Office of Emergency ManagementOffice of Emergency Management

Galveston County

 

Holiday

🎉 Celebrate A Happy and Safe New Year! Here Are Some Tips…

HNY

If You Choose to Use Legal Fireworks

If consumer fireworks are legal to buy where you live and you choose to use them, be sure to follow the following safety tips:

  • Never allow young children to handle fireworks
  • Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
  • Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
  • Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
  • Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
  • Never light them indoors
  • Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
  • Never point or throw fireworks at another person
  • Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
  • Never ignite devices in a container
  • Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
  • Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
  • Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire
  • Never use illegal fireworks

Better yet, grab a blanket and a patch of lawn, kick back and let the experts handle the fireworks show.

Sparklers Are Dangerous

Every year, young children can be found along parade routes and at festivals with sparklers in hand, but sparklers are a lot more dangerous than most people think.

Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries.

Consider using safer alternatives, such as glow sticks, confetti poppers or colored streamers.

May be an image of dog and text that says 'F APLECIO LELLE FIREWORKS ARE NOT FUN FOR EVERYONE. public safety message from the International Association of Fire Fighters'

Full Article Here

Holiday Safety Tips- Sober Driving

Be Responsible

Since the public health emergency began, we’ve seen drivers making riskier decisions when they’re behind the wheel. As the year comes to a close and a new one begins, make it a point to drive safely — and drive sober — every day.

Have a Plan Whether You’re Driving, Riding or Hosting

If you’re celebrating and drinking this holiday season, always remember to plan ahead with a sober driver to take you home. If you’re the designated driver, it’s important to take the role seriously and don’t consume alcohol. Here are some more safety tips:

  • Never drink and drive.
  • Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if that person has been drinking.
  • If you’re hosting a gathering, make sure everyone has a sober ride home.
  • Always wear your seat belt. It’s your best defense against impaired drivers.
  • Call 911 if you see a drunk driver.

 

Full Article Here

Holiday Safety Tips- UNdecorating Safety Tips

Putting those decorations away present some unexpected hazards

All of the presents you spent countless hours shopping for ― now unwrapped and played with (albeit maybe not for as long as you’d predicted). The stockings are no longer hung by the chimney with care. Another successful holiday, full of memories to cherish.

It can be easy to breathe a sigh of relief, but pediatrician Purva Grover, MD, cautions that packing up after holiday festivities can present some unexpected hazards, especially when taking ornaments down from the tree.

Glass ornaments, or really cute, fine decorations are things that smaller kids can ingest. Older kids can actually get harmed too, if they’re playing and running around. They might step on them and smash them. And the same goes for our four-legged friends as well – it’s definitely something for parents to think about.

Even not decorating can be a hazard

Likewise, Dr. Grover says while many of us are reluctant to let go of our Christmas spirit, trying to hang on to a live tree for too long can be a serious safety hazard.

“If you see the needles are brown and getting brittle, those have a very high chance of falling off ― causing eye injuries, cuts and bruises,” she says. “I know it’s festive. I know it’s important. But the point at which the tree is now starting to become very dry and brittle, it’s time for us to say bye-bye to it. That’s because even just a little bit of warmth can cause it to catch fire.”

While most families know that it takes a little while to get the house back in order after the holiday rush, Dr. Grover says toys, boxes and wrapping materials left lying around can lead to accidental cuts and scrapes.

It’s also important to discard any plastic bags or wrapping materials promptly, as these can pose a suffocation hazard to small children.

And don’t forget to play safe with those new holiday presents, either

You’ve bought the presents. You’ve wrapped the presents. And you’ve Instagrammed them unwrapping the present. But it’s important that your role isn’t done. Be sure to supervise your kids as they assemble their new toys too.

Many toys designed for older children come with small parts and pieces that can be choking or ingestion hazards for little ones, so be especially careful if you have kids of various ages in your house.

One thing to be especially careful about, she adds, are any toys or gadgets that have button batteries. These items need to be out of reach of little ones, because swallowing a button battery can be dangerous or even fatal.

And lastly, if you’re planning to head outdoors to take down decorations on the house, Dr. Grover reminds parents to be mindful of ladders and make sure their kids aren’t playing around them unsupervised.

Cleveland Clinic

Holiday Safety Tips- Christmas Tree Disposal Tips and Alternatives

christmas trees piled behind a fence with a sign that says "compost our christmas tree here"
Mulching, recycling and repurposing for wildlife habitats are among the options for real Christmas trees once the holiday season is over.
Getty Images

Tips And Alternatives For Christmas Tree Disposal

“Dried Christmas trees can be a real fire hazard, especially if, as some people have done, the tree is set on fire as a means of disposing of it,” Stafford said. “Depending on the location and circumstances, this could start a wildfire.”

