General Christmas Safety Tips

Christmas is a time when your home is likely to be full of people and it is in the excitement of the season that accidents can easily happen. Follow these general simple safety tips to help prevent accidents:

·         Make sure you buy children's gifts for the correct age group and from reputable sources that comply with standards (e.g. The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011).

·         Look out for small items that could pose a choking hazard to young children, including parts that have fallen off toys or from Christmas trees,button batteries and burst balloons.

·         Give yourself enough time to prepare and cook Christmas dinner to avoid hot fat, boiling water or sharp knife accidents that come from rushing.

·         Falls are the most common accidents so try to keep clutter to a minimum. Make sure stairs are well-lit and free from obstacles, especially if you have guests.

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

·         Do not drink and drive!

10 Commandments Of Workplace Safety

1. Always be responsible for the safety of yourself and others.

2. Always remember all accidents are preventable.

3. Always follow company rules, regulations and procedures.

4. Always assess the risks, Stop and think.

5. Always be proactive about safety.

6. Always deter from situations you’re not trained to handle.

7. Always manage the lift.

8. Always Be prepared.

9. Always take the safest path, never take shortcuts.
10. Always practice good housekeeping.

Christmas Tree Safety Tips

Tree lights

• Only use indoor lights indoors (and outdoor lights only outdoors). Look for the UL label. Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Replace or repair any damaged light sets.

• Also, use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord. Extension cords should be placed against the wall to avoid tripping hazards, but do not run cords under rugs.

• Turn off all lights on trees and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.

Tree ornaments

• Always use the proper step stool or ladder to reach high places.

• Read labels before you use materials that come in jars, cans and spray cans.

• Never place lighted candles on a tree or near any flammable materials.

• Avoid placing breakable tree ornaments or ones with small, detachable parts on lower branches where small children or pets can reach them.

• Do not hang popcorn chains and candy canes on the tree when small children are present. They may think that other tree ornaments are also edible.

Halloween Safety Tips

Safety Tips for Motorists

• All motorists need to be especially alert and cautious when driving on Halloween because of the high number of pedestrians walking the streets.
• Watch for children darting out from between parked cars.
• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs

Trick-or-Treating

• Most importantly, all children under the age of 12 should be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult, but before trick-or-treating, parents should:
• Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home.
• Teach your children to never enter a stranger’s home.
• Agree on a specific time for your children to come home.

Costumes

• When making or purchasing Halloween costumes, follow these safety precautions to ensure your children remain safe while looking great:
• All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant.
• Masks can limit or block eyesight, so consider non-toxic makeup or decorative hats as safer alternatives.
• Children should only wear well-fitting costumes and shoes to avoid trips and falls.

Fireworks Safety for Upcoming Holiday Celebrations

• Always purchase fireworks from a reliable source.
• Use fireworks as directed on consumer product safety label; never alter products.
• Observe local laws and use good COMMON SENSE.
• Have a designated shooter to organize and shoot your family show.
• A responsible ADULT should supervise all firework activities.
• Parents should not allow young children to handle or use fireworks.
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix.   Save your alcohol for after the show.
• Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area; AWAY from buildings and vehicles.
• NEVER carry fireworks in your POCKET.
• Wear safety glasses whenever using fireworks.
• Always have water ready if you are shooting fireworks.

Flash Flood Safety Rules

• Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc.
• Avoid already flooded and high velocity flow areas. Do not try to cross a flowing stream on foot where water is above your knees.
• If driving, know the depth of the water in a dip before crossing. The road bed may not be intact under the water.
• If the vehicle stalls, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground. Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and its occupants and sweep them away.
• Be cautious especially at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
• During any flood emergency, stay tuned to your weather radio, commercial radio, or television. Information from the national weather service and disaster and emergency services may save your life.

Social Media Safety

Be careful what information you share on social media. Specifically, do not publicly post check-ins to distant locales or respond to invitations to future events that involve all residents of your home – you may be letting the entire world know that your home will be empty and a prime target for robbery, or that you will arrive home late at night and, therefore, will be a good target for attack. Posting information about your children’s schedules in a manner that is world-readable may also increase the chances that they will be targeted by people with bad intentions.

Always be prepared for the unexpected

Never, ever be so humble as to think that something cannot happen to you. There are simple things you can do to prepare for unfortunate events. For example, keep your cell phone charged and always have some credits available for an emergency call when needed. Keep some spare money in a hidden place (in your car?), in case you are robbed or lose your wallet. Program emergency phone numbers into your phone, because when you’re in shock or in a panic, you will not always be able to think straight.All phone calls distract drivers' attention from the road. What do you all think?

Home Safety Tips

• Whether you are buying, building or just remodeling your home make sure to select roofing that is fire resistant.
• If possible, install a locked mailbox at your home and never put outgoing mail containing personal information in an unsecured out-box or in your mailbox for pick up.
• To help prevent tipping off burglars, if you plan to be away from home for an extended period of time, set your phone ringer to the lowest volume.
• It is recommended to have interconnected smoke alarms. These alarms are linked together; if one alarm is triggered they all go off.
•  Never attempt to charge non-rechargeable batteries. Attempting to recharge non-rechargeable batteries could cause the batteries to explode.

How to Use Fire Extinguishers Correctly: Think P.A.S.S.

To use a fire extinguisher correctly, experts say that one should remember the acronym 

P.A.S.S.

P: Pull the pin.

A: Aim at the base of the fire.

S: Squeeze the trigger.

S: Sweep side to side.

The most important lesson of all is when not to try using an extinguisher. The devices are only meant for small fires in their very beginning stages. Anything bigger and you should get out while you can and call the Fire Service.