The Holidays are all about shopping, wrapping gifts, decorating, cooking and baking, and planning (and going to!) many Holiday parties! Life can absolutely get extremely busy while prepping and preparing for the holidays. However, the focus on celebrating can sometimes turn fun festivities into injuries and accidents if safety is not a priority for families. With 4 little boys, I do get very nervous around the holidays because things happen so quickly. It’s crazy to thin, but studies show that nearly 230 people will visit the emergency room each day in November and December to be treated for holiday-related injuries.

Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a leading independent safety organization, is calling all parents, specifically moms, to set aside time in their schedule to commit at least one minute to safety each day this holiday season.

I’m taking part in UL’s “Commit a Minute” 2010 Holiday Program. I’m going to commit to do this.

This Holiday season we are first “Committing a Minute” to holiday safety by having an artificial tree. This is our 2nd year doing so, and I feel very good about our decision. I know that trees can dry out if they are not watered, and can be a fire risk, so we made the switch. We’re definitely committing to this because in doing so, my kids miss out on the whole… “go find the perfect tree!” excursion, which is tough for me. As a child we would get a “real” tree every year. It was a family tradition. Right now with the kids so little, I want to keep it simple for us.

I also had my husband check all of our smoke detectors. With the winter and the heat being on and our fireplace brewing a couple of nights a week, I absolutely wanted my husband to make sure ALL was working. This is very worrisome for me, again… especially with 4 little boys in the house.

I’ve also ditched all of our candles. I have battery operated ones now throughout the house. When my husband and I were first married, we used to burn candles all the time, especially around the holidays. Not with the kids! They’re all gone!!

SO… tell me… what would you commit a minute to this holiday season???

Share with me some of your ideas on my blog, on Twitter @AudreyMcClellan or on Facebook Mom Generations. YOU’ll have a chance to win a $250 VISA GIft Card!

Here are the Top 10 Tips for a Safer Holidays

1. Water your tree: Dry trees pose a substantial fire risk. After bringing your tree home, make a fresh cut at the base of the trunk before putting it in a sturdy stand. Be sure to water it daily. Additionally, know your trees expiration date. After about four weeks, the tree will stop absorbing water, dry out and should be discarded.
2. Check your lights, check them twice: Inspect all of your electric lights and decorations for damage or wear. Cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires and loose connections may pose a fire or shock hazard.
3. Plan your fire escape: Use the holidays as a good time to practice a fire escape plan with your loved ones. Identify at least two exits from every room in the house.
4. Sleep safe, install smoke alarms: UL recommends using both types of smoke alarms in your home. Be sure that at least one smoke alarm is installed on each floor of your home, and always close to sleeping areas.
5. Be flame aware: Always blow out unattended candles and teach your children to stay away from lit candles or fireplaces.
6. Give wrapping paper a second life: Don’t burn used wrapping paper as it may cause intense flash fires. And throwing it out adds waste. Consider recycling or repurposing it instead.
7. Know your lights and cords: Do not connect more than three miniature light strings together. Also, be sure to check the rating on your extension cords and do not plug in more than the recommended wattage.
8. Steer your tree clear: Your tree should be positioned at least three feet away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. It should also not block any doorways or exits.
9. Decorate with a safe eye: Cords should not be run under carpets and lights should not be tacked-up with metal nails or staples. Small decorations can be choking hazards so keep them out of the reach of toddlers.
10. Look for UL: Only use light strings and other electrical decorations that bear the UL Mark near the plug, signifying that safety standards have been met.