Stafford said there are a number of safer — and more creative — ways to dispose of a real Christmas tree. Many local recycling centers have free drop-off locations where they will chip and shred the tree. She said some other applications for used Christmas trees might include:

  • Cutting up the tree and using the firewood for small and carefully planned campfires.
  • Mulching the tree and using it in landscaping beds.

“Composting is another great way to dispose of your Christmas tree and extend its use,” Stafford said. “The branches from your tree make a good base for a compost pile. If you take your tree to a chipper, you can use the resulting mulch in your compost heap. Compost makes great natural fertilizer.”

  • Chip it. Some local communities will host chipping days after Christmas to provide a safe way to dispose of trees.
  • Cut the trunk into small pieces and use it as pathway edging.
  • If feasible, toss the tree in a pond to create a fish habitat and help produce nutrients for aquatic life.

In addition, many communities offer curbside pickup of Christmas trees for recycling once the holiday season is over. Best practices for preparing Christmas trees for community waste pickup include:

  • Making sure all ornaments, ribbons, tinsel, lights and other decorations are removed.
  • Cutting the tree into four-foot sections or shorter.
  • Chopping smaller trees into pieces small enough to fit inside the waste can.

The Pick Your Own Christmas Tree site has an alphabetical listing of Texas cities where people can recycle their Christmas tree.

A flocked tree can’t be recycled and shouldn’t be turned into mulch. Instead, cut it into pieces for disposal. However, some local waste management departments will not accept flocked trees for disposal, so check for specific department guidelines.

TAMU

Holiday Safety Tips- Prevent Food Poisoning During the Holidays

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Holiday meal on a table.

Feasting with family is part of many holiday celebrations. Follow these tips to help prevent food poisoning, or foodborne illness, during the holidays.

  • Keep foods separatedexternal icon. Keep meat, chicken, turkey, seafood, and eggs separate from all other foods at the grocery store and in the refrigerator. Prevent juices from meat, chicken, turkey, and seafood from dripping or leaking onto other foods by keeping them in containers or sealed plastic bags. Store eggs in their original carton in the main compartment of the refrigerator.
  • Cook food thoroughlyexternal icon. Meat, chicken, turkey, seafood, and eggs can carry germs that cause food poisoning. Use a food thermometer to ensure these foods have been cooked to a safe internal temperatureexternal icon. Roasts, chops, steaks, and fresh ham should rest for 3 minutes after you remove them from the oven or grill.
  • Keep food out of the “danger zone.”external icon Bacteria can grow rapidly in the danger zone between 40°F and 140°F. After food is prepared, keep hot food hot and cold food cold. Refrigerate or freeze any perishable food within 2 hours (1 hour if food is exposed to temperatures above 90°F, such as in a hot car). The temperature in your refrigerator should be set at or below 40°F and the freezer at or below 0°F.
  • Use pasteurized eggs for dishes containing raw eggs. Salmonella and other harmful germs can live on both the outside and inside of normal-looking eggs. Many holiday favorites contain raw eggs, including eggnog, tiramisu, hollandaise sauce, and Caesar dressing. Always use pasteurized eggs when making these and other foods made with raw eggs.
  • Do not eat raw dough or batterexternal icon. Dough and batter made with flour or eggs can contain harmful germs, such as E. coli and Salmonella. Do not taste or eat raw dough or batter that is meant to be baked or cooked. This includes dough or batter for cookies, cakes, pies, biscuits, pancakes, tortillas, pizza, or crafts. Do not let children taste raw dough or batter or play with dough at home or in restaurants. Some companies and stores offer edible cookie dough that uses heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs or no eggs. Read the label carefully to make sure the dough is meant to be eaten without baking or cooking.
  • Thaw your turkey safelyexternal icon. Thaw turkey in the refrigerator, in a sink of cold water (change the water every 30 minutes), or in the microwave. Avoid thawing foods on the counter. A turkey must thawexternal icon at a safe temperature to prevent harmful germs from growing rapidly.
  • Wash your hands. Wash your hands with soap and water during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:
    • Before, during, and after preparing food
    • Before eating food
    • After handling pet food or pet treats or touching pets
    • After using the toilet
    • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
    • After touching garbage
    • Before and after caring for someone who is sick
    • Before and after treating a cut or wound
    • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

 

Pregnancy and Holiday Food

Pregnant women are at increased risk of food poisoning, so take extra care if you’re pregnant or preparing food for someone who is.

Close up of a pregnant woman

Pregnant women are 10 times more likely than others to get listeriosis, a rare but deadly foodborne infection caused by the bacteria Listeria. Learn how to protect yourself from this harmful germ.

CDC