Tip: Test your smoke alarms monthly. Only working smoke alarms can give you the precious seconds you may need to escape a fire.

‘Tis the season for decorating and gift-giving. But don’t overlook important holiday safety techniques just because you’re feeling jolly.

To ensure a safe and festive holiday season, CSA International, a global certification and testing organization, advises everyone to check the following lists twice for tips on smart shopping, indoor and outdoor decorating and maintaining a safe home.

Finding the perfect holiday gift at just the right price can be a challenge. And, just when you think you’ve found a bargain, there is a chance you may have actually purchased a potentially dangerous counterfeit. Giving a phoney item could mean unintentionally putting family and friends at risk for a serious or fatal injury.

Counterfeit products can include unsafe items such as electric toys, household appliances, power tools, consumer electronics and other gifts that may present a shock or fire hazard. CSA International warns consumers to be familiar with the signs that separate naughty from nice items:

* Avoid electrical products that are missing a label from an accredited certification organization such as CSA International.
* Counterfeit packaging often has an inferior design or partial illustrations. Look for misspellings and unclear print on products and labels.
* Check for a discrepancy between the contents of the product package and its description.
* When a product doesn’t include a brand identifier or trademark, it may be a fake. Look for missing return addresses or company contact information.
* Check the “look and feel” of products. Fakes are often light and flimsy.
* Buy only from reputable stores with clearly stated return policies.

Have Yourself A Very Merry Home: Indoor Safety Tips
Lighting and decorations
* Inspect holiday light strings each year and discard any with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders or loose connections.
* Unplug light strings before replacing bulbs and check to ensure replacement bulbs match the voltage and wattage of the original bulb. Ensure that bulb reflectors are the right size for the light string.
* Always turn off holiday lights when you leave the house unattended or when going to bed.
* Store lights and decorations in their original packaging, as they likely contain manufacturer’s instructions on replacement bulbs and details for proper product use.
* Do not use open flames or candles on or near flammable materials such as wreaths, trees or paper decorations.
* Never tack or staple lighting strings or extension cords to any surface.
* Avoid hanging decorations on or near objects like fire sprinklers, fire extinguishers, hose cabinets, exit corridors or exit signs which can hinder one’s safety.
* Never run electrical cords through doorways, under carpets or rugs.

Gas fireplaces
* Do not use your gas fireplace if the glass panel is removed, cracked or broken. Glass panels and frame assemblies should be replaced only by a qualified service person.
* When purchasing or installing a gas fireplace, check for the mark of an accredited certification organization such as the Star mark from CSA International. This indicates the fireplace meets applicable national standards.

Carbon-monoxide alarms
* Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installing and maintaining CO alarms. Install at least one carbon-monoxide (CO) alarm near bedrooms. Use more than one CO alarm if sleeping areas are located on different levels of your home.
* Change batteries at least twice a year.
* When purchasing a CO alarm, check for the mark of an accredited certification organization such as CSA International’s Flame mark and the CSA 6.19-01 reference mark.

Smoke alarms
* Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and outside all sleeping areas.
* Test your smoke alarms monthly. Only working smoke alarms can give you the precious seconds you may need to escape a fire.

Basement and garage
* Don’t store combustible materials such as gasoline, propane, paper, chemicals, paint, rags and cleaning products near your gas furnace. Gasoline or propane cylinders must be stored outside the home.
* Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids in the vicinity of your gas furnace or water heater.
* Look for the familiar CSA International certification Star mark on your gas-fired furnace or water heater to ensure it has been tested and certified to the applicable standard. Have a qualified heating contractor perform a yearly maintenance check of your furnace and venting system.

When it Snows Let Your Home Glisten: Outdoor Lighting Tips
* Before working with outdoor wiring, turn off the electricity to the supply outlet and unplug
the connection.
* Ensure that light strings, cords, spotlights and floodlights are certified and marked for outdoor use.
* When hanging lights outdoors, keep electrical connectors above ground, out of puddles and snow and away from metal gutters.
* Use insulated fasteners such as tape or plastic clips rather than nails or tacks to hold lights in place.
* Remove lights promptly after the holidays to avoid damage caused by extended exposure to harsh weather conditions.
* Use a certified timer to switch lights on (after 7 p.m. to avoid the electricity rush hour) and off.
* Whenever possible, connect all outdoor lighting into receptacles protected by weatherproof ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). These can provide protection from electric shock by sensing ground leakage and cutting electrical power.

To learn more about CSA International certification marks, visit
www.csa-international.org/certification_marks.

For a fun and interactive Web site on holiday safety that the whole family can enjoy, visit www.csaholiday.com. For more general safety tips, visit www.csasafetytips.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Tip: Use a ladder or step stool instead of furniture to stand on.

