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With all the excitement and chaos that comes with the Christmas New Year holiday season, safety is sometimes not always front of mind!

It’s important to remember that the silly season can be a hotbed of potential hazards that require a few extra preventive steps in order to safeguard everyone from those risky situations.

I know, not the most “Christmassy” of blog posts, but staying safe is what allows us to spend these times with our loved ones!

Even the most innocuous aspects of holiday celebrations, such as Christmas lights and decorations, can put you or your loved ones at risk of injury – don’t let “Santa” miss the festive season!

An article published in the Journal of Social Science and Medicine found there were more emergency department deaths and accidents on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day than on any other day of the year.

Here are a few tips to avoid that unwanted rush to the hospital during grandmas Christmas roast:

Christmas trees and decorations

In Australia, the tradition of putting up a tree decked out with all the trimmings is an integral part of the holiday celebrations. However, these Christmas decorations and trees can pose a unique set of risks to the family that need to be mitigated.

Avoid buying cheaper or second-hand Christmas lights as the risk of an electrical malfunction can increase. While you may be tempted to save a few extra dollars by checking out a local garage sale or snapping up a bargain online, the risks may ultimately be too great.

To make sure your lights are safe for use, look for ones that have been approved for sale in Australia and use them according to the manufacturer’s directions. Once they’re up and on the tree, switch them off until the tree is decorated and keep them off during the night or when you’re going to be out of the house.

Falls can also be a common source of accidents during the season, so make sure any cables and wires from your lights are stowed safely out of danger, and be careful when placing decorations onto your tree.

Gifts, children and travel

Christmas is a magical time for children, but the overload of presents and toys, in particular, can present a different set of hazards. If you’re buying gifts for children, make sure your present fits in the right age group for the child.

Additionally, small parts and accessories (whether from the toy or from the Christmas decorations) can be dangerous and may be choking hazards for children left unsupervised, so make sure that your gifts are appropriate and that any loose items have not fallen off the tree.

The holidays are also notorious for seeing a spike in the road toll and accidents, so if you’re planning to drive this Christmas, whether short or long distances, take extra care while you’re behind the wheel.

Preparing for every eventuality

Physically safeguarding your family from these dangers is relatively simple, so be prepared to take the extra time or spend the extra money to do so, remembering “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

With this being our last blog for 2017, everyone at Horner Recruitment would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy and Safe New Year! Thank you for your support in 2017 and we look forward to providing you with the best in services and information in 2018.

Thanks,

The HORNER Team