Holiday Safety Tips

It's that time of year again, and that means cozy evenings by the fire, family visits and plenty of eggnog. But for every moment of holiday cheer, it's important to recognize the potential for a disaster. Emergencies are preventable to prepare to enjoy another healthy new year with just a few simple safety basics.

Warmth, Ambiance & Delicious Holiday Meals

The three basics of any good holiday gathering, and with just a little bit of extra planning and preparation, you can ensure everyone is safe at home this holiday season.

• Get a professional to ensure your heating system is serviced properly; replace filters at scheduled times to minimize dust and other flammable particles.
• Install a smoke detector and test it at least twice a year.
• A combination smoke/carbon monoxide detector such as this one provides long-term protection against fires and CO leaks.
• Carbon monoxide is created by appliances like dryers, water heaters, furnaces and stoves. CO is an odorless gas that cannot be detected through smell or sight. Oftentimes, CO poisoning is also referred to as "the silent killer", because people tend to ignore their initial symptoms before losing consciousness.
• Don't use space heaters in unoccupied rooms or at night while you are sleeping.
• Keep electric blankets uncovered and flat to avoid trapping excess heat.
• Get your chimney cleaned professionally to avoid creosote buildup.
• Never use accelerants to start a fireplace
• Keep flammable objects a safe distance from the fireplace opening
• Keep candles in cleared areas away from drapes, decor or tablecloths, and burn candles only in appropriate heat- and fire-resistant containers.
• Never leave food cooking unattended in the kitchen.
• Set timers to help you remember when to remove foods from the oven or stove.
• Keep crock pots on even surfaces and away from items that can melt or ignite.
• Don't use outdated appliances with faulty chords

In the Company of Kids & Pets

There's nothing better than a home filled with children's laughter and furry friends. Take extra precaution to keep all members of your family safe.

• Keep breakable ornaments at the top of the tree.
  
• Avoid tinsel, which may be too tempting to ingest.
• Hide wires from grabby hands and curious mouths.
• Keep alcohol and inappropriate foods where they can't be reached.
• Pass up the Peace Lilies, Caladium (Heart of Jesus), Pothos and Philodendron.
• Although Poinsettias tend to be known as poisonous plants among pet owners, the toxicity they produce is actually relatively mild in comparison to these other plants.
• Alert visitors that you have pets and/or children to avoid an accidental jailbreak,
• Keep kids & pets comfortable with hugs and praise during fireworks.
• Treats, cuddles and hugs will not reinforce your dog's fear. The principle of operant conditioning is based on finding desired behaviors and rewarding them. Fear is an emotion, not a behavior.
• Teach children about the dangers of playing with fireworks early on.
• Don't feed pets holiday foods, particularly grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, chocolate and dairy.
• Never give pets or kids alcohol, even in small amounts, as these can cause cardiovascular disturbances.

Outdoor Fun & Travel

There's nothing like waking up to a batch of fresh snow. If you find yourself struck by that winter Wanderlust, keep this things in mind before heading out.

• Service your car.
• Maintain proper antifreeze levels
• Keep tire pressure at the recommended PSI
• Consider snow or all-weather tires
• Always wear appropriate clothing.
• Water- and wind-resistant shoes, coats and gloves are essential when traveling, hiking or skiing.
• Keeping an affordable yet durable poncho such as this one in your car or bag can provide a valuable layer or protection in emergencies.
• A one-time use emergency blanket like this one easily fits in coat pockets, fanny packs or glove boxes.
• Prepare a car emergency kit.
• Portable cell phone charger
• Extra blankets
  
• Booster cables
• Emergency water
• Flashlight
• First aid
• Use this kit to help you get started.
• Treat icy driveways and sidewalks.
• Remember to research your options carefully to choose eco-friendly and non-toxic products.
• Sand helps to add traction to ice and snow.
• Avoid traveling altogether if poor conditions are predicted.
• Remember that weather conditions can change very rapidly at high altitudes.
• If you become stranded:
• Make yourself visible.
• Stay with your car unless you are within 100 yards of help.
• Run your car until it's warm, then turn it off.
• Ensure your exhaust is well ventilated to avoid CO poisoning.
• Stay awake.
• Don't stop moving to avoid unconsciousness or death from exposure.
• Check out these additional tips from the U.S. Forest Service on how to deal with getting lost.
• Don't explore frozen streams, rivers or lakes.

