Seasonal Safety: Treacherous Trees &
More!
 Don't
trip over the tinsel! It's important to be safe but unneccessary to be
paranoid about Christmas safety. Your common sense is sufficient to see
you through.
About 80,000 people will go to hospital in a
Christmas-related accident this year but if you take a few precautions,
you won't be one of them.
 Don't
fear the fir
Christmas trees are responsible for around 1,000 accidents a year,
according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Most casualties
are down to a wobbly stepladder or a poke in the eye from a sharp branch,
but beware of fire hazards too. Make sure you check your fairy lights
every year before using them and, even if you're tempted by the idea of
an authentic Victorian Christmas, never use candles on a tree.
Toddlers have problems distinguishing glass baubles
from sweets so edible decorations are best avoided until your children
are old enough to tell the difference.
Present tense
Before you buy a bargain, make sure it's safe. Don't buy unlabelled toys, make sure toys conform to British Safety standards, and are suitable for the age of your child. Don't be afraid to (discretely) check that gifts from friends and grandparents are safe.
If you're buying your child a bike this Christmas, make sure you buy a cycle helmet too. And if they're going to be riding after dark, cycle lights and reflectors are a must, as are reflective or fluorescent clothing or accessories, to enable them to be seen clearly on the roads.
All the festive paraphernalia of candles, cards, decorations and wrapping paper can be a fire risk so dispose of wrapping paper and packaging as soon as you can. Throw it in the bin (or better, still recycle it) rather than burn it on an open fire.
Gift wrapping, like bags, paper, ribbons and bows, or burst balloons, can pose a choking hazard for under-threes.
Christmas candles
Candle safety is common sense but sticking to these six tips will help ensure nobody gets their fingers burned - or worse:
- Keep candles away from anything flammable (such as curtains, decorations), put them on a heat resistant surface, and keep them out of draughts. Remember that your plastic television is not a fire-resistant object.
- Don't put candles under shelves. Ensure there's at lease one metre (three feet) between a candle and any surface above it.
- Candles need to be held firmly upright. Put them in a proper, sturdy holder, and don't be tempted to improvise one out of a foil mince pie case or similar.
- Leave at least 10 cm (four inches) between two burning candles. Don't move burning candles.
- Always extinguish candles at bedtime and make sure they're completely out. Tired? Don't light candles at all if there's any chance you might fall asleep while they are still burning.
- Check your smoke detectors and make sure you have a spare set of batteries. If you haven't got a smoke detector, now's the time to buy one.
Although pine trees are non-toxic, mistletoe
and holly are poisonous. If you can't bear the thought of plastic foliage,
hang greenery well out of reach of children and beware of berries falling
on the floor.
On
the road
Be especially careful when driving during the festive season. Along
with the increased dangers of ice and snow, bear in mind the risks of
drink-driving. Other motorists won't necessarily be as sober as you are
and, even if they are, a tired teetotaller might not be alert enough to
avoid an accident.
Don't be tempted to overload your car, either
with gifts or extra passengers, and always make sure there are enough
seatbelts or car seats for everyone.
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