Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Safety important during holiday season

Safety is an important part of the holiday season in several different aspects.

Here are a few tips to go by when purchasing trees, when decorating with lights, decorations, toy safety, food safety and fireplace safety.

Always remember when purchasing an artificial tree, always look for the label "Fire Resistant."

When purchasing a live tree check for freshness. A fresh tree will be green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break.

When setting up a tree at home place the tree away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Always keep water in the tree basin. It helps to cut off the trunk of the tree to expose fresh wood in order to better soak water.

Never use electricity 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. Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

When decorating a tree remember to use only non-combustible 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 non-flamable holders, and place candles where they cannot be knocked down. In homes 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 that may tempt a child to eat them.

Buying Christmas presents for children is fun, but people must remember to follow recommended age ranges on toy packages.

Toys that are too advanced could be a safety hazard for younger children. Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy he or she has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully. If the toy is appropriate for your child, show him or her how to use it properly.

Be careful of holiday gift wrapping, like bags, paper, ribbons and bows. These items can pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child.

Children under age four can choke on small parts contained in toys or games and balls with a diameter of one and three quarters of an inch or less. Children under age eight can choke or suffocate to uninflated or broken balloons.

Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.

Bacteria can ruin a good holiday meal. It is often present on 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 hand.

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

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

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

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

Building a nice cozy fire during winter months is always nice. However, caution should always used when when using fire salts.

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