Whether you are planning a family dinner for Christmas or Hanukkah, or throwing a party for New Year’s, it is important to think about personal injury risks and to consider ways to keep yourself, as well as your friends and family, safe this holiday season. Personal injuries can happen without warning, but many are preventable if we think about safety issues ahead of time. What do you need to know about safety tips and personal injury prevention in Tampa Bay?
We have compiled some important safety tips from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Safety Council (NSC), and the American Red Cross for you to think through as you plan your holiday festivities.
Prepare Holiday Foods Safely to Prevent Foodborne Illness and Injuries
How can you prevent personal injuries caused by foodborne illness? Consider the following safety tips:
- Always wash your hands before touching food products, and especially after touching raw poultry;
- Do not defrost food at room temperature, and instead always thaw food in the refrigerator or in cold water or in your microwave;
- Refrigerate your leftovers within two hours after cooking;
- When you reheat leftovers, ensure that they are heated to at least 165 degrees to kill bacteria;
- Ensure that your knives are properly sharpened to prevent cuts from dull blades;
- Keep children away from hot burners on the stovetop to prevent burn injuries; and
- Check all roasters and other electric cooking devices for frayed cords to prevent fire and burn injuries.
Be Careful When You Are Decorating
Decorating for the holidays, whether inside your home or outside it, can result in serious and debilitating injuries. To prevent personal injuries, you should pay attention to these safety tips:
- Use a proper ladder or step stool to hang decorations in hard-to-reach places to prevent a serious fall;
- Do not run extension cords across walkways or places in your home where someone could trip and fall;
- Do not place lit candles near a Christmas tree, curtains, or any other item that could quickly catch on fire;
- If you have a Christmas tree, be sure to water it regularly in order to prevent a home fire;
- Do not place any more than three light sets into a single extension cord, and be sure to use a surge protector;
- Only buy an artificial tree that has been designated as fire resistant; and
- Turn off all lights and blow out all candles before you go to bed.
Driving Safety During the Holidays
- Do not allow guests to consume too much alcohol to drive home safely (or, if they do, ensure that there is a designated driver or a ridesharing service available);
- If you are out and consume alcohol, be sure to have a designated driver or to make use of Uber or Lyft to avoid a drunk driving accident; and
- If you are heading north with your family, get a vehicle checkup for your car to ensure that your tires have sufficient tread and that your vehicle is ready for cold weather.
Contact a Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer
At the Valrico Law Group, we want your family to have a happy and healthy holiday season. However, if someone does get hurt, you should discuss your options with a Tampa personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Contact us for more information.