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THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

By ANDY SMITH
Regional Safety Director

Christmas comes’ but once
a year. For some, that’s not
enough, for others it’s too
often.

But, as a popular song goes,
there’s no Christmas like a
home Christmas. We all know
it’s true and it’s a happy fact.

On the other hand, there’s
no Christmas like a Christmas
spoiled, perhaps tragically, by
a home accident. That’s what
safety professionals say and
we all know this is true, too.

But the sad fact is that not
enough of us take it seriously,
nor do we give it sufficient
thought and action in our
own. lives.

BORED

If you sit and count to a
thousand slowly, the worst
that will happen to you is
that you will get bored and a
bit breathless.

You are lucky, for during
that same average 18 minutes
someone, somewhere, will
have died because of a home
accident. Moreover, some 135
persons will have suffered dis-
abling injuries in and about
their own homes, bringing not
only pain and grief, but also
financial hardship to their
families.

The National Safety Coun-
cil and other organizations
work constructively, energeti-
cally, and progressively the
year round to brighten the
shadows and lighten the load
of the home accidents in
family life.

People go on killing and
maiming themselves and mar-
ring and scarring their lives
through the simple acts of
thoughtlessness and careless-
hess and rash haste, so never
mind counting to a thousand
to measure the accident sta-
tistics. Just count to ten, and
then refrain from accident-
making acts.

BAD TIME

As a matter of fact, right
now during the season of
Christmas crescendo, is an es-
pecially good time to start a
serious countdown to the
launching of a new and inten-
sified family police for home
safety. Now is a good time to
do something about atcident

(on erase because now is a
time for accidents.
They are more likely to

in December than any
month and, when they

a a Sn setae at the
peak of family enjoyment and
ct x wisiacoe

Now is the time for a five-
point countdown to Yuletime
safety. Instead of just follow-
ing the Christmas cliches and
counting the shopping days
left, make it a countdown for
holiday home safety rules.

Start with five —the
Christmas tree. If yours is one
of the many families to whom
this holiday is not complete
without a tree, make it a real
diligent effort to see that the
brightness comes only from
lights and eyes and hearts,
not from accidental fire.

FIRST

First of all, be sure to ob-
tain a fresh tree a few days
before Christmas. Test it to
see if the needles may be
dried out and already falling.
Cut the trunk off diagonally,
a little above the original cut.
Keep in water or wet dirt or
sand until used. Use a stand
that contains water and keep
it filled. Make sure the tree is
not located near a fireplace,
radiator, stove, television set,
or any other source of heat.
Never block any exits by
placing a tree in the line of
traffic.

Remember these same rules
if you assist in decorating a
church, school, or assembly
room. Use only lights and
wiring with the Underwriters’
Laboratories label. Make sure
that extension cords, if used,
do not present a tripping
hazard. Never overload a cir-
cuit by having too many plugs
in one outlet. Check lighting
sets from previous years for
frayed wires, loose connec-
tions and broken sockets.

TRAGIC FIRES

Many tragic fires start
when there is no one at home
or when the family is in bed.

For this reason, do not
leave the lights burning for
too long a period of time and
always turn them off when
you retire for the night.

Candles should never be
used on your tree. Angel hair
and snow spray can be in-
flammable if they are used
together in decorations. You
may use one on a tree, but
never both. Electric lights
should not be used on a metal
tree because of the danger of
electrocution. Glass, metal, or
non-combustible materials are
safest for decorations.

SOLUTION

If you use cotton batting or
a sheet under the tree, or

A COUNTDOWN

Christmas season is nearly here, and as
this, our Centennial Year, is drawing to a
close, children and adults alike are looking
forward to enjoyable times. It is with this in
mind that I again publish some of the pre-
cautions that must be taken in the home, even

at the risk of being criticized for being repi-
titious.

With the tragic events that happen in the
homes throughout the year increasing, it is
most important that we use every safeguard

‘to protect our loved ones during the festive

paper and cloth for costuming
of children, treat these ma-
terials to make them fire-
resistant. Mix a solution of
nine ounces of borax and four
ounces of boracic acid powder
in one gallon of water. Dip
the fabric in the solution,
wring by hand, and hang to
dry. Don’t smoke near the
tree, and be sure those cigaret
butts are disposed of safely.

