The entire legal team at Flaxman Law Group wish you and your loved ones a safe and wonderful holiday season. Our team also wants to pass along some of our best holiday safety tips to reduce your risk of injuries.
During this time of year, busy schedules, decorations, and even consumer goods can all pose a risk. Fire hazards, choking hazards, and other dangers can affect your family, but you can also use this time to take steps to stay a little safer all year long. Here’s how:
- Check your smoke detectors and fire escape plan. Enjoy better safety all year long by reviewing (or creating!) your emergency escape plan and by checking your smoke detectors. If you have battery-powered versions, consider wired smoke detectors. Review where the devices are placed and purchase additional smoke detectors if you need to. Buy and install a carbon monoxide detector if you don’t have one.
- Prepare your car for safe travel. Your car gets more use at this time of year, with holiday preparations and travel. Make sure it’s up for the task by getting a full tune-up. In addition, pack a roadside kit and first aid kit so you’re prepared in case you do run into any problems.
- Celebrate safely. When decorating your home, consider your household. If you have pets or small children, avoid small decorative items or decorations with small parts that can be swallowed. Hang decorations high, well out of the way of little hands and paws. If you have children or pets, reconsider holiday plants which may be toxic. Leaves can easily fall and get eaten by a curious youngster or pet. No matter who is in your household, check lights and electronic decorations regularly for wear and tear and recalls; replace or remove any items not in good shape, since they can be a fire hazard. Always opt for flame-less lights over candles.
- Get smart about consumer goods. Get on a recall alert list so you can learn about any gifts which end up on the recall list. If you’re giving gifts to kids, be especially vigilant about buying age-appropriate gifts and check safety ratings created by children’s organizations and groups at this time of year. Even toys that don’t end up recalled may have sharper edges or other unsafe features. When you get gifts, especially appliances and electronics, be sure to register with the manufacturer so you are alerted in case of a recall; it can keep you safe throughout the months to come.
- Talk to your family about safety. As families get together, the holidays are a good time to talk safety. Make sure elderly loved ones are safe in their nursing home or have the support they need at home if they live independently. Talk to your household about your own home. Do you need grab bars, no-slip treads in your hallways, or other safety upgrades to keep everyone safe? Do you need to child-proof your home if you have young children visiting the holidays? If you have teenagers, consider whether this is a good time to invest in defensive driving classes so they are prepared to be safe on the roads.
If you are injured despite your efforts, you can always call Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) to arrange a free accident consultation with a Homestead personal injury attorney about your options.