It’s the holiday season, and as the New Year approaches, many people are looking forward to making up for celebrations and get-togethers they missed in 2020. But, unfortunately, each year, safety hazards ruin many families’ holidays. With this in mind, we encourage everyone to keep these safety tips in mind as they prepare to ring in 2022.
Read Toy Reviews and Choose Age-Appropriate Toys
Dangerous toys are always a risk during the holiday season. But, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that the danger could be even greater this year:
“Toy manufacturers and retailers are facing both supply-chain delays and global shipping issues, prompting concerns about a possible toy shortage. This could lead consumers to scramble to buy products wherever they can find them, and create room for unscrupulous sellers to sell dangerous or counterfeit products.”
Parents, grandparents, and other loved ones can read reviews online and buy from trusted sources to avoid buying dangerous and counterfeit toys. In addition, it is important to choose age-appropriate toys as small parts and other hazards can present injury risks for smaller children.
Watch Your Children When They Are Playing with New Toys
Even if you buy your children’s toys from a reputable source, it is still a good idea to keep an eye on them while they are playing during the holidays. If a toy malfunctions or doesn’t work how a child expects, it could cause potentially serious injuries.
Don’t Forget About the Food in the Kitchen
According to the CPSC, most residential fires start in the oven or on the stove. Therefore, when celebrating the holidays at home, it is important not to forget about food cooking in the kitchen. The National Safety Council (NSC) encourages people to pay particular attention to the risk of food poisoning during the holidays as well. In particular, leaving foods out for too long can cause harmful bacteria and viral contaminants to grow.
Decorate Safely
From climbing ladders outside to lighting candles in the home, decorating accidents are to blame for many holiday-related injuries each year. Placing trees and other plants too close to heaters and fireplaces, using indoor lights outdoors, and allowing children to decorate with breakable ornaments are also common causes of decorating-related accidents.
Pay Attention and Observe the Rules of the Road When Traveling
Distracted driving and drunk driving are leading causes of auto accidents, and both of these unsafe practices become more prevalent during the holiday season. To protect yourself and your loved ones while you are traveling, put your phone out of reach and always observe the rules of the road. When in doubt, drive defensively, and keep plenty of buffer between yourself and anyone who appears to be drunk behind the wheel.
Contact the New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A.
We hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday season. But, if you don’t, we are here to help. If you need to speak with a New Jersey personal injury lawyer about your legal rights, you can call 877-435-6371 or contact us online to arrange a free and confidential consultation.
