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Monday, December 17, 2007


For the Sake of Christ, let's have a safe, sane and sober Christmas

 

By Gordon Garnos

 

AT ISSUE: It seems as each holiday approaches, there are accidents that ruin the spirit of the festivity. For example, South Dakota suffered seven vehicle fatalities during this past Thanksgiving observance. The anniversary of the birth of Christ is just around the corner. Perhaps a few safety suggestions for both the road and the home may help make this year's Christmas holiday a safe, sane and sober one for all of us.

 

THE WORD, "HOLIDAY," is a deviation of what was meant many years ago as "Holy Day." The holiest of these days is just a few days away. Will it be marred by tragedy as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child?

 

First of all, there will be a lot of people traveling this time of year. Also, this time of year the weather can throw a block into that travel if you are not prepared. In other words, is your car up to meeting a storm head on?

 

Are the wipers in good shape? How about the tires, lights and fluid levels up to where they should be? Ethanol will help keep your fuel line from freezing. Do you have a good set of jumper cables, a good scraper, shovel, etc.? At the same time there is something you should leave at home? The answer is simple.

 

THERE SHOULD BE especially no room in the car for booze, neither inside nor outside the driver. A better use for alcohol is in the gas tank.

 

One who is planning a Christmas trip needs to plan the route, check it and let people at the other end know the approximate time you plan to arrive. Then, make sure your car has a storm kit ready to go as well. A flashlight with fresh batteries is a must. Also, make sure you have a supply of bottled water, plenty of nonperishable food and a can opener, matches, candles, and T-paper and a gallon can with a plastic lid to store it in. Also, you should have a sleeping bag for each one in the car in case you end up in a snow bank for a few hours. That is not unheard of in South Dakota.

 

SAFETY IN THE HOME is also very important this time of year. Have you checked to make sure all of your indoor Christmas decorations as well as the outdoor ones are fire proof? In years gone past Christmas candles on the tree were the cause for many a home to go up in smoke.

 

If you have a real live, green Christmas tree, make sure it is well watered every day it is inside your home. These trees dry out very quickly and can burn very quickly as well if you donıt keep a base pan with water in it.

 

OF COURSE THERE is always entertaining at Christmas time and I recently learned unattended cooking is the major cause of home fires in the United States. And when you are cooking, please turn in the handles of those pans on the stove. Many a child has been severely burned. And speaking of cooking, when was the last time you checked your smoke alarms and fire escapes?

 

Fireplaces and those new modern wood stoves are great throughout the winter months, but if you have one or the other, you must also take care of the chimney. It needs cleaning as well. Once you light the fire, make sure everything that is inflammable that is close by is removed a safe distance. And a party can be ruined if you put the wrong kind of, letıs say a kind of elm, into the fireplace. The stench can get pretty strong.

 

Iıve never known a child who didn't like Christmas, but when it comes to kids and pets, there are some safety hints for them as well. For instance, poinsettias are poisonous to both humans and animals so please keep them out of reach of both. It is also a good idea to keep your decorations out of their reach as well. Space heaters can also be dangerous for both. A bad burn can ruin a holiday for both little and big folks.

 

TO CONCLUDE, a lot of us South Dakotans take security for granted every day and that includes the holidays when we travel. That includes locking the door when you leave. My brother and his family live in Oklahoma City and there security is a must. It should be here as well, but too often it isn't. If you are leaving home for the holidays, also tell a trusted neighbor or a close friend to keep an eye on you property. Check and make sure your windows and doors are locked before you leave on your holiday trip.

 

The list of safety tips for the holidays could go on and on, but if one could just sum them all up, the answer for a safe holiday would be to use good, old South Dakota common sense.

 

P.S. May all of my readers have the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years and please make them safe, sane and sober ones. Your lives could depend on it.....


 

Gordon Garnos was long-time editor of the Watertown Public Opinion and recently retired after 39 years with that newspaper.  Garnos, a lifelong resident of South Dakota except for his military service in the U.S. Air Force, was born and raised in Presho.

 

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