• If you fall into ice:
• Resist the impulse to hyperventilate.
• Don't panic.
• Orient yourself toward the direction from which you came, this is where the ice was strong enough to support your weight.
• Staying as horizontal as possible, pull yourself up while simultaneously kicking your legs hard.
• To distribute your weight more evenly, roll away from the broken ice; do not stand up immediately.
• Remove wet clothes as soon as possible and get help.

Survivalist Gift Guide

6 Affordable Gifts for Survivalists

Paracord Bracelets

Paracord is the utility string with endless possibilities. This cord can be used to secure cargo, tie items together, fix broken straps or replace missing cordage. It’s great for assisting with rescues, securing animals, keeping shoes tied and so much more.
Each cord is made up of multiple interior strings which are surrounded by a tightly woven nylon sheath. In addition to using the entire utility cord, the strings inside can be removed and used when camping, fishing or in any situation where finer yarn-like string is required.
Paracord is extremely useful and versatile, making it a great gift for practically anyone, particularly hikers, campers and general outdoor enthusiasts.

The paracord bracelet is woven into a compact piece of safety gear that can be worn every day. When unraveled, the user is left with seven feet of 550 cord.
550 cord has a minimum breaking strength of 550 pounds. This strength cord consists of seven to nine core yarns.
Try it together with the paracord dog collar for the perfect outdoor adventure stocking stuffer.


Streamlight Flashlights

Anyone can benefit from a good flashlight. Streamlight flashlights are known for offering superior

illumination and durability, which is why they're frequently used by emergency crews, police officers and firefighters. These flashlights are incredibly reliable, making them not only great for tactical purposes but also for everyday needs. A good flashlight is both a functional and thoughtful gift that will last for years.
Streamlight flashlights come in a range of sizes and offer multiple settings to help the user adjust the brightness quickly and easily. These versatile flashlights are great for campers and roadtrippers, as well as friends and family members who venture out for evening walks with the dog. Add a reflective safety vest for under $10 to complete this safety set.


Emergency Preparedness Kits

A good emergency kit is an irreplaceable piece of safety equipment. Whether you have kids in

college or you and your significant other enjoy extended road or camping trips, a well-thought-out safety kit is simply a must-have.
We carry a range of kits for various purposes. Our basic kits offer security of mind for everyday occurrences such as cuts and scrapes, while our larger kits are designed to support you in an emergency situation where you may be left without food or water for up to three days.

If you're feeling creative, we offer plenty of products to help you create your own emergency pack to give away. A simple Everest backpack provides an easy and affordable starting point to help you put a customized kit together.
Stock a camper's kit with glow sticks, an emergency blanket and a useful weather radio, or customize our road trip emergency kit with items like the ResQMe seatbelt cutter or an auto extinguisher.
Check out this blog post to get started finding the right ready-to-go pack today or for ideas to help you create your own.


Pocket Guides

These affordable pocket-sized guides are available for a wide range of scenarios, and everyone loves how easy they are to follow and digest. They’re great stocking stuffers for prospective first responders, individuals, parents and pet owners.
Each guide offers lots of valuable information in a small package that’s easy to follow and understand. Get instant access to all sorts of emergency procedures, from steps for treating minor scrapes and bruises to taking part in a safe evacuation. These guides are a wonderful idea for trained workers to keep on hand, or for anyone who loves equipping themselves with additional knowledge about preparedness.






Training Classes

There's nothing like a hands-on approach to learning. A training class provides a complete experienceeducational, and bestows upon the recipient the sort of confidence that's needed in an emergency scenario.
that's both fun and
Practice makes perfect. Just as it's important to review your home escape plan or your course for evacuation routinely, practicing CPR or First Aid skills regularly helps to cement ideas that make a behavior more automatic.

We regularly offer classes for first-timers or those wishing to refresh their First Aid and CPR knowledge, and frequently provide other hands-on courses to help build your survival and preparedness skills.


Gift Cards

Some people are harder to shop for than others. If you're not sure which products your recipient needs, wants or would enjoy the most, give a gift card. We carry a wide range of emergency products for civilians, emergency responders and more. Your recipient will thank you for your thoughtfulness.

Holiday Safety Tips for Pet Owners

The holidays are a joyous occasion, but they can also be a hectic and stressful time for many pet owners and subsequently their pets. Between Thanksgiving and the New Year, the appearance of our homes changes quickly and sometimes dramatically, new and intriguing foods make their debut at the table, and visitors and noise levels tend to increase.
Ensure this time remains enjoyable and safe for your pet with these quick tips from SOS Survival Products.


