From late November to mid-January, when families gather, parties are scheduled and travel spikes, safety should be top of mind. Following is tried-and-true advice to ensure your family remains safe and injury-free throughout the season.

Traveling for the Holidays? Be Prepared

If you’re traveling this year, be sure your vehicle is in good running condition, get plenty of rest and be prepared for any emergency. Traveling by car during the holidays has the highest fatality rate of any major form of transportation based on fatalities per passenger mile. Hundreds of people die every year in crashes on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day according to Injury Facts. Alcohol impairment is involved in about a third of these fatalities.

Stay safe on the roads over the holidays by following these tips:

●Prepare your car for winter and keep an emergency kit with you.
● Get a good night’s sleep before departing and avoid drowsy driving.
● Leave early, planning ahead for heavy traffic.
● Make sure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up no matter how long or short the distance traveled
● Put that cell phone away to avoid distractions.
● Practice defensive driving.
● Designate a sober driver to ensure guests make it home safely after a holiday party; alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription and illegal drugs can cause impairment

Decorate Safely

Decorating is one of the best ways to get in a holiday mood, but emergency rooms see thousands of injuries involving holiday decorating every season.

When decorating follow these tips from the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission:

● Keep potentially poisonous plants – mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry and amaryllis – away from children.
● If using an artificial tree, check that it is labeled “fire resistant.”
● If using a live tree, cut off about 2 inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption, remember to water it, and remove it from your home when it is dry.
● Place your tree at least 3 feet away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources, making certain not to block doorways.
● Avoid placing breakable ornaments or ones with small, detachable parts on lower tree branches where small children can reach them.
● Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors. Be sure to choose the right ladder for the task when hanging lights.
● Replace light sets that have broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
● Follow the package directions on the number of light sets that can be plugged into one socket.
● Never nail, tack or stress wiring when hanging lights and keep plugs off the ground away from puddles and snow.
● Turn off all lights and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.

Beware of Fire-Starters

The use of candles and fireplaces, combined with an increase in the amount of combustible, seasonal decorations in many homes during the holidays, means increased risk for fire. The National Fire Protection Association reports that one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles and that two of every five decoration fires happen because the decorations are placed too close to a heat source.

● Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over and out of reach of children.
● Keep matches and lighters up high and out of reach of children in a locked cabinet.
● Use flameless, rather than lighted, candles near flammable objects.
● Don’t burn trees, wreaths or wrapping paper in the fireplace.
● Use a screen on the fireplace at all times when a fire is burning.
● Never leave candles or fireplaces burning unattended or when you are asleep.
● Check and clean the chimney and fireplace area at least once a year.