Get Healthy Carson City: Enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season

Get Healthy Carson City: Enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season

by Home Decoration

Dr. Colleen Lyons Carson Metropolis Health and fitness and Human Providers Wellness Officer

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Holiday break basic safety is an situation that burns brightest from late November to mid-January, when households obtain, get-togethers are scheduled and vacation spikes. While the holiday seasons may possibly appear a tiny diverse this calendar year thanks to the pandemic, more compact out of doors or indoor in-human being gatherings are nevertheless probable.
Supporting Psychological Wellness This Time
The holiday break year is frequently accompanied by greater anxiety. Although quite a few people search ahead to festivities with friends and loved ones, for other individuals, this time can bring on or worsen stress, anxiety and despair, and raise the possibility for substance use, relapse and overdose. A wide range of variables can deliver on getaway panic, and this yr, with the impacts of the pandemic, there are new, complex predicaments, issues and conditions anyone will have to contemplate. Learn additional about these troubles and steps you can choose to defend yourself, cherished ones, good friends and colleagues. Look at the one particular-hour Webinar from the Countrywide Protection Council at https://bit.ly/3ElWC9Q
Traveling for the holiday seasons? Be geared up
When quite a few will opt for to remain dwelling this calendar year, if you do travel, be absolutely sure your vehicle is in great functioning issue, you have lots of rest and are ready for any emergency. Touring by automobile for the duration of the holiday seasons has the maximum fatality level of any big form of transportation dependent on fatalities for each passenger mile. Alcoholic beverages impairment is concerned in about a 3rd of the fatalities.
Keep risk-free on the streets above the holidays and just about every day:
Get a fantastic night’s slumber ahead of departing and prevent drowsy driving.
Go away early, setting up in advance for weighty targeted traffic.
Get ready your auto for wintertime and continue to keep an emergency preparedness package with you
Make guaranteed each individual individual in the auto is effectively buckled up no make any difference how long or brief the distance traveled.
Set that mobile telephone away many interruptions arise whilst driving, but cell telephones are the principal perpetrator.
Practice defensive driving.
Designate a sober driver to assure friends make it dwelling safely following a vacation bash liquor or more than-the-counter, prescription and illegal medications can bring about impairment.
Decorate safely
Decorating is just one of the best approaches to get in a holiday getaway temper, but unexpected emergency rooms see countless numbers of injuries involving holiday decorating each and every season. When decorating stick to these ideas from the U.S. Shopper Product Basic safety Fee:
Retain possibly poisonous vegetation – mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry and amaryllis – away from small children.
If employing an artificial tree, check that it is labeled “fire resistant.”
If applying a are living tree, lower off about 2 inches of the trunk to expose new wooden for far better h2o absorption, try to remember to drinking water it and get rid of it from your household when it is dry.
Location your tree at least 3 toes away from fireplaces, radiators and other warmth sources, producing certain not to block doorways.
Keep away from inserting breakable ornaments or types with compact, detachable sections on reduce tree branches wherever tiny small children or pets can access them.
Only use indoor lights indoors and outside lights outside, and decide on the suitable ladder for the undertaking when hanging lights.
Swap light sets that have damaged or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
Comply with the offer instructions on the number of mild sets that can be plugged into 1 socket.
Hardly ever nail, tack or pressure wiring when hanging lights and continue to keep plugs off the ground absent from puddles and snow.
Flip off all lights and decorations when you go to mattress or depart the household.
Enjoy for hearth starters
Candles and Fireplaces
Use of candles and fireplaces, merged with an maximize in the sum of combustible, seasonal decorations in lots of homes for the duration of the holiday seasons, indicates additional possibility for fireplace. The Nationwide Hearth Safety Association experiences that one-3rd of dwelling decoration fires are began by candles and that two of every 5 decoration fires materialize simply because the decorations are placed way too shut to a warmth supply.
Spot candles wherever they can’t be knocked down or blown around and out of get to of small children.
Keep matches and lighters up substantial and out of access for little ones in a locked cabinet.
Use flameless, somewhat than lighted, candles around flammable objects.
Do not burn trees, wreaths or wrapping paper in the hearth.
Use a display on the hearth at all moments when a fire is burning.
Never ever leave candles or fireplaces burning unattended or when you are asleep.
Verify and thoroughly clean the chimney and fireplace area at the very least as soon as a calendar year.
Examination your smoke detectors and insure they do not need to have new batteries.
Food items poisoning is no joke
Continue to keep your holidays joyful by dealing with food stuff safely and securely. The foodsafety.gov web-site from the U.S. Division of Health and fitness and Human Solutions presents some worthwhile holiday break food protection strategies:
Clean your palms often when dealing with food items.
Preserve uncooked meat away from new make.
Use separate reducing boards, plate and utensils for raw and cooked meats to steer clear of cross-contamination.
Use a foodstuff thermometer to make absolutely sure meat is cooked to a safe temperature.
Refrigerate very hot or cold leftover food items in two hrs of staying served.
When storing turkey, slice the leftovers in little parts so they will chill immediately.
Thanksgiving leftovers are risk-free for three to four times when effectively refrigerated.
It is superior to give properly
Gifts and toys should really inspire joy, not trigger injuries. A lot more than a quarter of a million kids had been significantly wounded in toy-related incidents in 2017. Stay away from protection dangers when gifting with these suggestions from the U.S. Customer Item Protection Fee:
Toys are age-rated for security, not for children’s intellect and bodily ability, so be guaranteed to select toys in the correct age vary.
Decide on toys for small children beneath 3 that do not have compact components which could be choking hazards.
For kids underneath 10, stay clear of toys that ought to be plugged into an electrical outlet.
Be cautious about toys that have button batteries or magnets, which can be unsafe or deadly if swallowed.
When providing scooters and other riding toys, give the reward of correct safety gear, as well helmets should be worn at all times and they ought to be sized to fit.
Data derived from the National Protection Council site.
For details about services and courses available to you through Carson Metropolis Overall health and Human Services, make sure you stop by our web-site at https://gethealthycarsoncity.org/, or give us a phone at (775) 887-2190. You can also uncover us at 900 East Extensive Road in Carson Town, or comply with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/cchhs, Twitter @CCHealthEd, or Instagram @GetHealthCarsonCity.

