Ten Tips For A Healthy Holiday - Part Two

Part Two - Home Safety

Certainly snowy roads and enebriated drivers pose a threat during the holiday season, but hazards in the home deserve attention as well. Keep in mind these home safety tips as you enjoy the season.

2. Check your carbon monoxide detector Roughly 70 percent of non-fire related, unintentional deaths from carbon monoxide are related to home heating systems. Good ventilation is important, but there is no substitute for continuous monitoring. Early warning signs of exposure can mimic colds or the flu, illnesses common at this time of year - when we also rely more on warmth from fossil fuels. When you visit loved ones this season, check to make sure their carbon monoxide detectors are working as well - it could be the best gift you share!

3. Practice fire safety Each year, fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined. The cool weather combined with candles and Christmas trees make this time of year particularly dangerous. Overall, 74 percent of house fires are caused by some form of alternative heating, such as space heaters, wood burning stoves, and fireplaces. In 2005, 200 house fires were started by Christmas trees resulting in 24 fatalities and 27 injuries.

Tips for enjoying the season while lowering the risk:

- Make sure your smoke alarms are in good working condition, and change them if needed.

- Keep all items, especially flammable objects like bedding, away from alternative heating sources - Never leave burning candles unattended .

- Keep your Christmas tree well watered and remove it from the house if too dry.

- Carefully inspect electrical lights you place on your tree and around your home (nearly half of tree fires are started by shorts in electical lights)

- Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

- Periodically review what to do in case of a fire with your family.

4. Keep an eye on your children The careful child-proofing we do most of the year to make sure our homes are safe for our children, tends to give way during the holiday season - as we make way for lights and decorations. This, combined with the distraction of baking and wrapping, can be a set up for disaster. Take a moment to get down on the floor and "think" like a child. What dangers are tempting? Then, make sure the distractions don't interfere with a watchful eye. If you can't do it all - ask for help!

Coming next, food safety.

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