest winter. We’ve included a quick list of safety tips here to help!
Remember these 7 winter holiday safety tips to help prevent accidents:
- Keep your Christmas tree hydrated: If you are using a live Christmas tree this year, then be sure to keep it well hydrated throughout the season. You should have at least two inches of exposed trunk at the base for consistent water absorption. Keep the tree in a water-filled basin and check it daily. When a live tree starts to dry out, it becomes an extreme fire hazard. Don’t forget to only use lights that are rated for use on live trees and that don’t get hot.
- Use break-resistant ornaments: Broken ornaments can create laceration hazards, especially if they are stepped on. You should use break-resistant ornaments whenever possible. If you have sentimental ornaments that are breakable, like glass icicles, then you should place them high enough on the tree to keep them out of reach of pets and children who might knock them down.
- Organize holiday lights responsibly: Be mindful when you set up holiday lights around your home, both inside and out. For outdoor settings, you should only use outdoor-rated and weatherproof lights and sockets. Inside your home, organize the light strands in a way that prevents trip hazards and that does not put too many cords into one wall socket.
- Don’t use toxic plants: Mistletoe, holly, amaryllis, and Jerusalem cherry are all beautiful and popular holiday plant decorations. They are also toxic when ingested, especially to small children and pets. To be safe, avoid the use of any toxic plant. Instead, you can buy a faux plant of the same design or opt to use nontoxic plants that look just as pretty.
- Help children wrap gifts: Children love to help wrap holiday gifts for other family members and family friends. To keep them safe, ensure they only use child-safe scissors and know how to use them without poking anymore. If you aren’t sure your child is old enough to use scissors, then you can cut the wrapping paper for them and let them help with taping it to the gift packages.
- Gift age-appropriate toys: Every child deserves a fun and safe gift. But if you give a gift to a child that is above the manufacturer's suggested age range, there could be trouble. For example, the choking hazards must be taken seriously. If a toy has small parts or could be broken into smaller pieces, then it should not be given to a young child. Be mindful of removable batteries in some toys, too. Always inspect a toy carefully before gifting it to a child or teen.
- Travel safely: Traffic can get hectic during the winter holiday season, so be prepared to leave early for flights and train rides. The more time you buy yourself to get to the airport or depot, the better. Pay attention to and follow any special instructions related to coronavirus precautions, too.
We hope these safety tips help keep you and your family safe during the winter holiday season. Here’s to a merry Christmas, happy Hannukah, and warm times for any other holiday you celebrate!