State Officials Offer Home Holiday Safety Tips

State Officials Offer Home Holiday Safety Tips

by Home Decoration

Delivered by the Pennsylvania Insurance plan Office & Business of the State Hearth Commissioner:

File photograph

 The Pennsylvania Insurance policies Department and the Workplace of the Point out Hearth Commissioner now are highlighting the prevalent hazards connected with getaway décor ranging from dehydrated Christmas trees to unattended candles to ornamental outdoors lights.

“This time of yr, we are all eager to devote time with good friends and family members in front of heat fires, decorating trees and lighting candles,” mentioned Insurance policy Commissioner Jessica Altman. “However, it is critical for Pennsylvanians to bear in mind the methods they can acquire to keep them selves, their families and house protected.” 

Heating, holiday break decorations, wintertime storms and candles all lead to an amplified possibility of fireplace throughout the wintertime months. In accordance to the Countrywide Hearth Safety Affiliation:

  • Extra than one-third of household decoration fires in December are begun by candles
  • Christmas is the peak working day for candle fires
  • Far more than a single in each and every five Xmas tree fires have been triggered by a heat source far too near to the tree

“Holiday lights and candles are a beloved aspect of the period, but they are an extremely frequent source of ignition for dwelling fires,” explained Acting Condition Hearth Commissioner Thomas Cook dinner. “Modern electric powered candles glimpse practical and greatly increase safety. Serious candles must only be used when and the place they can be monitored.”

Acting Commissioner Prepare dinner made available various strategies for holding households risk-free this winter season holiday getaway period:

  • Select decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
  • Retain all holiday getaway greenery, including trees, perfectly-watered.
  • Under no circumstances go away burning candles or cooking appliances unattended.
  • Always continue to keep youngsters and animals absent from open flames and sizzling surfaces.
  • Swap gentle strands that have worn or damaged wires or unfastened bulb connections, avoid overloading electrical stores with as well numerous cords, and do not run extension cords beneath rugs and carpet.
  • Be certain to convert off holiday break lights just before leaving house or likely to mattress.
  • Homeowners ought to be guaranteed to put Xmas trees at least a few ft absent from a heat supply, like a candle, radiator, or fireplace.

“Christmas tree fires normally start off really immediately, and they can fill a space with poisonous smoke in underneath 30 seconds,” Performing Commissioner Prepare dinner extra. “It is essential for Pennsylvanians to take needed safety measures in the course of the vacations and over and above.”

The Nationwide Fireplace Security Association studies that Christmas trees contributed to an once-a-year normal of two civilian fire fatalities, 10 civilian fire accidents and $10 million in immediate assets hurt through a 4-yr span.

“The vacations are normally whole of thoughtful, entertaining and sometimes high-priced items, which is why I really encourage householders to overview their insurance policy policies to make guaranteed the coverage allotted for contents is plenty of,” mentioned Altman. “Generally, most homeowners’ procedures have precise, lower boundaries for beneficial things.

