Are you ready for the holiday season? Most people think of the holidays in terms of family get-togethers, celebratory parties, festive lights, and loving gift exchanges. However, many of us don’t realize how truly dangerous this season can be. Between wet, icy weather and flammable décor, the winter holidays can be quite hazardous if you aren’t careful. Luckily, there are several things you can do to keep yourself, and your family, safe.
Stay safe this holiday season with these invaluable tips:
1. Decorate with Care
Not all holiday decorations are as harmless as they may seem, and Christmas lights are perhaps the worst of them all. Hanging Christmas lights can be extremely dangerous, especially if you have a two-story house, or if you decorate during windy, wet, or icy conditions. To prevent a slip and fall accident, make sure you always use a secure ladder, employ the help of a handy friend, and use safety equipment.
2. Drink Responsibly
DUI accidents spike around holidays, especially around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. Holiday parties can be a great place to enjoy a glass of champagne or a gold beer with friends and family, but always remember to choose a designated driver if you’ll be drinking, or employ a rideshare service to ensure you get home safely.
3. Practice Fire Safety
In the pursuit of a warm, comforting atmosphere, many holiday-enthusiasts chose to bedeck their home with wintery candles, menorahs, Christmas lights, and other potential fire hazards. Make sure you don’t spark any unwanted flames this season and place all flammable décor away from curtains, greenery, towels, or other flammable materials. And, if you keep a Christmas tree, make sure you keep the tree healthy and well-watered—dry trees are extremely flammable and could become hazardous next to hot string lights.
4. Tread Carefully Outdoors
Outdoor accidents are extremely common in the winter months, especially in areas where ice and snow are an everyday occurrence. Stay safe by treading carefully on icy sidewalks, utilizing handrails, and wearing appropriate footwear. Also, remember to drive more cautiously on winter roads—black ice can be very dangerous and difficult to spot, if you aren’t careful.
5. Educate Your Children
Even if you’re practicing each of these safety tips, you could still find yourself facing a holiday emergency if you don’t enforce it throughout your household. Kids have notoriously curious minds and quick feet, and what you see as a dangerous candle or a sharp ornament could easily become an exciting new toy if you aren’t careful. To ensure they stay out of harm’s way this season, make sure you set boundaries and educate them as the cold sweeps in and new holiday decorations adorn your home.
Nobody wants to visit the Emergency Room over the holidays, so make sure you do your part to avoid any hazardous situations that could lead to a serious injury. Unfortunately, sometimes accidents do happen, despite the additional precautions we take to protect ourselves. If you do find yourself injured due to someone else’s mistake or negligence, know that you do have legal options.
Our personal injury attorney and legal team can help you seek compensation for a serious holiday injury. Contact the Law Offices of Charles R. Gueli today to discuss your potential case with our firm.