Holiday Décor

Most of us decorate for the holidays, whether we simply add a few new plants to the coffee table or go all out “Christmas with the Kranks”-style. Here's what to watch out for when trimming your home for the holiday season:

• Low-hanging ornaments or tinsel
• Poinsettias
• Lilies
• Holly
• Mistletoe

Whether or not these items will be an issue for you will depend on your pet. If you own a young pet or one that's known for being a notorious chewer, it's important to make the proper adjustments to your holiday décor before an accident can occur. Identify opportunities for danger as you would with a young child, and move items out of reach whenever necessary. Remember that large dogs and cats have no problem cruising high counters, especially when left unsupervised.


Food

If the idea of holiday food makes your mouth water, you're not alone. The holidays tend to be a free-for-all for even the strictest dieters, and rules about feeding our pets from the table tend to become a bit laxer. But by offering your pets human goodies, you could be creating a gastronomic dilemma at the least and preparing yourself for a trip to the emergency vet at the worst.

Check out these holiday No's before treating your pets this season.

There are certain foods you should never give to pets because they are toxic and can cause organ or metabolic failure, seizures and death:

Foods Toxic to Dogs:

• Grapes & raisins
• Onions
• Garlic
• Chocolate
• Dairy
• Macadamia nuts
• Foods containing the sugar substitute xylitol (common in peanut butter)

Foods That Are Bad for Cats:

• Grapes & raisins
• Onions
• Garlic
• Chocolate
• Dairy
• Fat trimmings
• Raw meat, eggs or fish

Beware of holiday foods that contain these like fruit salads, stuffing and desserts.

Below is an additional list of foods we don't recommend feeding to pets:

• Turkey (Turkey has a high sodium content and contains bones that splinter)
• Cheese (Cheese is high in fat, and some dogs can't digest dairy well)
• Popcorn (Popcorn is high in calories and sodium unless served without butter or salt, but beware of kernels and popcorn bits that have a tendency to get stuck in teeth)
• Bread (Bread contains too many calories and no nutrition)

Instead of human holiday foods, give your pets the gift of good health this season. Provide them with
small portions of unsweetened, unseasoned and unsalted snacks such as apples, carrots, cauliflower, salmon or tuna.

These are high in vitamins and essential fatty acids.

Never give caffeine or alcohol to pets, even in small amounts, as these can cause disturbances in heart rate and metabolism.


Confinement

The holidays provide additional opportunities for your pet to make his or her escape. You're likely to spend more time coming, going and inviting guests during this time, possibly adding to an already nervous pet’s desire to run. To keep your escape artist safe this holiday season, make sure you consider the following:

• Your pet only needs a second to slink out the front door; don't leave doors open unnecessarily
• Make guests aware that you have a pet
• Give backyards a thorough inspection for any escape opportunities such as loose slats or holes
• Keep microchip registrations up to date
• Keep your pet collared with a current ID tag

Fireworks

More dogs go missing on the 4th of July and New Year’s than any other day of the year. If your pet is afraid of thunder, rumbling trucks or sudden loud noises, it will likely be nervous about fireworks as well. Keep the following in mind this New Year:

• Provide safe spaces, such as beds, crates and blankets, for your pets
• Stay home if you can
• Don't walk a frightened dog; and an accident in the house is infinitely less traumatic than a dog who gets off the leash outside

If you cannot stay home this New Year:

• Don't take your pet to outdoor venues with fireworks
• Consider hiring a pet sitter
• Confine your pet to a crate

Never leave pets unsecured in a backyard assuming they'll stay put.


The Holiday Mess

If you’re like most, your home will likely require some extra care to recover from the holiday season. Between the décor, the gifts and the party favors, it may feel like the house has actually gotten smaller.
Take extra care during this time to ensure your furry friend doesn’t ingest things it shouldn’t, such as wrapping paper, small toys, streamers or confetti.



We hope that you and your families have a wonderful holiday season. If you'd like to add any tips to our list, simply comment below.

3 Easy Halloween Safety Tips

Trick or Treat? Halloween is here again. As you and your families step out in costume this year, we want to help you limit those tricky surprises to spooky ghouls and scary witches. Check out the following three safety tips to ensure this holiday remains a treat.

When we asked parents about their most pressing Halloween safety concerns, many voiced fears about poison candy and child abductions while forgetting about one major safety offender: Cars.

As you and your children venture out for sweet treats, keep in mind that year after year, Halloween remains at the near-top of the list for pedestrian injuries and fatalities. [1]

Being aware of potential danger is critical in preventing a vehicle accident. Although traffic laws clearly state that cars must yield to pedestrians, it's important for you and your children to understand that laws like these can't prevent an accident from occurring.







