Winter/Holiday Safety Tips

Holiday decorating

- Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant. - Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn. - Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both. - Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. - Connect no more than three strands of mini light sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. - Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged. - Keep decorations away from windows and doors.

Holiday entertaining

- Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan. - Keep children and pets away from lit candles. - Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet. - Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stove top. - Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them. - Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. - Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding.

Ski and Snowboard Safety Tips

As ski season approaches, skiers and snowboarders can’t wait to hit the snow to leave behind their first fresh tracks of the year. Before you strap into your bindings, keep in mind that a day on the slopes can be dangerous. To avoid a trip to the emergency room and ensure you spend more time tackling double-black diamonds, here are a few things to keep in mind before your ski trip:

Get in shape

Be sure to follow a regular fitness program before heading to the mountains. A basic layer of conditioning will strengthen muscles and build endurance that will help prevent injuries.

Check your equipment

A bindings check is always a smart move. Roughly half of all injuries are due to improper binding performance. While you’re at it, make sure all of your ski and boarding gear is in tip-top shape.

Know your limits

Ski or snowboard at your appropriate level. Beginners should avoid advanced runs.

Warm up

Before you hop from the car to the chair lift, don’t forget to do a little stretching before to loosen and warm up your cold muscles. Focus on calves, hamstrings, quadriceps as well as your shoulders.

Hydrate

When you’re fixated on getting in as many runs as possible, sometimes you forget to stay hydrated. Don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids as the day goes along. Being dehydrated can lead to fatigue.

Avoid the “one last run” syndrome

You think you’ve got just one more run in you before you call it day. If you’re legs are feeling heavy, it’s better to make a beeline to the lodge instead of the chairlift. If a mishap does occur on the hill, make sure that your body is fully recovered before your next trip up to the mountains.