Christmas is a fun time of year, and a great holiday, but it can also pose several different safety risks. The following are a few of the Christmas safety tips:
1. Tree safety: the Christmas tree can be a real hazard if you are not careful, and especially if you have small children. The following are a few of the things you need to do to have Christmas tree safety.
a. No real flames. It used to be common to put lighted candles on a tree. This is a real hazard, so if you want to put candles on the tree, make them electric, not with real flames, and they can cause house fires to start easily.
b. Don’t leave the tree on when not home. If you are not home, do not leave your Christmas tree lights on. Electrical fires are not uncommon, and Christmas tree lights can have shorts and problems. So, only have your lights on when you are home to monitor their effects.
c. Keep well watered if live. If you choose to have a real Christmas tree instead of one of those fake plastic ones, then you better keep it well watered. Dry Christmas trees are basically firewood, and can catch easily, so protect your home from fire by using a fake tree, or keeping a live one well hydrated.
d. Make sure it can’t be pulled down easily. A small child can be quickly injured if your tree is not stable, and falls on them. Tree limbs can impale a child. So, make sure the stand is stable, and that your children know to stay away from it.
e. Keep breakable ornaments up high. Breakable ornaments, like glass ones can cut people’s feet, hands, etc. if a child breaks them.
2. Shopping safety: Shopping during the Christmas season is not just frustrating when you face crowds of people in stress, it can also be dangerous. This is especially true if you are shopping with small children. Here are a few tips.
a. Hold hands with small children. Children are easily distracted by pretty things, carolers, window displays, etc. so to make sure they do not get lost in a mall full of people, hang on to them, or strap them into a stroller that you won’t let go of.
b. Don’t use cash. One of the risks during Christmas shopping is pick pockets. Desperate people who want to have a Christmas for their families, will steal from others who aren’t paying attention. Minimize your losses by having credit card numbers and contact info on hand in case your card gets stolen, and don’t carry cash as it can’t be recovered.
c. Watch for cars in parking lots. Parking lots are often slippery with snow, and this can mean skidding cars, and hit pedestrians. Pay attention as it will protect you.
d. Consider shopping early or online. Avoid these risks by going shopping early, or by shopping online.
e. Watch for wet floors. Snow tracked in to the malls and stores can lead to slippery floors, so wear shoes with traction, and walk carefully.
3. Party safety:
a. Designate drivers or call a cab if you intend to drink.
b. Make sure food is properly refrigerated. Food poisoning from shellfish that are improperly refrigerated, or something with mayo that sat out too long, etc. is common. So, eat carefully.
c. Check that all guests are invited. Party crashers are common, and while this can be harmless, it could also be a problem as, if the guests are unknown, a missing child might be hard to find.
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to