News Announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2013
For Information contact:
Sandy Schneider-Engle
Director of Community Relations
970/542-3346
Celebrate a Safe Holiday Season
The winter months bring the most joyful celebrations as family and friends gather to
celebrate the holidays and ring in the New Year. Friends and family members sit
around the fire, bake sweets, watch classic movies and string trees with lights. With all
of these wonderful distractions, it can be easy to forget the importance of safety this
season.
House fires and falls from ladders are the leading causes of holiday-related injuries. The
Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 15,000 people were treated in
emergency rooms for holiday-related injuries in 2012, a number that has increased for
four consecutive years.
“During the holidays, people in Morgan County deck the halls, attend parties and travel
to see family and friends, making it one of the busiest times of the year,” says Cassie
Greene, RN, CPMC Trauma Coordinator. “Unfortunately, our emergency room also gets
busier due to an increased number of people with holiday-related injuries. By spending
a few moments each day thinking about your and your family’s safety, many accidents
can be avoided. We want to ensure that every holiday celebration is memorable for all
of the right reasons.”
Colorado Plains Medical Center has prepared these seven tips to keep you and
your family safe this holiday season.
1) Decorate smartly: Everyone loves festive holiday décor, but when decking the
halls, be aware of surroundings. Falls from ladders while stringing lights and
hanging decorations and cuts from broken ornaments are common holiday-related
injuries. In addition, make sure to position trees and other decorations away from
heaters, fireplaces and candles.
2) Use electrical cords safely: Fires from the improper use of electrical cords are
holiday hazards. Never use more than three strands of lights on a single extension
cord, and always turn off the lights when leaving the house or going to bed for the
night. Also consider using LED lights that are cooler and use less electricity.
3) Watch the fire: Never leave fireplaces, candles or portable heaters unattended. For
year-round safety, install smoke alarms on every home floor and test them every
month. Make sure family members know what to do in the event of a fire.
4) Cook cautiously: Many holiday celebrations are centered around food and drinks.
When cooking, be sure to wear short or tight-fitting sleeves and keep flammable
items such as towels, curtains and potholders away from the stovetop. In addition,
keep children out of the area where hot food or drinks are being prepared, or where
sharp knives are being used.
5) Drive carefully: Snow and ice are more common during the winter months, and
more people are on the roads travelling to visit loved ones. Always buckle up, slow
down on slick roadways and ensure someone knows whereabouts of travelers. If
consuming alcohol at a celebration, make sure a designated driver is present.
6) Supervise children: During all the exciting activities, parties and distractions, be
sure someone is watching the children. Hire a babysitter or designate an adult to
supervise.
7) Stay healthy: With all of the holiday hustle and bustle, stress is inevitable. Help
prevent illness by eating right, exercising and washing your hands with soap and
water (or using hand sanitizer) as often as possible.
If anyone you know does sustain a holiday-related injury, get them medical attention
immediately. Greene notes that, as a Level III trauma center, Colorado Plains Medical
Center has experience at treating all kinds of injuries. “We hope that the community
has a safe and happy holiday season, she adds.”
-end-