I always think of Halloween as the kickoff of the holiday season. I love the holidays and with decorating, baking, and watching all the special shows, it’s a special time of year. It’s important though that we keep it a safe time of year too!
Cooking Safety
Ready.gov has provided some tips for keeping your holidays safe this year. First, remember to keep an eye on your food when you’re cooking. If you leave and forget it’s on the stove, you can get into trouble quickly. A few minutes can make a big difference. That is true whether you are warming soup, baking a casserole, or frying food on the stove.
Also, watch that you aren’t wearing loose-sleeved clothing around the stove that can drop onto the burner and ignite. Long sleeves, dangling strings, or scarves can catch fire fast. If you are cooking, it helps to roll up sleeves, keep the stove area clear, and stay in the kitchen while food is on the heat.
It is also a good idea to keep things you use often close by before you start cooking. That way you do not have to leave the stove to hunt for a spoon, mitt, or ingredient. If you do need to step away, turn off the burner first.
Traveling During Winter Weather
If you’re planning on traveling to visit friends or family this holiday season, keep an eye on the weather reports. Know what the weather risks are for the area you’ll be traveling in, and know what to do before, during, and after a situation develops. Better yet, stay off the road when there are snowstorms happening and have the proper tools in your car for staying safe such as an ice scraper, snow shovel, gloves, blanket, emergency flares or reflectors, rock salt, first-aid kit, extra windshield washer, etc.
It helps to plan ahead before you leave. Make sure your gas tank is full, your phone is charged, and someone knows your route and when you expect to arrive. If the weather changes, give yourself extra time or change plans. A holiday visit is not worth taking a risk on icy roads.
If you are stranded or delayed, those extra items can help you stay warmer and safer while you wait for help. A blanket can help keep you warm. Gloves can protect your hands. A shovel or rock salt may help if you need to move your car or get traction. Even if you never need these items, it is better to have them ready in the car before winter weather starts.
Decorating the Home Safely
If you decorate your house, turn the lights off when you go to bed or leave the house. Keep candles away from flammable items, and don’t leave them unattended, and water your Christmas tree so it doesn’t dry out.
Holiday decorations can make a home feel warm and cheerful, but they can also create fire risks. Check that light strings are in good shape before you plug them in. Do not overload outlets with too many cords or plugs. Put decorations where they will not block a door, trip someone, or sit too close to a heater.
Candles can smell nice and look pretty, but they need close attention. Place them where pets, kids, paper, curtains, and decorations cannot reach them. If you leave the room, blow them out. If you use a live tree, keep it watered. A dry tree can catch fire much more quickly than a fresh one.
Safe Shopping and Computer Use
When shopping for holiday gifts, be sure you’re using secure computer sites (https://). Limit the personal information you share online. Check your account statements and credit reports regularly. Use antivirus programs, malware, and firewalls to block threats.
Holiday shopping can happen fast, and that is why it is a good time to slow down and pay attention. Look for the lock symbol and the “https://” at the beginning of the site address before you enter payment information. If a website looks strange, has a lot of spelling mistakes, or asks for more information than it should, it is safer to leave the site.
Also, be careful about what you share on social media and in online forms. A simple gift contest, shipping form, or email message can ask for more than you need to give. Use only trusted sites and make sure your computer protection is up to date.
Regularly back up your files on an encrypted storage device, and make sure our passwords are strong enough to block someone trying to get into your accounts. A strong password should be hard for someone else to guess. It should not be a name, birthday, or easy word. It also helps to use different passwords for different accounts so one problem does not spread to everything.
Backups matter too. If a computer stops working or files are lost, a backup can save a lot of stress. Keeping an extra copy of important documents, photos, and records gives you peace of mind during a busy season.
COVID-19 Precautions
If you’re going to be going to parties or visiting family members, please remember to take precautions so you don’t expose yourself to COVID-19. The CDC recommends not traveling until you have been fully vaccinated. Use precautions when gathering in groups: remember social distancing and wearing your mask if you aren’t sure others have been vaccinated.
This year, many families are trying to balance the joy of gathering with the need to stay healthy. If you are not sure what is safest for your situation, think through the size of the group, the space where people will be, and how close everyone will be to each other. If a gathering feels too crowded, it is okay to step back, wear a mask, or choose a different way to celebrate.
You may also want to talk ahead of time with the people you plan to see. A simple check-in can help you know what to expect. If you are more comfortable meeting outdoors, keeping your distance, or limiting your time inside, those are reasonable choices. The goal is to enjoy time together while lowering risk as much as you can.
Make the Holidays Enjoyable and Safe
The holidays are upon us; let’s stay safe and make them as enjoyable as we can this year!
If you need help finding disability-related resources, DNL can help. Our services are free, and we are here to support people in Ottawa and Allegan counties. We can help with questions, information, and referrals, and we can talk with you about safety planning and other concerns that come up during the season.
You can reach Disability Network Lakeshore at (616) 396-5326. We are located at 442 Century Lane, Holland, MI 49423.