SafeStart Advent Calendar!

– Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly when handling food. – Prepare dishes that don’t require cooking before handling raw meat to reduce cross-contamination. – Do not rinse raw meat and poultry before cooking. – Keep meat, poultry, seafood, and egg foods separated from other foods in the fridge. – Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and cooked or ready-to-eat items. – Use a food thermometer to ensure that the meat is fully cooked. – Bring sauces, soups and gravies to a rolling boil when reheating. – Refrigerate food within two hours of cooking. – Remember that most leftovers are safe for four days in the refrigerator. – Do not store cleaning products or chemicals near food.

– Always make sure you are stepping on a stable surface.

– Don’t climb onto furniture. Use a stool or a ladder.

– Don’t place ladders on slippery surfaces or rugs.

– Clear up the area around the ladder to prevent additional injuries if you do fall off.

– Have someone for backup, especially if you have to decorate very high places.

– If you’re rushing or getting frustrated with the decorations, you’re more likely to get hurt. Consider your state of mind and ask for help if the job feels a little overwhelming.

– Keep your lighted candles in a sturdy candle holder to prevent them from being knocked over.

– Make sure the flame is fully extinguished when you leave the room.

– Never put real candles on your Christmas tree.

– Don’t place your tree close to a heat source.

– Never leave your cooking pots and pans unattended.

– Don’t put wrapping paper in the fireplace.

– You should always have a fire extinguisher on-hand in the event a small fire breaks out.

– Don’t be complacent around fire. Even a small flame can spread in seconds.

– Use lights with an official safety certification.

– Consider using LED holiday lights as they use less power and create less heat.

– Inspect the lights to ensure they are not frayed or torn. Just because your lights have served you for years, doesn’t mean they don’t need a thorough once-over. Complacency and electricity are not a good mix.

– Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.

– Don’t overload sockets.

– Unplug decorations for the night and when you are away from home. Leaving them on is a dangerous habit. Alternatively, consider plugging them into timers.

– Never touch any electric wiring when you have wet hands.

– Cuts or lacerations while preparing a meal or carving a turkey.

– Burns – for example, people sometimes forget that a pan is hot or that they could get splashed with hot oil.

– Slips and falls—dropped objects and pieces of food or splashes of grease or water, mixed with crowded kitchens and a larger than usual number of objects cluttering the area are a perfect mix for a slip and fall.

– Remember to think about your state of mind regularly and slow down or calm down before handling sharp or hot objects.