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ARCHBOLD.ORG •
WINTER 2014
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hands often, and remind them to keep
all surfaces squeaky clean.
•
Don’t follow Grandma’s example of
thawing meat on the counter—thaw it in
the refrigerator instead.
•
Close down the buffet after two
hours. Perishable foods need to be
packed up and put in the refrigerator
promptly at that time.
Around your heart
The winter holidays warm hearts, but
they can also trigger anxious feelings. To
help keep stress to a minimum:
•
Be honest with your kids and other
family about your gift budget, particu-
larly if money is a little tight this year.
•
Ask for help. Holidays are more fun
when everyone participates.
•
Be light-hearted. Look for humor
in the inevitable holiday muddles. A
perfect dessert is nice today, but you’ll
laugh for years about the time the whole
pumpkin pie fell on the dog. When you
meet holiday challenges with humor,
your kids receive an invaluable gift: a life
lesson in flexibility and resilience.
•
Finally, turn down the lights at a
reasonable hour and get a good, long
winter night’s sleep.
Sources: American Psychological Association; Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
We wish you a wonderful
holiday. If you need us, our
emergency department
is always open.
HOLIDAY
FIRES
Check new and old lights for
broken sockets, frayed or bare
wires, or loose connections.
Dispose of damaged lights.
Make sure outdoor lights are
certi ed for that use.
Only plug lights into a ground
fault circuit interrupter.
Don’t link more than three
strands of lights together.
Turn lights o before you go to
bed or leave the house.
Sources: U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission; U.S. Fire Administration
HOME
FIRES
involving decorative
lighting occur each year.
150
TO AVOID FIRE