“I also want to urge individuals to feel about how they display unwrapped costly presents,” continued Altman. “Make absolutely sure goods are not visible by windows or doorways. When discarding bins for larger products like televisions and computer systems, be confident to crack down the packing containers and set them out as close to trash day as probable, if not the morning of.”

It is also important to take note that if you rent, your possessions will not be lined except you have a renters insurance plan plan. Your landlord’s insurance policy will most likely go over the constructing, but not the contents you have, so if you lease, make certain you have renters’ coverage.

“Small possibilities for safety can shell out significant dividends and preserve you and your beloved kinds safe and sound this period,” stated Acting Commissioner Prepare dinner.  “No issue how you opt for to celebrate this season, it’s usually crucial to take the proper basic safety safety measures.”

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Fire prevention tips for the holiday season

Fire prevention tips for the holiday season

by Home Decoration

(WHTM) — The Pennsylvania Insurance policies Section and the Workplace of the Point out Fireplace Commissioner are highlighting the typical hazards involved with vacation decorations, these kinds of as dehydrated Christmas trees, unattended candles, and ornamental outside lights.

“This time of calendar year, we are all eager to shell out time with buddies and loved ones in entrance of heat fires, decorating trees and lights candles,” Insurance policy Commissioner Jessica Altman reported. “However, it is significant for Pennsylvanians to don’t forget the ways they can just take to hold them selves, their people, and house safe and sound.” 

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According to the National Hearth Safety Association (NFPA), a lot more than just one-3rd of home decoration fires are commenced by candles. Also, more than a person in five Christmas tree fires were being induced by a warmth source that is much too close to the tree.

“Holiday lights and candles are a beloved section of the time, but they are an exceptionally common resource of ignition for dwelling fires,” Performing Point out Hearth Commissioner Thomas Prepare dinner mentioned. “Modern electric powered candles seem reasonable and greatly increase security. Serious candles need to only be used when and the place they can be monitored.”

The commissioner also has solutions on how to maintain your house as safe as attainable throughout the holiday getaway period.

  • Decide on decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
  • Preserve all holiday getaway greenery, such as trees, well-watered.
  • By no means leave burning candles or cooking appliances unattended.
  • Normally continue to keep little ones and animals absent from open up flames and very hot surfaces.
  • Switch mild strands that have worn or broken wires or loose bulb connections, keep away from overloading electrical shops with way too quite a few cords, and do not run extension cords beneath rugs and carpet.
  • Be positive to convert off holiday break lights ahead of leaving home or going to mattress.
  • Home owners really should be guaranteed to put Christmas trees at minimum 3 toes away from a heat supply, like a candle, radiator, or fireplace.

The NFPA experiences that Xmas trees contributed to an once-a-year typical of two civilian fires, 10 civilian hearth accidents, and $10 million in direct assets harm.

“Small decisions for safety can fork out big dividends and continue to keep you and your liked ones risk-free this period,” Commissioner Cook. said  “No make a difference how you pick out to rejoice this period, it is generally important to choose the good basic safety safeguards.”

Wolf Administration Offers Home Holiday Safety Tips

Wolf Administration Offers Home Holiday Safety Tips

by Home Decoration

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Insurance Department and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner today are highlighting the common dangers associated with holiday décor ranging from dehydrated Christmas trees to unattended candles to decorative outside lighting.

“This time of year, we are all eager to spend time with friends and family in front of warm fires, decorating trees and lighting candles,” said Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman. “However, it is important for Pennsylvanians to remember the steps they can take to keep themselves, their families and property safe.” 

Heating, holiday decorations, winter storms and candles all contribute to an increased risk of fire during the winter months. According to the National Fire Protection Association:

  • More than one-third of home decoration fires in December are started by candles
  • Christmas is the peak day for candle fires
  • More than one in every five Christmas tree fires were caused by a heat source too close to the tree

 
“Holiday lights and candles are a beloved part of the season, but they are an exceptionally common source of ignition for house fires,” said Acting State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook. “Modern electric candles look realistic and greatly increase safety. Real candles should only be used when and where they can be monitored.”

Acting Commissioner Cook offered several suggestions for keeping homes safe this winter holiday season:

  • Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
  • Keep all holiday greenery, including trees, well-watered.
  • Never leave burning candles or cooking appliances unattended.
  • Always keep children and pets away from open flames and hot surfaces.
  • Replace light strands that have worn or broken wires or loose bulb connections, avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many cords, and do not run extension cords beneath rugs and carpet.
  • Be sure to turn off holiday lights before leaving home or going to bed.
  • Homeowners should be sure to place Christmas trees at least three feet away from a heat source, like a candle, radiator, or fireplace.

