Lyle Karasiuk

The stores are bustling, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday and the big day has hardly arrived. Planning for Christmas is like planning a wedding in my estimation. You take months of preparation, work hard to make sure everything goes to plan and when the big day does happen there is a big relief it finally happened. While planning your seasonal adventures remember why the season exists. Whether you are a person of faith or not, do take some time to think of those for whom the season is not so merry and bright.

Do your part to help out whether it is a local event like Give A Little Life Day to help our hospital or ringing the bells for Salvation Army. Maybe it’s our Wrapped Up for the Holiday Campaign to collect blankets and coats, please make your donation as you can.

 Already many people have enjoyed the warmer outdoor temperatures to get their light display up and securing attached to the house. Remember these ladder safety tips when putting up your Christmas decorations:

Make sure that the ladder is on a firm, level non slip surface

Be sure that all safety locks are engaged before stepping onto the ladder

Stretching and leaning to either side is a leading cause of falls. Move the ladder to reach your work.

For an extension ladder, the highest safe standing level is the fourth rung. For a stepladder, stand no higher than the second rung from the top. Use the right length of ladder for the job

The maximum load a ladder can safely handle is called its duty rating. To determine the proper ladder size, subtract the climber’s height from the height of the job. Use the right type of ladder for the job; for example, don’t try to use a stepladder as an extension ladder. Last but not least, make sure the ladder is in good repair.

Many of us have already begun the “party” circuit. Whether it’s the office after hours get together or a bunch of friends over for an evening, when hosting a party, plan appropriately. This includes:

Either don’t drink or limit your own consumption of alcohol in order to track that of your guests.

Know your guests – it is much easier to track the changes in behavior of those you know.

Try to serve all drinks yourself and avoid self-serve bars to track and monitor your guests’ consumption. Consider hiring a bartender trained in alcohol service.

Have plenty of non-alcoholic choices.

Serve lots of food that has protein and fat – salt encourages more drinking and sugar does not mix well with alcohol.

Meet, Greet and Repeat – meet and greet all your guests as they arrive in order to determine if they have had anything alcoholic to drink before arriving. If the party is an open house or cocktail format, repeat the process as guests leave.

If a guest is intoxicated, encourage him or her to give you their car keys if relevant.

Buddy up with a friend to assist in persuading the intoxicated person to take a cab. Operation Red Nose can be a great choice too!

Keep the phone numbers of cab companies handy and tell the guest that a cab has been ordered – don’t give them the option to refuse.

If the guest is quite intoxicated, keep that person with you until they have sobered or can be left with a sober responsible person.

Only time will sober the person, not additional fluids or food. Offering a spare bed is a good recourse.

If the person refuses to give the car keys or spend the night at your house, call the police. It may seem drastic, but it could be a choice between that of an upset friend or far more tragic consequences.

The holiday season is meant to be a special time when we all can enjoy the company of good friends, good food and share a moment of quiet company.

Don’t let your Christmas be marked by tragedy. Be a responsible host and an even more responsible driver.

Please don’t drink and drive this holiday or at any time.

Lyle Karasiuk

Well we knew it was coming but yet we all likely just said tomorrow I will get the winter tires put on or tomorrow I’ll put the winter safety gear in the vehicle, then poof snow and cold weather, somehow like magic arrived. Despite the arrival of the first snow fall, slippery road or sidewalk conditions, you still have time to get winter ready.

When operating a motor vehicle during the winter please slow down. Give yourself extra time to get where you are going. It is winter time so some general reminders of winter safety are in order:

• Slow down

• Give yourself space between you and the vehicle in front of you when stopping or travelling on city streets or highways.

• Keep your windows free of ice and snow so that you can see properly.

• Be alert for an approaching emergency vehicle so you can safely pull to the right to let them pass.

• Watch for snow plows and do not pass unless it safe to do so.

• Securely stow your winter gear such as shovel, booster cables, extra blankets, winter boots, first aid and winter survival kits.

Please do your part to keep your sidewalk and driveways free from snow and ice. Our paramedics will appreciate your efforts as will others. Please dress properly for the weather with toques, mittens, good winter coat and long underwear if needed. Some good footwear too and with the hustle of the Christmas fast approaching please walk carefully but remember to cross at the corner. It is hard enough for a vehicle to spot you when streets are warm and dry but with the additional snow, vehicles may not stop as quickly.

If you do slip and fall please don’t be a hurry to get up or help someone who has fallen to get up. It takes less than a minute to:

• Check to see if the person whose fallen is okay

• Get them to move their arms, wrists, knees and ankles

• Does it hurt anywhere?

• Do they remember what happened?

 If the person who has fallen complains of any pain that might prevent from moving or if they have pain to their head, neck, back or hips, please call the paramedics. Trying to move them when they are injured may seem like a good idea but can make things much worse than it already is. If you are injured yourself and find only upon getting home that things just are well, then call for paramedics or seek other medical assistance as required.  Falls are most likely to happen when conditions like snow or ice, wet or uneven walking surfaces are present.

So you have not yet gotten your Christmas decorations up, please stay off your roof. If you have to get up onto a ladder do so safely, with a spotter and proper footwear.

Do not overextend your reach, move the ladder over. Please use proper rated electrical cords and be sure a cord does not create a trip hazard as you start putting up home decorations in anticipation of Christmas.

There is still time to get your flu shot, please do so. During the colder winter months wash your hands frequently to stop the spread of the flu!

Winter is not going to go away soon unless you are headed south for a months this winter.