The holiday

season can be one of the most festive and fun times of

the year, but it is also one of the most dangerous.

Accidents

on the road or at home tend to happen at a very high rate

during the holidays. They can all be prevented by being

careful and using common sense.

First and

foremost, it is important for everyone to buckle up. You

should buckle your seat belt every time you ride in the

car, but be sure you wear it while driving in holiday

traffic. People travel more during the holiday than at

any other time during the year and wearing a seat belt

may prevent injury in a motor vehicle collision.

It is also

very important to designate a driver and to make sure

that if you are hosting a party, all of your guests have

a safe ride home. If you are hosting a party this New

Year's Eve, make sure that there are nonalcoholic

beverages available for the designated drivers.

According

to the National Fire Protection Association, home fires,

deaths and associated injuries caused by candles have

reached an 18-year peak. Make sure that if you are

lighting holiday candles, they are out of the reach of

children, and are not near decorations or other

combustible materials.

It is also

very important to never place a candle in a window or

near an exit. If your Christmas tree is still up, make

sure that there is fresh water and that the tree is away

from heat sources. Even artificial trees should be flame

retardant and kept away from heat. Another holiday source

of fire are holiday lights displays and overused outlets.

"One

of the highest priorities of the American Red Cross is to

provide people with family disaster preparedness and

injury prevention skills," said Ruben Brown,

director of the American Red Cross South Metro Service

Center.

The Red

Cross also offers several tips for Y2K preparedness. It

is recommended that people prepare as they would prepare

for a storm of any kind. You should have a supply of

nonperishable foods, fresh water, extra cash, coats and

blankets to keep warm, flashlights and extra batteries

and an ample supply of prescription and nonprescription

medications.

The

holidays are on their way out and a new year is upon us.

you will be able to usher in many new years to come.