 
“Christmas tree fires often start very quickly, and they can fill a room with toxic smoke in under 30 seconds,” Acting Commissioner Cook added. “It is crucial for Pennsylvanians to take necessary precautions throughout the holidays and beyond.”

The National Fire Protection Association reports that Christmas trees contributed to an annual average of two civilian fire deaths, 10 civilian fire injuries and $10 million in direct property damage during a four-year span.

“The holidays are generally full of thoughtful, fun and sometimes expensive gifts, which is why I encourage homeowners to review their insurance policies to make sure the coverage allotted for contents is enough,” said Altman. “Generally, most homeowners’ policies have specific, lower limits for valuable items.

“I also want to urge consumers to think about how they display unwrapped expensive gifts,” continued Altman. “Make sure items are not visible through windows or doors. When discarding boxes for bigger items like televisions and computers, be sure to break down the boxes and put them out as close to trash day as possible, if not the morning of.”

It is also important to note that if you rent, your belongings will not be covered unless you have a renters insurance policy. Your landlord’s insurance will likely cover the building, but not the contents you own, so if you rent, make sure you have renters’ insurance.

“Small choices for safety can pay large dividends and keep you and your loved ones safe this season,” said Acting Commissioner Cook.  “No matter how you choose to celebrate this season, it’s always important to take the proper safety precautions.”

Visit osfc.pa.gov/BeFireSafePA for more seasonal fire safety tips.

For additional resources regarding homeowners or renters insurance, visit www.insurance.pa.gov., or call the Insurance Department’s Consumer Services Bureau at 1-877-881-6388.   

 
MEDIA CONTACTS:             
Thaisa Jones, Insurance, thajones@pa.gov
L. Paul Vezzetti, OFSC, 717-651-2169

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A new pup means a holiday decor change-up for Karen Bertelsen

A new pup means a holiday decor change-up for Karen Bertelsen

by Home Decoration

Karen Bertelsen usually has her home extensively decked out for the holidays. But this year her decorating plans have gone to the dogs.

Well, to one dog: her five-month-old blue standard poodle pup, Lip — short for Phillip, named for the character on the former TV series “Shameless.”

Karen Bertelsen with standard poodle pup Lip ? short for Phillip ? at her Christmas tree decorated with dried citrus slices.

With a rambunctious young canine in the house, the former TV personality and DIY blogger (The Art of Doing Stuff ) had to reconsider some of her usual go-to Christmas choices. So this year, Bertelsen opted for a simple, easy decor plan that still makes her heritage home feel plenty festive.

“Usually when I do Christmas, it’s a three-day set-up and I love all of it. Give me all of the Christmas!” she says. “But now I have a puppy. I’ve decided to have an imperfect Christmas.”

Bertelsen bought her red brick 1840 English cottage in Dundas, Ont., 25 years ago as her first home. But she liked it so much, she’s never left. As well as Lip, her family includes two chickens that live in a backyard coop.

"I have a wood-burning fireplace so it immediately feels homey and wintery," says Bertelsen of the feature dressed up with white LED lights and natural elements.

For the holidays, she puts a huge garland on her front hallway mirror and sets up three Christmas trees: in the foyer, the dining room and her bedroom, and occasionally a small one on the vintage candy counter that serves as her kitchen island. She chooses real balsam fir trees because they smell good, have soft needles and at the end of the season, she can carve off a twig, remove the bark and make a weather stick. (Weather sticks, 15 to 16 inches long, can be nailed to a wall, fence post or pillar. When fair weather is coming, the stick turns up; if bad weather’s looming, it turns downward).

Normally, Bertelsen would deck her trees with her cherished vintage glass ornament collection, but mindful of puppy shenanigans, the treasures are on hold until next year. “I don’t care what colour they are or what they look like,” she says. “I have been collecting them for years at garage sales and at auctions and flea markets. Some of them are wildly expensive, but you can get the same look with cheap glass balls. They don’t have to handcrafted German glass ornaments. I have some that were garish colours and now are soft and muted.”

A huge mirror in the front hallway of Bertelsen's heritage home is treated to a big garland and tartan bow.

This year Bertelsen dehydrated orange slices and hung them on her Christmas tree, as well as DIY homemade candle lights that look like real candles but without the fire hazard. Outdoors, her plans included garland swags around the front windows, white lights and red bows around the yard, and a wreath with orange slices and pine cones for her front door.

“I like a very traditional, English-inspired look in this house,” she says. “I have an English saddle I put on display, and I use plaids and lots of red, gold and natural elements. It’s a cross between upstairs and downstairs ‘Downton Abbey’.”

