HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS

By Connie Hogue, Vice President of Human Resources & Safety

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year when families and friends gather to enjoy quality time and participate in festive activities, such as decorating the home, baking cookies, cooking delicious holiday meals and exchanging gifts. Holidays bring joy, peace and merriment, but they can also bring thoughts of stress and worry. These emotions are normal because you want to keep your family safe and happy. Follow these safety tips to give yourself more peace of mind before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

DECORATING SAFETY

Decorating your home can be fun, but it requires a lot of time and effort. First, you need to tidy things up around your home. Then, you need to haul your festive décor out of your basement or garage and place it in an aesthetically pleasing way. To avoid exhaustion and hazards to your well-being, consider these tips.

• Always bend with your knees before lifting heavy boxes.

• Before hanging your LED lights on your home, check for any broken bulbs or frayed wires. If you notice any, throw them out and get a new strand of lights.

• Before climbing, ensure you have the correct-sized ladder, which should be sturdy and in good condition. Always place ladders on flat ground.

• If you get a real tree, place it at least three feet away from any heat sources like fireplaces, radiators and space heaters, and water it often.

• If you have an artificial tree, ensure it has a fire-resistant label on the box or the tag.

• Do not place fragile or glass ornaments on the tree's lower branches.

COOKING SAFETY

No holiday is complete without family and friends gathering around the dinner table to enjoy a delicious meal. Unfortunately, fires can happen quickly in the kitchen, especially when you are on a time crunch and distracted by the people around you.

Here are six ways to prevent fires in the kitchen.

1. Make sure your smoke alarm is working correctly.

2. Keep a fire extinguisher (Class K) nearby.

3. Tie up your hair and wear short sleeves.

4. Keep recipe books, oven mitts, hand towels and utensils away from the stove.

5. Make sure someone is always in the kitchen to monitor the food.

6. After cooking, turn off the oven and stovetop, and unplug any mixers.

GIFTING SAFETY

Receiving gifts is nice, but giving gifts is even better. However, thousands of kids are injured due to toy-related accidents every year. Consider these safety tips when planning your gift-giving.

• Purchase toys that have appropriate age ranges listed on the front of the box.

• Children under three should not be given toys with small, removable pieces since it is a choking hazard.

• Be wary of toys that require batteries. If a child accidentally swallows a battery, it could result in severe injury or death.

• If you get a child an electric ride-on car, such as a motorcycle, jeep, quad or four-wheeler, provide them with safety gear. Children should never be left unsupervised with electric ride-on cars.

CHILDREN & PET SAFETY

This time of year can be dangerous for your children and pets. They should be closely monitored during the holidays. Protect your children and pets from safety hazards with these four tips.

• Keep decorations out of reach.

• Do not leave them alone in the kitchen.

• Never leave them unattended near open flames.

• Keep them away from the Christmas tree.

Share these tips with others – and always remember to keep safety at the forefront of your mind. From all of us at The Energy Cooperative, we wish you and your family a very Happy Holiday season.