Caution & Visibility

• Use sidewalks
• Use designated crosswalks
• Look both ways before crossing
• Wear reflective costumes
• Carry glow sticks or flashlights

If you're in the driver's seat this Halloween, exercise additional caution when driving through neighborhoods.

• Drive under the speed limit
• Avoid distractions such as phones

If your children are old enough to trick or treat alone, you'll want to arm them with additional safety ammo. Kids trick or treating alone should carry a phone, know where they live and understand the dangers of separating themselves from the group.


If your children are separated from you or their group of peers accidentally, they should be comfortable using a backup plan to reunite, such as heading back home or to a well-lit public location.





Staying in Contact

• Have a phone
• Have a plan

The best part of Halloween is coming home, unloading the candy, counting the pieces and, of course,
indulging. But nothing ruins a fun time more quickly than a dangerous reaction caused by food allergies.

Food Safety

• Educate allergic children
• Practice identifying foods with known allergens
• Help kids separate candy

Whether you’re dressing up with the kids or dishing out candy to the neighbors this year, SOS Survival Products wishes you a safe and happy Halloween!
Concerns, questions or comments? Leave them in the provided space below!




1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Fourth of July Safety Tips for Fireworks

 

Planning out your 4th of July probably includes a variety of traditional celebratory activities such as grilling, swimming, a cold beer with friends and, of course, fireworks. But does your Independence Day plan also include proper safety considerations?
If you're like most, you've probably never thought about the possible dangers that lurk among the fun and relaxation, specifically those associated with firework products. Spinners, sparklers and bottle rockets are readily available at roadside stands across the country during the months of June and July, and it's easy to stop in for a quick impulse buy on the way home or to a friend's house.
As the afternoon hours pass and one cold beverage turns to "has anyone seen my beer," the impulse to play with fireworks or take small risks you wouldn't otherwise increases. But it doesn't take an impaired awareness to make mistakes. Misinformation about fireworks is common, from where to place fireworks to how to light them and dispose of them once they've been used.


According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, roughly 230 people end up in the emergency room every single day from fireworks-related injuries during the month surrounding the 4th of July. In 2012, an average year for fireworks purchases, roughly 8,700 emergency room visits were directly related to the improper use of fireworks. Approximately 5,200 (or 60 percent) of these visits occurred during June and July. Six hundred were the result of the use of sparklers alone.
The majority of fireworks-related injuries involve burns on the hands and damage to the eyes and are associated with improper lighting, playing with fireworks, improperly lighting fireworks, reusing old fireworks and improper disposal. Fireworks and sparklers burn hot and exert an enormous amount of force and heat when detonated. When used properly, fireworks can be a fun and exciting way to celebrate the 4th this year and every year following.
But much like a grenade, fireworks can cause severe damage to your body as well as to surrounding property.
The National Council on Fireworks Safety has outlined the following useful tips to help you prevent injury and personal property damage when using fireworks:

KEEP AN EXTINGUISHER HANDY
Thousands of fires are caused by fireworks each year. An errant flight path or some hot debris can cause clothing, hair or surrounding areas to burst into flame without any notice. Having a firefighting tool ready and available will be your best chance at stopping a fire before it's out of control.

READ THE LABELS
Fireworks are labeled, but are you actually spending the time to read the instructions? Take a few extra minutes to read each label, and reassure yourself of the proper steps to take when preparing, lighting and disposing of each firework.

NEVER GIVE FIREWORKS TO CHILDREN
It’s never too early to think about promoting fireworks safety for children, and the best way to do this is to let them learn by watching. It might be tempting to let your children discover the wonderful world of fireworks early, but their limited dexterity and inclination toward a short attention span makes children and fireworks a dangerous combination.
Talk to your children about the dangers of fireworks, and help them to understand that they aren’t toys. An early knowledge about safety will last them a lifetime.

*A note about sparklers*
Sparklers are a cheap and entertaining way to get into the fireworks spirit, but they aren't harmless. The center of a sparkler can burn at up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, and its sparks can easily create a fire when ideal conditions are present.
To include kids in the fun and keep them engaged, we recommend using a glow stick instead. Glow sticks come in a variety of colors, and they're a long-lasting and safe way to enjoy the fun without the possibility of burns or fires.


DON'T MISTAKE FIREWORKS FOR TOYS

It's easy to forget that fireworks aren't toys with all of the fun they tend to provide. But fireworks aren't a game. Never light them while you're holding them, throw them, use them for target practice or play other kinds of games with them.





