Lost?
Use the
 |
|
|
Off-the-job holiday
safety reminders from the National Safety Council
|
Electrical Safety
| Fire Safety |
Driving Safety |
Food and Cooking Safety
| Play Safety |
Slips, Trips, and Falls
Prevention |
| |
|
Electrical Safety |
| |
1.
Don't override ground fault circuits.
2. Use extension cords safely -- avoid creating
tripping hazards & keep them inaccessible to toddlers
3. Use no more than one extension cord per outlet.
4. Grasp the plug, not the cord, when removing
electrical plugs from outlets.
5. Do not exceed the wattage recommendation in light
fixtures, over-heating may occur.
6. Have damaged cords on electrical appliances
(vacuums, mixers, sanders, etc.) replaced to avoid
shocks, electricians and fires. |
| |
|
Fire Safety |
| |
1.
Install and/or check smoke and carbon monoxide
detectors and their batteries.
2. Have your chimney's) professionally cleaned and
inspected annually.
3. Use adequate screening and other barriers to keep
ignited materials in the fireplace and children/pets
out.
4. Do not use indoor fires to burn trash/rubbish such
as wrapping paper, gift containers, etc.
5. Dispose of burnt/charred wood, charcoal, ashes,
etc. in non-flammable containers to a secure outside
location; do not use flammable containers such as
cardboard boxes nor inappropriate storage areas such
as wood decks/balconies and attached garages.
6. Space heaters need to be kept away from flammable
materials such as drapes and upholstered furniture.
Follow manufacturer's recommendations regarding
ventilation; a slightly opened window or other source
of fresh air may be necessary for safe operation. In
general, newer units offer important safety features
such as guards that help prevent burns to children and
pets, as well as an automatic shut off, in the event
that the unit is knocked over. If possible, older
units should be replaced with newer models offering
these, and other, important safety features.
7. Both show and tell overnight guests about your
home's emergency evacuation plan. |
| |
|
Driving Safety |
| |
1.
Keep vehicles in good repair with scheduled, periodic
maintenance. Keep an adequate supply of motor oil,
wind shield washer fluid, anti-freeze, and/or other
supplies safely and conveniently stored. Make minor
maintenance checks, such as checking tire pressure and
head light positions, a habit.
2. Remember the importance of both seeing and being
seen. Turn on your headlights in low light conditions
due to time of day and weather conditions, for
yourself as well as other drivers and
pedestrians/cyclists.
3. Fatigue, as well as alcohol and prescription/OTC
drugs, can impair driving ability; make other, safer
arrangements before, or when, your driving is
impaired.
4. Before you start out, especially for a new or
seldom set location, both confirm and bring with
driving directions; give yourself extra travel time to
allow for poor traffic, road and weather conditions.
5. Help yourself stay focused on your driving
responsibilities; pull off the road when using
cell/portable phones; keep music and conversation to a
reasonable level -- drivers need to be able to hear
surrounding traffic, their own vehicle, and road
surface-related noises to make informed driving
decisions. |
| |
|
Food and Cooking Safety |
| |
1.
Maintain appropriate food temperatures when
transporting, storing and cooking all foods. In
general, keep cold foods cold/cool and hot foods
hot/warm. Follow processor's directions, especially
for thawing and cooking frozen foods.
2. Clean all utensils, preparation surfaces,
containers, and hands before and after the preparation
of raw fish, poultry and meat. Consider using
disposable cutting mats and paper towels as well as an
anti-bacterial dish detergent. Don't overlook the
sanitation of cleaning cloths and sponges; clean them
frequently with hot water and detergent by hand or in
dish and/or clothes washer.
3. To help prevent burns: |
|
- don't use excessive heat to
cook foods; over-heated, spattering grease/oil is a
burn hazard; burning food can lead to a kitchen
fire.
- Use spatter screens & lids
when pan frying, and appropriate sized, long-handled
stirring spoons, serving forks, etc. when handling
large and/or heavy pieces of hot food.
- Use pot holders and/or oven
mitts of appropriate size and thickness; keep a few
stored within easy reach of the stove top and oven(s)
but away from heat sources and microwave vents.
- And open micro-waved
containers with care and start with the side
furthest away from your face.
|
| |
4. In
the event of a kitchen fire, suffocate it with a
pan/pot lid or by closing the oven/broiler door.
5. Help mitigate cooking-related injuries -- keep
young children and pets safely out the working area;
use only appropriate and well-maintained tools-- dull
knives can result in bad cuts, dish towels don't work
as well as pot holders, covers made for microwave use
will not melt to food and food containers.
6. Upon completion of cooking, completely remove all
stuffing from turkey/chicken, etc. Place in clean
container for serving; frigate immediately after meal.
7. If in doubt about a food's safety, discard it.
8. Keep trash/garbage inaccessible to curious young
children and pets -- cigarette butts, chicken bones,
discarded prescription and over the counter medicines,
cleaning products, alcohol containers, etc. can prove
deadly. |
| |
|
Play Safety |
| |
1.
Toys intended for older children, especially those
that shoot projectiles or have small parts that pose a
chocking hazard or that can be inserted on ears or
nose, should be used and stored safely away from
babies, small children and pets.
2. Follow guidelines published by the Consumer Product
Safety Commission and manufacturers when selecting
toys for purchase and play; age-appropriate refers to
the child's age, not their intelligence.
3. Hosts should make arrangements to prevent access,
by both their own children and visitors, to medicines
in cabinets/purses/drawers, water hazards including
pools/ponds/spas, traffic dangers in driveways and
parking areas, and areas/structures containing
potentially dangerous tools and chemicals. Set aside
or define a space/area in which children can safely
play; inform both adults and children.
4. Pets should also have their own safe place, one
that is inaccessible to visitors; open doors,
inappropriate treats, over-vigorous handling, and
unguarded trash can all pose a serious threat to pets. |
| |
|
Slips, Trips, and Fall Prevention |
| |
1.
Don't allow clutter to accumulate into a tripping
hazard on stairs, in walkways, etc. Clean up spilled
food and beverages immediately.
2. Help prevent miss-steps, slips and slides;
adequately light steps and walkways, install handrails
at an appropriate height, make use of night-lights,
place boot scrapers and door mats at entries; apply
non-slip adhesive strips, sprays, paints, etc.
3. Wood floors and other smooth finishes can pose a
slipping hazard to those in stockings; slippers with
non-slip soles are safer.
4. Well-practiced posture, balance, and muscle -tone
play a vital role in avoiding both falls and fear of
falls. Those who take appropriate exercise, on a
regular basis multiple times each week, strengthen
both their physical and mental conditioning.
5. Area rugs should be secured to prevent their
bunching, slipping, and end-flipping. Don't place area
rugs over electrical cords; walking on cords can
damage their insulated covering and create a fire
hazard.
6. Make use of non-corrosive ice/snow melt products
for walks and driveways. |
|
|
|
|
