Make your holidays safer by following these health and safety tips

By Lorenzo Sanchez
Director of Emergency Management

(Nov. 27, 2014) -- The holidays are a time to celebrate, give thanks and reflect. They also are a time to pay special attention to your health and safety. Remember, it’s everyone’s responsibility to engage in safe holiday activities at work and at home.

Here are some tips to help keep your holiday celebration safe:

Personal health and safety

With the upcoming holiday season comes the flu season. Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
• Keep vaccinations up to date.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.

Injuries can occur anywhere and some often occur around the holidays.

• Use step stools instead of furniture when hanging decorations.
• Leave the fireworks to the professionals.
• Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or skateboarding to help prevent head injuries.

Prevent fires

Decorating homes and businesses is a long-standing tradition around the holiday season. Unfortunately, these same decorations may increase your chances of fire.

Based on data from the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Fire Administration, an estimated 240 home fires involving Christmas trees and another 150 home fires involving holiday lights and other decorative lighting occur each year. Most residential fires occur during the winter months.

• Keep candles away from children, pets, walkways, trees and curtains.
• Never leave fireplaces, stoves or candles unattended.
• Don’t use generators, grills or other gasoline, propane or charcoal burning devices inside your home or garage.
• Install a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in your home if you do not have any, and be sure to test them at least once a month and replace batteries twice a year.

Travel safety

Whether you’re traveling across town or around the world, help ensure your trip is safe by following these tips:

• With more people on the roads, drive safely.
• Be well rested and alert and use your seat belts. Always buckle your child in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat or seat belt according to his or her height, weight or age.
• Pay attention to the weather forecast for your destination. Travel and weather websites can help you avoid storms and weather conditions.
• Observe speed limits and follow the rules of the road.
• If you plan to drink alcohol, designate a driver who won’t drink.

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For more preparedness tips, visit the UTSA Campus Alerts website.

For more information, email BePrepared@utsa.edu or call 210-458-6851.

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