Holiday Hazards

HOLIDAY HAZARDS KEEP THE HOLIDAYS HOLLY AND JOLLY BY AVOIDING THESE COMMON INJURIES. EACH YEAR THE HOLIDAYS HERALD DELICIOUS TIDINGS OF HOLIDAY PARTIES, CHRISTMAS CAROLS, FESTIVE DECORATIONS, EXCHANGING GIFTS - AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TIME WITH FAMILY. BUT THE MOST FESTIVE TIME OF THE YEAR CAN ALSO BE ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS. IN ADDITION TO HOURS WITH THE IN-LAWS AND GRAVY BURNS, REVELERS SHOULD ALS0 BEWARE OF SAFETY ISSUES - SUCH AS DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS, SHOPPING MALL MISHAPS AND MORE. SO BEFORE DECKING THE HALLS, PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR LOVED ONES BY CHECKING YOUR LIST TWICE AND MAKE SURE YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING TO AVOID THESE COMMON HOLIDAY INJURIES: INCLEMENT WEATHER AND A FEWTOO MANY DRINKS AT THE COMPANY HOLIDAY PARTY RISKY ROADS COMBINE TO MAKE THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR THE MOST DANGEROUS FOR DRIVERS. WITH PEOPLE DRIVING MORE FREQUENTLY AND OVER GREATER DISTANCES TO SPEND THE HOLIDAYS WITH FAMILY, THE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND NATIONALLY SEES AN AVERAGE OF ... 400-500 VEHICLE- RELATED DEATHS AND MORE THAN 40,000 INJURIES.* SO BEFORE HEADING OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE DOING EVERY - THING YOU CAN TO GET THERE AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE BY BUCKLING UP, INSTALLING THE PROPER TIRES FOR ICY ROAD CONDITIONS AND ... IDENTIFYING A DESIGNATED DRIVER! O *SOURCE: NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL (WWW.NSC.ORG) SHOPPING DANGEROUS SCARES DÉCOR, DURING THE HOLI- DAYS, MALLS ARE BUZZING WITH BUSY SHOPPERS ANXIOUS TO SCOOP UP GREAT DEALS AND CROSS ALL THE NAMES OFF WHAT WOULD THE HOLIDAYS BE WITHOUT A BOUQUET OF HOLLY, TREE FULL OF ORNA- MENTS AND TWINKLY LIGHTS SPARKLING FROM EVERY EVE? THEIR LIST ... WARNING! BIG HOLE ALTHOUGH THESE FESTIVE FEASTS FOR THE EYES ARE A FAVORITE PART OF THE HOLIDAYS FOR MANY, HOLI- DAY DECORATING -RELATED FALLS ARE ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF HOLI- DAY INJURIES, ACCOUNTING FOR ... ... BUT WITH ALL THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE, SPILLED MILK (OR HOT CHOCOLATE) AS WELL AS DROPPED CLOTHING OR PRODUCTS CAN 17,485 EASILY GO UNNOTICED AND LEAD TO A BROKEN HOSPITAL VISITS EVERY YEAR.* BONE OR OTHER SERIOUS INJURY. WHILE THESE TYPES OF INCIDENTS ARE THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF SHOPPING INJURIES, MALLS AND IN- DIVIDUAL STORES CAN ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER INJURIES THAT SHOPPERS MAY IN- CUR AS A RESULT OF INADEQUATE SECURITY. TO AVOID A POTENTIAL MALL MISHAP ... THIS YEAR, SKIP THE ER VISIT AND USE A STEP- PING STOOL INSTEAD OF FURNITURE WHEN HANG- AVOID SHOPPING DURING PEAK PERIODS ING LIGHTS OR DECORA- SUCH AS BLACK FRIDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE OR AFTER CHRISTMAS. TIONS AND A LWAYS TAKE SAFETY MEASURES BEFORE STEPPING ONTO A LADDER - MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE SOMEONE ON HAND TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. *SOURCE: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. (NWW.CDC.GOV) FATAL EACH YEAR IN THE U.S., CHRISTMAS TREE FIRES CAUSE . FIRES 12 DEATHS, 24 INJURIES & MILLIONS PROPERTY LAMASE OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTY DAMAGE* PREVENT YOUR SCENTED SHRUB FROM BECOMING A SAFETY HAZARD BY PICKING A FRESH TREE (TEST THAT IT IS STILL STICKY TO THE TOUCH AND THAT ITS BRANCHES ARE PLIABLE AND DON'T SNAP), WATERING IT REGULARLY ONCE IT'S IN YOUR HOME AND REMOVING IT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. * SOURCE: NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (WNW.NFPA.ORG) Have a safe and happy holiday season from the folks at Leavitt Yamane & Soldner. Copyright ©2011 | www.lyslaw.com