Helpful tips for staying safe and accident free during this holiday season in Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens

It is the middle of November here in south Florida (not that you can tell from our recent summer heat wave) and the holidays are close at hand. A time of happiness, getting together with friends and family for fun and good cheer and enjoying a lot of great food. Unfortunately it is also the time of year when there is an increase in accidents and injuries. This is the perfect time to offer some tips to keep you and your loved ones protected and safe during the coming holiday season.

Here are 7 tips to help you get through the holiday season safely:

1. Be aware that there are more fire hazards during the holiday season
   1. Stoves and grills are often turned on longer, and candles and menorahs are in use now, as well. Do NOT leave any of these unattended, keep children and pets away from them and do not put them in close proximity to trees, curtains or other flammable materials.

2. Do not use grills or generators inside your home
   1. Not only are they a fire hazard, but they also give off noxious fumes. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximately 430 people die each year in the United States from unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. http://www.cdc.gov/features/timechangecodetectors/

3. Be careful when hanging holiday lights and decorations outside of your home, and putting up a Christmas tree or Menorah.
   1. Do not climb tall ladders without a spotter, use a step stool instead of furniture to reach higher places in your home and always be aware of the proximity of children.

4. Take proper precautions with the food
   1. Clean your kitchen and all cooking instruments thoroughly before using them. Make sure that food is cooked thoroughly, not left sitting out on counters and tables for too long (not more than 2 hours), properly cleaned and prepared.

5. Drive Safely
   1. The roads tend to be more crowded, particularly around the malls and other shopping venues. Give yourself more time to get to your destination so that the extra traffic does not cause you to get angry or make hurried, bad decisions.
   2. Get a designated driver if you plan on drinking at dinner or any holiday party or event.
   3. Make sure that you and any children in your car are wearing their seatbelts at all times.

6. Stay calm – do not let stress overwhelm you
   1. It is easy to get stressed out during the holidays by either over-committing yourself to too many social engagements, spending too much money, over eating and/or not getting enough sleep.

7. Pay extra attention, particularly if there are children around
   1. Holiday decorations and even toys offer a myriad of ways for children, particularly young children, to get hurt. Try to keep toys, foods and other potential choking items away from them.

The following article was used to help prepare this blog: http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/tips-safe-holiday-season#6

Holiday safety is important to us here at Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A. We hope that you are able to enjoy a Happy, Healthy & Safe Holiday Season.

If you need more information for yourself or a loved one regarding a potential personal injury case at any time during the year please contact us at http://www.sswlawfl.com. At Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne we are personal injury attorneys that offer a free initial consultation, and our phone number is (561) 686-3400.

Our main office is in Jupiter and we serve Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Stuart, West Palm Beach or any other city in the state of Florida. Our law firm specializes in cases involving Defective Products including toys, Wrongful Death & Serious Injury, Medical Malpractice, Slip and Fall, auto accidents and many other types of situations where injury or death has occurred.