“The most wonderful time of the year” sadly also is a time when thousands of people end up in the emergency room for injuries suffered during holiday decorating, winter sports and outdoor activities. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) offers a few important safety tips so you can enjoy the holiday season and celebrate safely.

“Common holiday season injuries can put a damper on any festive occasion,” says Rachel Rohde, MD, spokesperson for the AAOS and orthopaedic surgeon. ”We participate in different activities during this season than we do during the rest of the year. Skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling are fun sports but are not without some risks. Seemingly simple activities like carrying luggage or even walking outside to get your mail can be a disaster if there is ice on the ground.”

The hectic pace of the season can cause people to let their guards down, so before you climb that ladder to decorate your house or bring that snowblower out of the garage to clear the driveway, the AAOS recommends the following tips for a safe holiday season:

Avoiding Falls

* Don’t drink and decorate. Save your celebratory drink for after the lights are up and illuminated.

* Use a ladder or step stool instead of furniture to stand on when you need to hang objects higher than your reach.

* Select the right ladder for the job. Never exceed the maximum load capacity listed on the ladder. Make sure to inspect all ladders for loose screws, hinges or rungs that might not have been fixed.

* Set your ladder on a firm, level surface. Watch out for soft, muddy spots or uneven flooring and never place a ladder on uneven ground.

*Do not have children climb ladders to decorate; their balance and strength might not be well enough developed to prevent falls.

*Enlist a friend. Ask another adult to help stabilize a ladder to prevent falls and to assist you with your efforts.

Lugging Your Luggage

* Pack light and use luggage with wheels when traveling. Ask for lifting assistance when needed.

* Take your time and don’t rush when lifting or carrying a suitcase or heavy package. At the mall, minimize heavy loads by using a cart when available and by making frequent trips to the car.

* Always use proper lifting techniques. When lifting, bend at your knees and lift with your leg muscles, not your back and waist. Avoid twisting or rotating your spine.

Winter Sports

* Wear appropriate protective gear including goggles, helmets, gloves and padding.

* Warm up your muscles with light exercise for 10 minutes before starting your main activity. Remember to replenish fluids to prevent dehydration.

* Pay attention to the rules. Make sure all your equipment is in good working order and that you’re using it properly. If you’ve never participated in a sport before (such as skiing) take a lesson or two from a qualified instructor. Learn how to fall properly to reduce the risk of injury.

Snow and Ice

* Talk with your doctor before clearing the driveway and sidewalk of snow if you have heart or vascular conditions. Whether you use a snow blower or shovel, this heavy activity in bad weather can be very taxing on your body, particularly your heart.

* Never stick your hands in a snow blower. If snow becomes impacted in the machine, stop the engine and wait more than five seconds. Use a solid object to clear wet snow or debris from the chute. The snowblower blade is on tension and usually spins at least one more time once an obstruction is cleared; keep your hands and feet out of the way of that spin!

* Clear snow early and often. Begin when a light covering of snow is on the ground to avoid shoveling heavy, packed snow. Do not throw snow over your shoulder or to the side. This requires a twisting motion that places stress on your back.

*Make sure you use salt or an alternative “de-icer” on the driveway, walkways, and porch, if necessary. A small patch of ice can result in a big injury.

* Wear proper footwear and pay attention to what’s in front of you. Ice can cause sudden and serious falls. If you find yourself falling, try to fall on your side or rear. Roll over naturally, turning your head in the direction of the roll.

* Drive cautiously. Allow plenty of time to brake as you approach stop signs and red lights and reduce your speed in hazardous conditions.

For more information on how to stay safe during the holidays, visit www.orthoinfo.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Here are a few things that you can do to make sure your celebrations end well.

• Beef up the menu. Serve foods that are rich in proteins since they hasten the absorption of alcohol. Don’t forget the late night snacks too.

• B.Y.O.P.J.S . Bring your own pajamas. Invite guests ahead of time to stay overnight.

• Let’s make a deal. Arrange a set fee with a local cab company to shuttle your guests to and from the party.

• Offer a token gift. Have transit fare or subway tokens available as guests leave for the night.

• Serve Smart D.D. Drinks. Non-alcoholic versions of party favourites are good to have on hand. Not only will your designated drivers thank you, so will those watching their waistlines. Try non-alcoholic ciders, spritzers and low-calorie pilsners that have the full-bodied taste of a quality beer like new Labatt Blue Dealcoholized, available in select grocery and convenience stores across Canada.

More party hosting tips can be found online at www.makeaplan.ca.

- News Canada

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