Christmas is here, and while Jones & Swanson is excited to spread holiday cheer, we are way more excited to help you prepare for a fun and safe season!
The holidays can bring their share of stresses, but the only thing that families should worry about this year is what to do with all that leftover wrapping paper. To help you navigate the potential hazards that might arise in your home and on the roads, we’ve created the ultimate Christmas guide. Discover these safety tips to keep yourself and your loved ones protected this season.
Ready your home
Decorating your home for the holidays can be a joyous tradition, but it also introduces many potential safety risks. On average, there are roughly 160 Christmas decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season. (CPSC)
- Keep decorations at least 3 feet from heat sources such as fireplaces and candles.
- Store batteries safely in their original packaging away from the reach of children and pets to prevent potential choking hazards.
- Avoid overloading outlets; never run them under rugs, furniture, or open walking areas.
- Always turn off your decorations when you leave your home or sleep.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are in working condition.
- Switch off space heaters when you leave a room; space heaters are the leading cause of home fires. (NFPA)
Prepare for the drive
Winter driving can be hazardous, with the National Safety Council(NSC) estimating that 131 people may die on U.S. roads during this Christmas Day holiday period.
- Test your battery, your battery power drops as the temperature does.
- Utilize winter tires or all-season tires, and regularly check tire pressure, which also drops as the temperature does.
- Keep your gas tank at least half full in the event of a gas line freeze.
- Remove dirt, ice, snow, and other debris from your windshield, sensors, and rearview cameras.
- When heating up your car, do not leave a running vehicle inside your garage, especially with a closed garage door.
While you travel
Visibility and road conditions are always changing in the winter, you must be ready to face obstacles that might arise at any point. Each year, 24% of weather-related crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement. (FHWA)
- If possible, do not stop your car if you are traveling uphill.
- Accelerate and decelerate your vehicle slowly and with caution.
- Increase your following distance from other vehicles by up to 10 seconds.
- Avoid using cruise control.
- Steer in the direction of skidding, this prevents over-correction when you return to your lane.
- Pull off the road if the conditions worsen and visibility is limited.
The holiday season has many ups and downs, but, the safety of your family should be your top priority. As long as these tips are utilized, you will find yourself having a very enjoyable holiday season.
From the Jones & Swanson family to yours, Merry Christmas!
Jones & Swanson Is A Personal Injury Firm Located In Georgia. If You Or Someone You Know Has Been Hurt As A Result of An Accident Caused By Drinking And Driving, Seek Immediate Medical Assistance, Then Give Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys A Call At (770) 427-5498 Or contact Us On Awjlaw.com For A Free Consultation To Find Out The Next Steps You May Want To Take.
Categories: Christmas, Drunk Driving, New Years, Safety Tips
