Page 18 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 119

18 Issue #119 December 2022 www.sportsenergynews.com

Cornwall Fire Services

with Deputy Chief Leighton Woods

Be Careful this Christmas

Unlike most of us, fire won’t be taking any time off during the holidays. That’s why you should always be on the lookout for any sort of hazard.
Before you put those lights on the tree or around the front window, check the cords closely. Make sure to discard any sets that are frayed or damaged.
Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire. Speaking of lights, extension cords should only be
used as a temporary connection. Make sure cords never go under rugs, as it can cause damage to the cord and cause a fire.
Your Christmas tree can also become quite the safety hazard — especially if it’s real. That’s why you should always water your live tree daily — that means
always keeping its base in water. In controlled tests, fire researchers found that a dry Christmas tree can become engulfed in flames in less than 10 seconds.
When purchasing an artificial tree, look for a Fire-Resistant label. Although this label does not mean the tree won’t catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist
burning and should extinguish quickly.
If you choose a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green; needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt
of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
Always place your tree away from fireplaces and other heat sources, such as radiators, space heaters, and baseboards. It should also be out of the way of foot traffic and not block
doorways.
When choosing decorations for your tree, use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or non-leaded metals. Leaded materials
are hazardous if ingested by children.
It wouldn’t be the holidays without cooking. You should always be on alert — if you feel sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.
Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain at home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
Cornwall Fire Services — and I — wish you a happy and safe holiday season!

Cornwall SDG Paramedic Services

By Wayne Markell

Staying Safe During the Holidays

As you’re reading this, you probably have all your Christmas gatherings figured out and, hopefully, have gotten
all the gifts you needed to buy.
Although things have returned to normal for the most part, you should know that covid is still around. I should know, I have
COVID-19 as I’m writing this. That means that if you’re going to grandma’s house for a good supper, you should mask up if you can.
We’ve already seen that covid is particularly dangerous for older residents as well as people that are immune compromised. Now we’re
unfortunately seeing a severe increase in our youngest getting very sick with one of the three main circulating viruses in our community,
COVID-19, RSV and flu. Please look after the most vulnerable with three simple and proven effective measures; wearing a mask, hand hygiene, and
keeping an up-to-date vaccination history.
Speaking of being healthy, you should also be mindful of what you eat during the holidays. Having lots of sweets? Well then make sure to brush your teeth
soon after and then plan on burning those calories with some light exercise like a walk around ‘Alight at Night’ at Upper Canada Village.
Are you the one cooking for the holidays? Then you ought to incorporate as many fruits and vegetables as you can into your dishes. Did you know that
eating a variety of these may lower your risk of heart disease? Let’s not forget that they also possess important nutrients, such as fiber, vitamins, and
minerals. The Canadian Food Guide stresses that half of each meal should be made up of vegetables and/or fruits.
That doesn’t mean that protein foods, namely meats, are bad for you. These too contain vitamins and minerals along with protein, but unlike fruits and
vegetables, you don’t need a lot of protein to meet your nutritional needs.
Be wary of certain simulated meat products however, as they are highly processed and can add excess sodium or saturated fat to your diet. Processed meats
— I’m looking at you, cured bacon — should also be consumed in moderation. These are more likely to increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart
disease as well as bowel and stomach cancer.
Whenever you are visiting your loved ones, you should also be aware of your surroundings. With how cold it’s been, icy stairs leading to front doors and
driveways can become treacherous. Always be sure to salt driveways and entrances, even if you’re not expecting anyone.
That way, running to your car when you realize you forgot to buy your mother-in-law a Christmas gift won’t be as dangerous.
Stay safe, help others to stay safe, and enjoy a wonderful holiday season.