1. Driving safety
Here are some travel tips from the Red Cross to help you safely get over the river and through the woods… or wherever you are going.
Make sure your car is in good condition for a road trip. Pack an emergency preparedness kit and supplies. Share travel plans with a family member or friend. Check the weather along your route. Be well-rested and alert. Buckle up, slow down and don’t drive while impaired. Make frequent stops. Rotate drivers. If you’re too tired to drive, stop and get some rest. If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible.
2. Pet safety
The holidays are plastered with disasters for our furry kids. Ornaments. Bows. Cocktails. Plants. Lights. Tinsel. Our pretties are our pets’ poisons. Don’t leave your eggnog unattended. Dogs and cats can’t handle their liquor. Liquid potpourri and candles are burn dangers for kitty. Ornaments are toys waiting to happen for dogs, and chomping baubles can cause an obstruction if swallowed.
Everybody knows dogs shouldn’t eat chocolate, but try telling that to a dog. It’s worse when laced with pot. Tuck your edibles away from pets. Keep your pet in a quiet room away from the frolic and open doors that invite escape when the hoards of relatives arrive. Get pet treats made by a reputable company. If you must share the holiday meal with your pet, lean turkey meat or a cooked carrot can be safe options. They’ll gulp it like it’s bacon.
Pet emergency care centers are open 24/7. Make sure you have the phone number for the one closest to you.
3. Santa safety
Check out what Jolly Saint Nick is doing at Santa trackers by NORAD, www.noradsanta.org and Google at https://santatracker.google.com.
— Andrea Brown, Herald writer
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