As we gather with family, friends and loved ones to give thanks and to show our gratitude for life, health and strength, we want to offer a few safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ensure that you have a safe, enjoyable and memorable holiday season.  

Toys:

Follow the age guidance and other safety information on the toy packaging and choose toys that match each child’s interests and abilities.

• Get safety gear, including helmets, for scooters and other riding toys – and make sure that children use them every time. 
• Keep small balls and toys with small parts away from children younger than age 3 and keep deflated balloons away from children younger than age 8. 

Online Shopping:

Online shopping for toys or other products continues to be a popular and convenient alternative to visiting brick and mortar stores, but particularly in a time of potential toy shortages, it is important that people follow these safety tips: 

• Always buy from stores and online retailers you know and trust.
• To avoid counterfeits, scrutinize the product, the packaging, and the label. If the price seems too good to be true, this could be a sign that the product is counterfeit.
• Look for a certification mark from an independent testing organization and the manufacturer’s label on electrical products.

 Cooking: 

• Never leave cooking food unattended on the stove.
• Only fry a turkey outside and away from your home. 

 Holiday Decorating:

• Make sure your live Christmas tree has plenty of water and look for the “Fire Resistant” label when buying an artificial tree.
• Place burning candles in sight, away from flammable items, and blow them out before leaving the room.

For more information on holiday safety, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov.

Happy Holidays from all of us here at the Dallas Police Department!