Holiday Safety Tips – EFLsuccess.com

Article: Holiday Safety Tips

©Michael Krigline, MA (2023), EFLsuccess.com ⇔

Note to teachers: If you have a 50-minute class, break this into two lessons; study parts “A” in the first class, and “B” in the second class.

Holidays can be filled with fun, friends, and danger!

(See vocabulary, notes, and discussion questions below)

December brings several joyous holidays, filled with family and friends; but it can also be the most dangerous month! House fires are common (Christmas trees and Hanukkah candles); accidents happen while decorating; new-years’ fireworks kill people; and criminals target gift-filled homes and holiday shoppers. These tips can help keep you safe.

A1. Shopping and Parties

When you go out, make sure your windows and doors are locked. Holiday lights, music, and table lamps that are set on timers discourage thieves. Keep expensive gifts and valuables out of sight (not under the Christmas Tree).
Go shopping and go to parties with friends, not alone. There’s safety in numbers. Lock your car when you leave it, and look into it before you jump in.
Be alert in a crowd. Walk in well-lit areas. Avoid carrying valuables and never leave things in your car that criminals might want to steal.
Celebrate responsibly. If you drink alcohol, DO NOT drive (and put as little as possible in your wallet; thieves target the tipsy). If you shoot fireworks at your home, be aware of surroundings, don’t shoot fireworks near dry trees (e.g., in a drought) or leaves, use extreme caution, and don’t let children near the matches/lighter!
If you will be away from home during the holidays, ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your house and to empty your mailbox (and do the same for them). Thieves look for packages outside your door or in your roadside mailbox; ask for delivery when you can pull packages inside immediately (or ship them to your office).
Protect your personal information online. Shop only on trusted websites and secured wireless networks. Save records of what you buy online, and check your credit card statements for things you didn’t buy.
Never mail cash, and personal checks are not safe anymore either (criminals “wash” them and cash them). “Tapping” your credit card may be the safest method.

A2. Safety with Children

Children often get lost in crowded malls. Make and discuss an emergency plan with your kids in case you get separated. (For example: If you can’t find me, wait next to Chick-fil-a—or someplace they know.) Insist that small children hold your hand or ride in a stroller (whether they like it or not!).
At home, teach kids not to open the door without an adult present.
Many young children choke on pieces of toys, so buy gifts that are appropriate for their age.
“Pretty decorations” can be poisonous to a child (or pet), and may be a choking hazard.

B1. Decorate Safely

Look at the label for decorations; are they intended for indoor or outdoor use?
To reach high places, don’t stand on a chair; use a strong ladder and avoid slippery shoes.
House-fires are common in December. Don’t use real candles (use battery-powered candles). Check all holiday light cords to make sure they aren’t frayed or broken. Use LED lights that don’t create much heat. Get a “protected” power strip (such as an Advanced Power Strip–APS); don’t plug a lot of lights into a single cord. Avoid old lead-based tinsel or paper decorations that easily catch fire. Avoid breathing in artificial snow.
An artificial tree is less likely to catch fire (look for the fire-resistant label). If getting a live tree, make sure it’s fresh, keep it up for under two weeks, and water it to keep it from becoming dry. Keep holiday decorations away from fireplaces, heaters, and other sources of heat.
Don’t forget to turn off all holiday lights before you go to bed or leave the house. You don’t want to risk a fire while you are sleeping or away from home.

Vocabulary:

(terms in either the article above or extras below; *key terms) sth = something; sb = somebody.

*fireworks: [always plural] gun powder that explodes in the sky, producing colorful light and a loud noise
criminals: people involved in illegal activities like stealing or hurting others
*to target: to aim your attention at a particular place, group of people, etc.
thieves: people (criminals) who steal things from a person or a place
valuables: things that are worth a lot of money, such as jewelry and cameras
tipsy: slightly drunk; describes someone who has had too much alcohol to drink
*keep an eye on: to watch closely or to look after (sb or sth) with safety in mind
stroller: (AmE) a small chair on wheels, used for moving small children around in a mall, etc. (BrE: buggy, pushchair, pram)
*to choke: to cause someone to be unable to breathe because of lack of air (e.g., when a small object gets stuck in a child’s throat)
frayed: when clothing or wires become loose or spread out due to age
*artificial=man-made; not natural (can be positive like “an artificial leg” or negative like “artificial jade” meaning “fake/false jade”)

Discussion:

A1. If there are any unfamiliar words or concepts, ask about them.
A2. What kinds of holiday decorations are your favorite? Describe them.
A3. Do you prefer to shop online or in-person? Explain.
A4. Tell us about something or someone you keep an eye on, and why.
B1. Do you prefer to have a “real” Christmas tree or an artificial one? Why?
B2. What sort of decorations do you (or your parents) put on the outside of your home? (Or what outdoor decorations are prettiest to you?)
B3. Have you ever seen something dangerous or unpleasant around the holidays? Tell us about it. (Examples: pickpocket, drunk driver, fire, theft, fight over sth in a store)
B4. Suggest additional safety tips. (See “sources” listed below, or do a search on this topic.)

If you still have time: Role play these situations, using content from today’s article (plus your own experience). Work with a partner for 5-10 minutes, including time to practice the role play. Then your teacher will call on some pairs to “act” in front of the class.

A1. Person A is planning to go to a party; Person B gives him/her some good safety advice.
A2. Person A & B are talking about safety for children while shopping in a mall.
B1. Person A asks questions about how/where to buy Christmas gifts; Person B gives him/her some good safety advice.
B2. Person A asks for advice about putting up indoor and outdoor holiday decorations. Prepare several questions that Person B can answer, encouraging you to observe holiday safety tips.

Whether decorating outdoors or indoors, you need a sturdy ladder or steady friend to help you reach high places!

Sources include:

Garry Rozier (holiday mailer about safety)
https://www.redcross.org/local/connecticut/about-us/news-and-events/news/10-holiday-safety-tips.html
https://news.dominionenergy.com/Five-Tips-for-Safe-Energy-Efficient-Holiday-Season

(For more information about Christmas, see these Christmas pages (underlined topics are on EFLsuccess.com or Krigline.com; others are on our older website): Christmas (international celebration), the song “Silent Night” and Chinese Christmas apples, the traditional Christmas story, who is Santa (圣诞老人)?, candy canes, Christmas Perspectives (poem), and the pre-Christmas Advent season. Also look for Christmas wallpaper on our old website. You’ll also find movie study guides on this website (or our old site) for some great holiday films: A Snoopy/Charlie Brown Christmas, Last Holiday, White Christmas, The Grinch, Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life)

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