Kelly & West News

Tips For A Safe And Happy Holiday Season

The holiday season is full of joyous traditions and celebrations. It’s a time to be surrounded by loved ones and give thanks for everything we have. The attorneys at Kelly & West want to wish everyone a very happy holiday season, but we also want you to be safe. Unfortunately, the season’s tidings also bring safety hazards, including personal injury, property damage, and traffic violations.

We wanted to take some time to reach out to our great clients and give you all some holiday safety tips.

Decrease the Chances of Personal Injury in Your Home
Holiday shopping, stringing lights, and decorating your home marks the beginning of the holiday season for many people. These wonderful traditions can also pose certain risks leading to injury. Make sure you look for potential hazards in order to keep your family and friends safe from injury when visiting your home.

• Keep all of your holiday shopping apparel organized in one area with the least amount of foot traffic. This will decrease the chances of someone tripping and falling.
• When decorating, make sure you use all of the appropriate equipment necessary. Use proper ladders and other tools to make sure all decorating plans operate smoothly and don’t end in someone falling or getting hurt.
• The holiday decorations themselves can pose as threats. Make sure your decorations are sturdy and free of potential injury. Think about the placement of your decorations as well. Don’t leave hazardous decorations in reach of small children or family pets.
  

  Photo credit: State Farm via Visual hunt / CC BY

Fire Hazards and Property Damage
Every year, we hear of families falling victim to house fires. The extra decorations, including candles and lights, increase the chances of this happening.

• Use regulation approved outside lighting for exterior decorating.
• Purchase fresh trees. You can tell trees are fresh when the needles do not fall off easily and the trunk is sticky with resin. Old, dry trees are much more likely to catch fire. If you are using an artificial tree, make sure it is fire resistant. Also, keep your tree away from the fireplace or any other source of heat.
• When using candles, they should never be placed near the tree, wrapping paper, or other decorations that may set fire.
• Make sure you turn off and unplug all decorations when you go to sleep or leave your home.
  *Also, please note that it is very important to do routine checks of your smoke/fire alarm. Make sure the batteries are not running low and press the test button to make sure your alarm is working properly.

Holiday Traffic Causes Accidents
Ah, dreadful holiday traffic. With so many people traveling and finishing their holiday shopping, you must practice defensive driving so you don’t end up in an accident.

• Wear your seat belt at all times.
• Pay attention to the road and try to minimize all distractions.
• Keep a safe distance between your car and the cars around you.
• Follow the speed limit, even if you are late to your annual holiday party.
• Choose a designated driver if you plan on drinking alcohol.

If you have any questions about holiday safety or find yourself in a situation where you need some legal advice, just give us a call. We hope you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season!