Holiday Safety Tips

It may be the most wonderful time of year, but Lee Health Injury Prevention Resource Coordinator Syndi Bultman said things can turn quickly if you don’t take the right precautions. That starts with decorations and getting a flame retardant tree. “Look for the labels that are on there, check for the lighting. Any lights that you’re putting out? Make sure they’re safe for indoor use or outdoor use. You don’t want more than three to an extension cord.”

If you’re getting a real tree, you want to make sure it’s not dried out. “You’re going to pull a leaf that shouldn’t pull off in your hand easily. When you bend the branch, the needles shouldn’t be falling over. We also want to make sure we water it regularly to keep it moist and not dried out so it won’t start a fire,” said Bultman.

Be mindful of the gifts you’re buying for young ones. “Make sure you’re looking on the box for what age is there appropriate for younger kids, make sure it’s not something that’s very small and they can end up as a choking hazard,” said Bultman.

If you have relatives coming into town, Bultman said, “Make sure that their medications are secure and locked up so little kids cannot get into them. If you think of poisoning has occurred, you’re going to call the poison control center.”

When it comes to that Christmas Turkey, “You want to make sure that they’re fully cooked and you don’t keep it out more than two hours. You want to get that refrigerated right away, and make sure that it’s safe for everybody,” said Bultman. Tips so you can enjoy a happy and healthy holiday season.

Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries. Lee Health - Caring People. Inspiring Care.