LIGHT ONLY ONE FIREWORK AT A TIME
Professional fireworks are fun and entertaining to watch, so it might be tempting to want to try your own hand at something similar. But lighting multiple fireworks at once is dangerous and requires professional experience and equipment. Never try to light a bundle or a row of fireworks in an attempt to create your own fascinating 4th of July display.

Firework fuses burn at different rates, and hurrying through the process of lighting them all is a recipe for disaster.



DON'T LIGHT FIREWORKS WHILE INTOXICATED

Enjoying a cold one with friends or family is a natural part of a good 4th of July celebration, but if you've had a few too many, you may start taking risks you otherwise wouldn't normally take. Couple that impaired judgment with reduced balance and you're likely to end up a holiday statistic.








DON'T RELIGHT FIREWORKS
It's a common occurrence among fireworks purchased at roadside stands or online:
One or more of your fireworks won't light or won't explode. If you have a dud in your collection, wait 20 minutes, douse it in water, and then throw it away.


DON'T MAKE YOUR OWN FIREWORKS
You may have found some easy instructions online for creating your own fireworks extravaganza, but combining powerful chemicals and igniting them without proper testing is dangerous and results in many devastating injuries every year. Fireworks sold in stores undergo rigorous testing and abide by many predefined safety laws to ensure that, when properly used, injuries are unlikely to occur. The firework you'll create in your garage could cost you more than a few dollars in ingredients.
We hope that these fireworks safety tips provide you with the knowledge necessary to use fireworks properly and without incident this holiday weekend and beyond.

If you'd like to share a story with us or provide your own tips or cautionary tales, we're here to listen. Simply use the comment box below!

How to Plan for Holiday Safety

During the winter holidays, the last thing anyone wants to worry about is staying safe and being overly cautious. However, between the influx of people traveling, the cold weather making us want to light the logs in the fireplace, and the extra guests and visitors running around the house to share the celebrations, there are an increased number of potential holiday dangers. To help you prepare for this festive season, we rounded up some holiday safety tips to keep your family safe.

Keep an emergency kit in your car.

Traveling during the holidays is almost always stressful, especially when you throw wintery weather conditions into the mix. Always be prepared to face bumps in the road by keeping an emergency travel kit in your car at all times. You’ll want your kit to contain contact information for road side assistance, a flashlight and extra batteries, a cell phone charger, a first aid kit, a few bottles of water and some type of sustenance like power bars or cereal bars.

Restock supplies before you travel.

Check your car’s emergency kit before every road trip to make sure it’s fully stocked. You’ll never know that your kids found the secret granola bar stash or realize you used up all the bandages at Little League games until you check! Granola bars or power bars are long-lasting and don’t spoil, so they’re a great option to keep stashed for a couple years. But check the best by labels before each road trip just to be sure.

Check smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

Unfortunately, hundreds of families every holiday season come home from vacation to learn that a fire has damaged or destroyed their home. Fires can spring up at the most unsuspecting times, which is why it is extremely important to check your smoke detectors before leaving for holiday vacations. You should also routinely check the fire extinguishers in your home to make sure they are still functional and stowed in a safe place.

Buy safe toys for kids.

Choosing toys to give your kids over the holidays should be given some cautious thought in order to avoid any hazards or injuries. Buy age-appropriate toys and always looks for safety labels. Additionally, you should always pick up safety gear like helmets or elbow pads to accompany sports-related toys like skateboards or bicycles.

Eliminate potential fire hazards.

Survey your home and see if you spot any potential fire hazards near candles, fireplaces, trees, and electrical connections. If you notice any frayed wiring or old tree hanging awfully close to electrical connections, call your electrician to have these taken care of ASAP—especially if you’re about to take a trip. Additionally, you should try to use only nonflammable holiday decorations and make sure to regularly water your Christmas tree.

Switch to LED holiday lighting.

Consider switching to LED lighting to decorate your home during the season, and you’ll not only save hundreds of dollars on electricity costs, but you’ll also reduce the risk of fires. LED lights use less energy than incandescent light bulbs, which makes them cooler and less likely to spark fires in and around your home.

Keep candles, matches, and lighters away from children.

It is important to make sure that lit candles, matches, lighters or any other fire related objects are out of reach from children. Especially during the holidays when extended family and friends visit with young children, you’ll need to exercise control over these potential fire hazards to avoid any harm and injury to your guests and their families as well as your own.

We hope these fire safety tips for the holidays as well as our other holiday safety preparedness tips will help you better plan for a safe winter this year. Everyone at SOS Survival Products wishes you a happy and safe Holiday Season!