Holiday Safety
It’s the most wonderful time of the year so don’t let an illness, injury or accident keep you from celebrating a happy, healthy holiday season with your family and friends. Whether you’re outside or inside preparing your favourite seasonal dishes, here are some health and safety tips to help keep your holiday season bright.
Be aware of the following to plan and prepare better: Hijackings – 50% take place in residential driveways and parking lots and within a 5km radius of a victim’s home.
Vehicle theft – 80% occur at shopping centres, schools and social events, mainly over weekends.
Technology – Criminals use remote devices to prevent your vehicle from being locked.
Some travel and road tips:
- Do not drive when you have been drinking. Have a designated driver, UBER or call a cab when you know that you will be consuming alcohol. Drunk driving is one of the main causes of death on South African roads.
- When driving up to your house, never park in your driveway facing the gate. Hijackers may park behind you and block you in. Always stop in the road until the gate is open before you turn into your driveway.
- Always travel with windows and doors locked and with valuables out of sight. If windows have to be open, ensure the opening isn’t big enough to fit a hand through.
- Always leave enough room between your car and the one in front of you to avoid being ‘boxed in’, should you need to escape.
- Be aware of anyone who approaches your car at traffic lights, stop streets or your driveway. Don’t be distracted.
- Be aware of suspicious looking people, including women, at robots and intersections.
- Do not drive directly home after you visited a bank or ATM. Be alert as to who is around you when leaving the bank or ATM and along the journey to your destination.
- Always park your vehicle at a secure location and ask the security guard for his/her name. Park under CCTV cameras where possible. Make sure that your vehicle is properly locked by testing the door handle.
- Try to avoid stopping on the highway; rather take the next off ramp to stop in a more public area where you can stretch, refresh yourself and/or take a break from driving; and have numbers for roadside assistance and other emergencies close at hand or saved on your cell phone, so that you are well-prepared for any eventuality.
- In the event of an accident take pictures with a camera or cell phone and file an accident report with the police as you will need a case number for your insurance company to file a claim. Remember to get names, addresses, telephone numbers and ID numbers of everyone involved in the accident.
It’s Better to Give Safely
We’ve all heard it’s important when choosing toys for infants or small children to avoid small parts that might prove to be a choking hazard. (Anything that can fall through the inside of a toilet roll inner, is a choking hazard.)
Here are some additional gift-related safety tips:
- Select gifts for older adults that are not heavy or awkward to handle
- Be aware of dangers associated with coin lithium batteries; of concern is the ingestion of button batteries
Watch Out for Those Fire-starters
Thousands of deaths are caused by fires, burns and other fire-related injuries every year. The increased use of candles and decorative lights combined with an increase in the amount of combustible, seasonal decorations present in many homes means more risk for fire.
- Never leave burning candles unattended or sleep in a room with a lit candle.
- Keep candles out of reach of children.
- Make sure candles are on stable surfaces.
- Don’t burn candles near trees, curtains or any other flammable items.
Food safety
- Do not rinse raw meat and poultry before cooking.
- Use a food thermometer to make sure meat is cooked to a safe internal temperature.
- Refrigerate food within two hours of cooking.
- Leftovers are safe for four days in the refrigerator.
- Bring sauces, soups and gravies to a rolling boil when reheating.
- When storing turkey, cut the leftovers in small pieces so they will chill quickly.
- Wash your hands frequently when handling food.
General:
- Wash hands often to help prevent the spread of germs. Wash your hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds.
- Manage stress. Give yourself a break if you feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and out of control. Some of the best ways to manage stress are to find support, connect socially, and get plenty of sleep.
- Fasten seat belts while driving or riding in a motor vehicle. Always buckle your children in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to their height, weight, and age. Buckle up every time, no matter how short the trip and encourage passengers to do the same.
- Monitor children. Keep potentially dangerous toys, food, drinks, household items, and other objects out of children’s reach. Protect them from drowning, burns, falls, and other potential accidents.
- Eat healthy, stay active. Eat fruits and vegetables which pack nutrients and help lower the risk for certain diseases. Limit your portion sizes and foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. Also, be active for at least 2½ hours a week and help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day.
Happy holidays to you and your loved ones. Keep safe!