The holidays are a time of celebration and joy, but along with the festivities and beautiful decor come safety hazards. Mishaps arise, and potential dangers don’t always occur to us until something goes awry. Protect your family, friends, and home this season by being aware of common holiday hazards and how to prevent them.

Snow and ice hazards

Considering folks are more likely to welcome guests into their homes during the holidays, it’s important to ensure driveways, sidewalks, and paths, including stairs, are clear of snow and ice. Investing in a bag of salt is a good idea. Applying salt after shoveling and spreading it evenly can help to reduce slip and fall injuries.

Staying safe while shoveling is also a concern. Anyone with poor balance or who tires easily should hire someone more capable to do the job. Ensuring proper lighting along all walkways, so that people don’t trip, is also a good idea.

Holiday lighting hazards

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, each day during the holiday season, there are approximately 160 decorating-related injuries in the U.S. Half of these accidents result in broken bones, concussions, and pulled muscles.

Holiday lighting presents several hazards, including fires, tripping, and falling. Check the condition of the lights first. If strings of lights are old and fraying, invest in new lights that are up to safety standards. Hanging lights, whether indoors or outdoors, requires safety precautions as well. For instance, avoid hanging lights alone so you have immediate assistance in the event you lose your balance.

Pet-related hazards

With pets, the number of potential hazards goes up. Pets, along with young children, don’t understand the dangers caused by holiday decorations.

Keep candles out of reach as cats tend to jump on mantles, counters, and tabletops. To prevent candle-related accidents, opt for flameless candles, which still add to the holiday ambiance.

Additionally, pets may find their way into tempting holiday treats that make them ill. Chocolate, for example, is toxic to dogs and cats. Other hazards involving pets include:

• Electrical cords – cords can be tempting to chew on.
• Holiday plants – poinsettias and yuletide plants both present the potential to poison pets.
• Christmas tree ornaments – these sparkly and shiny items are tempting to pets who see them as toys.
• Wrapping paper, gift bags, and ribbons – are choking hazards to pets.

Keep the veterinarian’s phone number and a 24/7 emergency veterinary hospital’s phone number handy just in case it’s needed.

Prevent package theft

While not a typical hazard, package theft is a growing problem, particularly during the holidays, and it could potentially lead to other hazards like break-ins or injuries. Package thieves, known as “porch pirates,” stole $12 billion in packages in just the past year, according to Security.org. They also state that one in four Americans has been victimized at some point in their life, and nine in ten Americans are specifically worried about stolen holiday packages.

This is understandable, as Security.org says that 13% of Americans have had a gift for someone else stolen. To minimize the chance of holiday deliveries being stolen:

• Use your home security cameras to monitor for deliveries and collect them promptly.
• Have packages delivered to the workplace.
• Ship to the store – If purchasing from a local retailer, have the purchase delivered there to be picked up.
• Ask a trusted neighbor to collect packages when delivered.
• Rent a mailbox at the post office for the holiday season.

Enjoy the holiday season safely and with peace of mind by taking these simple steps to minimize accidents and injuries.

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