Holiday Safety Tips: From Frying Turkeys to Recalled Toys

ROUND ROCK, TX - The holidays can be distracting, causing some people to let their guard down and ignore serious dangers. Here is a list of helpful tips that could help you protect yourself this holiday season.

The National Safety Council released a helpful list of holiday safety tips, and they are being taken seriously by the City of Round Rock.

Frying a turkey can be a serious fire hazard, in fact, it has caused 672 injuries and $8 million in property damage losses since 2002. Check out this award-winning video made by the Round Rock fire department on how to protect yourself from turkey accidents.

Christmas trees are a major fire hazard around this time of year. Tips to prevent holiday fires include:

• Never leave burning candles unattended or sleep in a room with a lit candle
• Keep candles out of reach of children
• Make sure candles are on stable surfaces
• Don’t burn candles near trees, curtains or any other flammable items
• Don’t burn trees, wreaths or wrapping paper in the fireplace
• Check and clean the chimney and fireplace area at least once a year

You can also watch another Round Rock fire department video preventing tree fires below.

Holiday gifts can come with their own dangers. For example, small or removable parts on toys can be choking hazards for small children. Here are some tips on how to keep your gift-giving safe this holiday season:

• Select gifts for older adults that are not heavy or awkward to handle
• Be aware of dangers associated with coin lithium batteries; of particular concern is the ingestion of button batteries

• See which toys have been recalled

Travel is a big part of the holidays for some people, and more traveling means a higher chance of getting into an accident. Here are some tips on how to prevent vehicular accidents this season:

• Use a designated driver to ensure guests make it home safely after a holiday party; alcohol, over-the-counter or illegal drugs all cause impairment
• Make sure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up no matter how long or short the distance being traveled
• Put that cell phone away; distracted driving causes one-quarter of all crashes
• Make sure the vehicle is properly maintained, and keep an emergency kit with you
• Be prepared for heavy traffic, and possibly heavy snow

Driving is not the only vehicle-related danger around the holidays, Last December saw one of the highest monthly rates of vehicular theft in 2014, and 5,717 automobiles, pickups and motorcycles were reported stolen. Over 13,190 vehicle burglaries were reported and $13.3 million in property stolen. The DPS offers the following advice for protecting yourself from vehicle theft and burglary.

• Never leave your car running unattended, even for a quick visit to a business or store.
• Never leave keys in the car or ignition, inside a locked garage, or in hide-a-key boxes.
• Always roll up your windows and lock the car, even if it is parked at your home.
• When possible, always park in high-traffic, well-lighted areas.
• Install an anti-theft device that locks the steering wheel, column or brakes, especially if your vehicle is considered to be at increased risk for theft.
• Never leave personal documents, vehicle ownership title or credit cards in your vehicle.
• Always keep valuables or property hidden out of sight or locked in the trunk.