Travel:
* Holiday traveling and winter can be a dangerous combination. Allow extra time when traveling. Monitor weather conditions carefully and adhere to travel advisories.
* Keep a winter storm survival kit in your car. This should include blankets, food, flares, chains, ice scraper, gloves and first aid supplies.
* Designate a driver. When attending a party, always designate a non-drinking driver. If you are the host of a holiday gathering, be sure there are non-alcoholic beverages available for guests who are driving.
* Buckle up. During the holiday months, people travel more than ever. Wearing a seat belt is the easiest and best way to prevent injury in a motor vehicle collision.

Decorating Tips:
* Never use lighted candles near trees, boughs, curtains/drapes, or with any potentially flammable item.
* Use only non-combustible or flame resistant materials to trim a tree.  Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals.
* Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.
* Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets.
* Remember to turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house.

Trees:
* When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles to not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin and when tapped on the ground.  Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water.
* When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "fire resistant".  Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
* When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

Toy Safety:
* Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advance may pose safety hazards for younger children.
* Before allowing your child to play with a toy that was received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
Fireplaces:
* Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace, flash fires may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
starting a volunteer project during the holidays but continuing it monthly or quarterly.