Pine cones are a go-to element of Bertelsen’s decor scheme. There are “101 things you can do with pine cones,” she says, whether you buy them at a dollar store or collect them from your yard. “If all you have is pine cones and Christmas balls in baskets, you’re all set to make your home festive. You can scent the pine cones with essential oils.”

Waxed amaryllis bulbs coated in gold foil create a dramatic, living display as the stalks shoot up to grow their showy flowers.

Bertelsen says food items are useful holiday decorating accessories, such as clementine oranges that can be placed in bowls or lined up in a row for a more contemporary look. Clementin decorated with cloves can interspersed in a bowl, or lined up with pine cones, with LED copper wire lights wound through them.

“The lights run off batteries and most come with timers so you can turn them on at 8 p.m. and set them to turn off at midnight,” Bertelsen says. “It’s a beautiful Christmas display and makes you feel good.”

She makes waxed amaryllis bulbs that she decorates with glitter or gold foil and arranges on a buffet to watch them grown and bloom for Christmas.

“I don’t need a ton of accessories as I have a wood-burning fireplace so it immediately feels homey and wintery,” she says. She has a big antler on her dining room table that adds to the seasonal mood, along with lots of candles.

A tired five-month-old Lip safely snoozes beneath Bertelsen's tree decorated in natural and unbreakable items.

She’ll host Christmas Eve dinner at her house with family members who all live nearby. “I invite people for 6 p.m., but since it’s my family, they show up at eight. We fill up on appetizers or have a meal like chili.” She says her family knows to expect something interesting to happen at her place — a few years ago she ordered “miracle berries” that make things sour taste sweet, and vice versa. “We could eat lemons or drink pickle juice and it tasted great. We killed ourselves laughing.” She said she’s especially looking forward to holiday meals this year since she’s lost five pounds chasing Lip around.

Bertelsen's repurposed antique hardware cabinet gets vintage holiday treatment with sleigh bells and an evergreen garland.

To create special Christmas decor with a DIY twist, Bertelsen shares her tips for making your house look holiday-ready without breaking a sweat:

1. Use pine cones, fresh sprigs of greenery and Christmas balls. Put them in baskets, bowls and hang them. The sprigs have to be replaced once a week or so if they aren’t in water.

2. For every Christmas decoration you put out, take a piece of home decor away and put the items in the box you store your Christmas stuff in until the holidays are over. By replacing and not adding, it will help keep your home from looking crowded and overly busy.

3. Decorate with food. Clementines and mixed nuts in the shell are Bertelsen’s go-to Christmas foods that work for both decor and snacking.

4. Just because you own it, it doesn’t mean you have to use it. If you don’t like a Christmas decoration or don’t have room, keep it for next year — your mood could change and you might like it again. But if it hasn’t been out for a few years, it’s time for the piece to go.

Tracy Hanes is a GTA-based writer and a freelance contributor for the Star. Reach her via email: tracyhanes@yahoo.ca

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Home landscapes ideal for finding holiday greenery

Home landscapes ideal for finding holiday greenery

by Home Decoration
Home landscapes ideal for finding holiday greenery

I am a holiday decoration junkie. In our home last December, there were no fewer than 11 trees of various sizes, nearly two dozen different nativities from around the world, several holiday plants and many other assorted holiday decorations.

I always enjoy looking for new and vintage holiday decorations to feed my decoration addiction, but this year the decoration pickings are slim at many stores due to supply-chain disruptions (which I imagine to somehow have been engineered by the Grinch himself).

The good news is that if you are looking for some new ideas for holiday decorations this year, look no further than your own backyard or your local garden center for different types of fresh conifer and evergreen greenery that is sure to brighten up the inside and outside of your home this holiday season.

A colorful display can be created for the table.

Decorating the outside and inside of the house with fresh evergreens is one of the oldest winter holiday traditions, having been used in ancient winter festivals. Evergreens were used to represent everlasting life and hope for the return of spring. Today, decorating for the holidays with fresh greenery is more popular than ever, with many different plants providing a wide array of foliage with different characteristics for holiday decorating.

Simple boughs of fresh greenery provide a tasteful backdrop for any type of holiday decoration.

Types of greenery

Almost any type of evergreen or conifer can be used as holiday greenery. Firs, pines, and cedars are excellent as cut greens, as they dry out slowly and hold their needles best in warm interior temperatures. Many species of firs and cedars also provide a wonderfully festive scent when used indoors. Hemlock, spruces, and other broadleaf evergreens will last longer when used as outdoor decorations as they tend to dry out and drop needles very quickly. Holly branches are very traditional winter holiday decorations with branches from female plants prized for their bright red berries.