Safety Tips for New Years Eve
Every year the New Year’s bashes are becoming bigger and bigger. Organizers are innovating to the hilt to pull in the crowds. The crowd itself is getting increasingly eclectic because the travel is often included in the party charges. People from all over the world converge onto places like New York, Australia and Bali for New Year’s Eve. Amongst all the fun and noise it is important to ensure that the proceedings are engulfed in a net of safety. New Year’s Eve is a night that is ripe for the occurrence of any untoward event. It should not only be left to the law to take care that nothing bad happens. There are a host of safety measures that people can take for their own good on the big night.

The common sense tactics include not drinking and driving. A driver has to be designated before having that first drink. Public transport is another safe option. If traveling in the back of a cab sounds unappealing then spend the night at the friends place. If you are the host of the party please ensure that non alcoholic drinks are also served. A close friend could become a drunken lout; have the strength to refuse him/her a drink if he/she is finding it difficult to keep their emotions in check. A pet at home could be a problem because pets can easily get scared with the fireworks and large crowd. If enough pre – planning is done the pet can be desensitized to sound but if that is not possible the pet can be reassured by the tone of the owner’s voice time and again. Make sure that your pet has ID tags with current information on them, and that they are safely secured both before and through the holiday period. Candles, kids and pets don’t mix. Keep them away from each other.

The onus of a safe party lies with the host. The host should know a few things about the liquor that is being served. Beer and wine are just as intoxicating as hard liquor. A 12-ounce can of beer, a five-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce wine cooler and an ounce and a half of liquor contain the same amount of alcohol. Mixers won’t help dilute alcohol. Carbonated mixers like club soda or tonic water cause alcohol to be absorbed into a person’s system more quickly. Fruit juice and other sweet mixers mask the taste of alcohol and may cause people to drink more. Fatty food provided with the alcohol will help because it will create a lining around the stomach that will prevent the alcohol from getting inside. This will ensure that the drinker is not overly dehydrated. There is a tendency to rely on someone’s physical appearance to determine his/her state of drunkenness, this must be avoided at all costs.

Lighting fireworks can create the desired visual and psychological effect but water must be kept at hand t all times. There is a temptation to ignore this because it will be snowing and a snowball can douse a firework gone awry. Snow is not the same thing as water! Have your chimney checked each year. Install a carbon monoxide detector. Fireplace ashes should be disposed of in a metal container with a tight fitting lid not in paper sacks, cardboard boxes or plastic trashcans. Seventy percent of all home fire fatalities occur in homes where there are no smoke alarms or alarms that work. Nearly one quarter of home smoke alarms are not working. Buy special smoke alarms for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. Develop an exit plan with the whole family. If New Year’s is going to be spent with work place colleagues then Hire a shuttle or limousine service to provide transportation for those that have been drinking. If you provide an open bar, be sure the bartender has had server training to prevent over-serving and serving guests under the legal drinking age. Do not push drinks and don’t let anyone else do so either.

If boating is the preferred mode of celebration on New Year’s Eve then enjoy the fire in the sky by keeping it safe. Make the most of your boating experience this New Year’s Eve by being prepared and safe. If you’re on the water, ensure a life jacket is available for each person on board. Do a thorough check of the boats safety gear. Switch on your navigation lights. If you are the master of the vessel then drink very judiciously. Don’t set off flares. It’s illegal and dangerous. Be patient at the end of the midnight fireworks. Event organizers need to check all fireworks have exploded before traffic can be allowed under the bridge.

SOURCE: www.buzzle.com
By Anish Chandy

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The holidays should be a magical time for children. Yet each year, hospital emergency rooms treat about 8700 people for injuries, such as falls, cuts and shocks, related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees.
In addition, Christmas trees are involved in about 400 fires annually, resulting in 20 deaths, 70 injuries and an average of more than $15 million in property loss and damage. Young children are particularly at risk for injury from sharp objects, such as glass ornaments, or from well-intentioned gifts of toys that are not appropriate to their age.

