Atrium Health Navicent issued the following announcement on Dec. 1.
Tis the season to deck the halls and spruce up your home with holiday decor. As part of Atrium Health Navicent’s ongoing commitment to community safety and preparedness, the health system reminds individuals to take proper safety precautions when decorating for the holidays.
Take the following steps to ensure you and your family avoid unexpected illness and injury this holiday season:
Candles
· Always exercise caution when using lit candles in your holiday celebrations or decorations. Consider using battery-operated candles instead.
· Candles should be placed away from walls, curtains, or flammable materials.
· Lit candles should be monitored at all times.
· Ensure the candle is completely extinguished after use.
Lights
· Handle holiday lights with care, checking sockets, wiring, and bulbs before use.
· Do not use electric lights on metallic trees.
· Stringing lights from a ladder takes patience and balance. Always have a helper or two to balance the ladder and assist as needed.
· Turn off all lights and other lit decorations when going to bed or before you leave the house.
Decorations
Avoid glass ornaments and look for shatter-proof options.
· Place trees away from fireplaces, radiators, and other heat sources. Place trees out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
· Keep ornaments out of reach for small children and pets, as they could pose a choking hazard.
· Holiday plants are pretty but can be deadly. Mistletoe, poinsettia, and holly berries are all toxic if ingested. Keep them out of the reach of small children and pets.
· When decorating outside, make sure decorations are labeled as safe for outdoor use.
“Taking extra safety precautions is worth the time and effort to ensure you and your family are able to remain at home and safe to celebrate the season with your loved ones,” said Steve Ramsey, Emergency Management and Physical Environment Manager for Atrium Health Navicent.
If an accident or injury occurs, seek appropriate medical treatment. For emergency situations, call 911 or seek care at the nearest emergency center. Atrium Health Navicent offers emergency care at the following locations:
· Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital (888 Pine St., Macon)
· Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center (777 Hemlock St., Macon)
· Atrium Health Navicent Peach Emergency Department (1960 Hwy 247 Connector, Byron)
· Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin (821 North Cobb St., Milledgeville)
· Monroe County Hospital, Atrium Health Navicent Partner (88 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Forsyth)
· Putnam General Hospital, Atrium Health Navicent Partner (101 Greensboro Road, Eatonton)
For non-life-threatening injuries, visit your nearest urgent care provider. Atrium Health Navicent provides urgent care at three Macon-Bibb County locations.
· Atrium Health Navicent Urgent Care North (3400 Riverside Drive, Macon)
· Atrium Health Navicent Urgent Care East (1339 Gray Highway, Macon)
· Atrium Health Navicent Urgent Care Northwest (5925 Zebulon Road, Macon)
Original source can be found here.
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