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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