Keep the season merry with this list of safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Safer Trees and Decorations
When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant.” Although this label does not mean the tree won’t catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.

When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.

When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.

Use only noncombustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.

Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use nonflammable holders and place candles out of children’s reach.

Take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food, which may tempt a child to eat them.

Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass “angel hair.” Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial-snow sprays.

Bright Ideas for Lights
Indoors or outside, always use lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory that indicates conformance with safety standards.

Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.

Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.

Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.

Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.

Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).

Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks.

Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

Friendlier Fireplaces
Use care with “fire salts,” which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.

Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result, as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that the flue is open.
Trouble-Free Toys
Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully. If the toy is appropriate for your child, show him how to use it properly.

Follow recommended age ranges on toy packages. Toys that are too advanced could pose a safety hazard for younger children.

To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.

Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.

Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.

Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.

Outdoor Play
Make sure your child’s gloves and shoes stay dry. If either becomes wet, change your child into a dry pair.

Sledding on or into the roadway should be prohibited. Look for shallow slopes that are free of obstacles, such as trees and fences.

Most skiing and skating injuries involve twists, sprains and strains. Prevent injuries by providing your child with competent instruction, proper equipment and appropriate supervision.

Happy Visiting
Clean up immediately after a holiday party. A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.

Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots.

Keep a laminated list with all of the important phone numbers you or a baby-sitter are likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, your pediatrician and the national Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222.

Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child’s stress levels. Trying to stick to your child’s usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce stress.

Food Safety
Bacteria are often present in raw foods. Fully cook meats and poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits.

Be sure to keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily knocked over by a young child’s exploring hands.

Wash your hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same.

Never put a spoon used to taste food back into food without washing it.

Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separate, and use separate utensils when preparing them.

Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, never on the countertop.

Foods that require refrigeration should never be left at room temperature for more than two hours.

SOURCE: From the American Academy of Pediatrics

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Halloween Safety Tips for Your Pets
Halloween can be potentially dangerous to pets. We offer the following safety tips:

All but the most outgoing dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat hours. Loud strangers in costumes can be scary and stressful.
When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, make sure your cat or dog doesn’t dart out. All your pets should be wearing current identification, just in case.
Keep all candy out of your pet’s reach. Chocolate can be toxic — even in small amounts — and foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous or deadly if swallowed.
Do not place lit pumpkins or candles where your animals can reach them. Pets can risk getting burned.
Do not leave your pet in the yard on Halloween night or the night before Halloween. Occasionally, vicious pranksters tease, harm, steal and even kill pets.
It is especially important to keep your cat inside for several days before and after Halloween. Black cats in particular may be the target of pranks or other cruel acts.
Don’t dress your dogs or cats in costumes unless you know they enjoy it. If you decide to do so, make sure the costume is safe and does not restrict the animal’s movement, sight, hearing or ability to breathe or bark. Avoid costumes with dangling accessories that could cause choking. Make sure an adult supervises pets in costume at all times.
Follow these safety guidelines to have a wonderful Halloween with your pets!

Source: Horse.com

handrails on both sides of stairs

Falls Prevention
From the homesafetycouncil.org

According to The State of Home Safety in America™ (2004) conducted by the Home Safety Council, falls are by far the leading cause of unintentional home injury death. Falls account for an average of 5.1 million injuries and nearly 6,000 deaths each year. Walk through your home to identify and remedy potential fall hazards. What to look for:

Home Safety Prevent Falls
HANDRAILS

Have handrails on both sides of stairs and steps. Make sure handrails go from the top to the bottom of stairs.

Safely Light Stairs

STAIRS
Have lots of lights at the top and bottom of the stairs.

Keep the stairs clear of all trip hazards.

Keep stairs safe and clear

Photos Courtesy of Jake Pauls

Click here for More info from the Home Safety Council