Finally, take the tree down
when the needles start to fall.
A dry tree can burn away in
less than 27 seconds.

What if a fire should break
out suddenly in your home?
Would your family members
know what they should do?
Take time to discuss this with
them. Figure out a planned
escape procedure in case of
fire and run through this pro-
cedure for practice. The time
they may save exiting from
a burning building could save
their lives.

Four — toys, naturally.
There’s no Christmas like a
child’s Christmas, and it’s
worth the parents’ most ear-
nest safeguarding in shopping
and in training for use.

CHECK TOYS

Check toys before you pur-
chase them to make sure that
they are safely constructed.
Edges of toys should be
smooth, and all parts secure-
ly attached. Baby toys should
be too large to put into the
mouth, nose or eyes. Simple
toys are best for a toddler be-
cause they may swallow small
parts which break off. If you
purchase a doll or stuffed ani-
mal with eyes that come out
easily, remove these eyes and
embroider new ones in their
place.

Toys such as BB guns,
slingshots, blank pistols,
knives, darts, and bows and
arrows, can cause severe in-
jury. Be particular in select-
ing toys that are proper for
the sex and age of your chil-
dren. Some gifts should be
accompanied by strict en-
forcement of safety rules and
proper instructions when they
are used. Avoid all flamable
toys, all electric toys should
have a UL label.

HAZARDOUS

Remember that mechanical,
electrical and chemical toys
that develop skill and knowl-
edge in older children can be
hazardous in the hands of a
young child.

Three — consideration to-
wards others. Thoughtfulness
applied to others’ welfare can
help make this season’s good-
will a year round matter.

FOR CHRISTMAS

SAFETY

season, when there are going to be even more

hazards than usual. If we can avoid even one

accident, this will not have been in vain.

I sincerely wish each and every one a
SAFE and Merry Christmas.

C ~ a

er RE Ae ~~

f

ANDY SMITH

In the matter of gifts, why
not consider something like
built-in protectiveness — a
home fire extinguisher, non-
skid rugs, bathroom safety
devices, flashlight or flares, or
seat belts for the family car.

If you need a babysitter for
your holiday gadding, be sure
the sitter fully understands
her responsibility and knows
what to do in an emergency.

No matter how many chil-
dren are attracted into the
kitchen by the aroma of cook-
ing, keep them out during the
cooking operations.

Two — winter weather
which can add zest and charm
to the Christmas spirit, or
bring trouble and misery to
the body. Don’t slip up on
your responsibility to protect
the goings and comings of
your visitors and your own
family. Keep all the outside
pathways and steps cleared or
sanded over for more secure
walking, but remember also
that snow shovelling is a
strenuous workout for the
heart and lungs, so don’t
overdo it.

OVERHEATING

Guard against the danger
of overheating and sparking
with any flame system,
whether furnace, stove or
fireplace.

One — driving. There are
enough bona-fide home acci-
dents without placing traffic
accidents in the classification,
but driving is certainly an
important element of family
living — or not living. We
certainly can’t ignore its ef-
fect on home life during this
season or any time.

Don’t- do any driving if
you’ve done any drinking.

Alcohol is not a stimulant,
and is classified medically as
a depressant. Small amounts
of alcohol tend to reduce
judgment, self control and
driving ability. Loss of judg-
ment and the capacity for self-
criticism occurs before the ob-
vious symptoms of intoxica-
tion. Coffee or other stimu-
lants will NOT offset the ef-
fect of alcohol. Only time can
eliminate alcohol from the
bloodstream.

TRY HARD

Combinations of alcohol
and drugs can produce ad-
verse reactions when a driver
least suspects them. Even
drugs bought without pre-
scription can produce this
effect. “Under the influence”
means that due to drinking
alcohol a person has lost to
some degree, some of the
clearness of mind and self
control that he would other-
wise possess. You do not have
to be obviously intoxicated to
be under the influence, and an
unsafe driver.

Try hard when you are
behind the wheel to restrain
the impatience, haste, worry,
or even the preoccupation
with the joyful aspects of
Christmas. Know the safe
winter driving rules and use
them. Obey the laws and
regulations and signs, and
come home safely to a family
that appreciates your pres-
ence even more than your
presents.

Let this good season launch
your family on a good course
of accident-free living. This is
the greatest gift of all.

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