Lights, presents, parties: the holidays are a time to reconnect with family and friends, but they also can present unique safety hazards. Keep your home safe with our tips to help lay the foundation for a peaceful holiday season.

Holidays on The Road:

  • The roads are a lot busier during the holidays. It’s essential to keep an eye out for distracted pedestrians and drivers, especially when backing out of parking spaces.
  • Commit to keeping your phone away while driving. No text is worth the risk.
  • Have a designated driver if you will be drinking alcohol. The consequences of drunk driving are not worth the risk and can result in jail time.
  • Buckle up every time you’re in the car, whether it’s a road trip to visit family or a quick trip to the mall.
  • Check your car seat before holiday travel. 73% of car seats are installed improperly or used incorrectly, so it’s best to check your child’s before you hit the road.

Home for the Holidays: 

Food Safety

For many, the holidays often mean having family and friends together for dinner. The tips below will help with safer meal preparation and serving:

  • Clean, separate, cook, and chill food to help prevent foodborne illnesses.
  • Create a kid-free zone by teaching younger children to stay at least 3 feet away from the area you’ll be cooking.
  • Keep hot foods or liquids out of reach of children and pets.

Fire Prevention & Decorating Precautions

  • Water live trees daily. When the tree’s needles are dry, they can catch fire easily.
  • Turn off any decorative lights before leaving the house or going to sleep. Regularly check lights for exposed wires and loose connections.
  • Keep candles and matches out of reach. Candles should be 12″ away from anything flammable, and always blow them out before leaving the room or going to sleep.
  • Ensure all smoke alarms are working on every level of your home, including inside bedrooms. Create a fire escape plan with family members and review it with guests.
  • Keep harmful plants out of reach. Holiday plants, including mistletoe and holly berries, are poisonous to children and pets. In a poison emergency, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Give the Gift of Safety

  • Read any instructions and warning labels before purchasing toys for children. Make sure the gift is appropriate for the child’s age and development.
  • Toys for older children may contain small pieces that can pose a risk to curious, younger siblings. Separate toys by age, if possible.
  • When a product is recalled, manufacturers infrequently advertise the recall to warn parents. Always check toy recalls before purchasing a gift.

COVID Precautions:

The holidays bring opportunities to celebrate family traditions and meaningful moments with loved ones. Experts agree that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic means our typical holiday gatherings will look quite different this year. Follow the tips below to protect you, your family, friends, and your community from COVID-19.

Holiday Shopping

  • Stay home and quarantine if you have tested positive, are waiting on test results, or have symptoms of COVID.
  • Consider purchasing gifts online rather than visiting stores in person.
  • If you plan to holiday shop in person, check COVID-19 activity in your community on the Arizona Department of Health Services website.
  • Use social distancing by staying 6 feet away from others when shopping. Always wear a mask in public and while you’re around people who don’t live in your home.
  • Apply hand sanitizer after leaving every store.
  • Wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap and water for 20 seconds when you get home.

Be a Responsible Host

If you plan to have guests in your home, as the host, you should communicate about what is expected ahead of time. Here are some tips:

  • Consider the health of those in your household and guests visiting. This includes the elderly and individuals with medical conditions that put them at higher risk.
  • Designate a room in your house where an individual can isolate if they develop symptoms or test positive while visiting.
  • Remind your guests of the importance of wearing a mask and social distancing.
  • Ensure that soap and sanitizer are readily available, and wipe down frequently touched surfaces with sanitizing wipes or cleaner.

Holiday Dinner

  • If possible, in-person events and activities should be held outdoors.
  • Avoid shopping for holiday meals in person by purchasing groceries online.
  • Consider single-use disposable utensils and dishware.
  • Encourage guests to wear a mask except while eating and maintain 6 feet of distance.
  • Wash and disinfect guest areas before and after holiday gatherings.

Make Holiday Safety a Tradition

The holiday season is a festive time of year filled with traditions and family gatherings. At Zanes Law, we want you to have a happy and safe holiday season. If you or a loved one suffers an injury during this time, we want to help. Give us a call at (833) 648-3699 for a free consultation or fill out our contact form. Our personal injury attorneys will discuss your legal options and fight for the compensation you deserve.

We wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season!

Zanes Law – We Handle Your Claim from A to Z.