E-Newsletter

Savings / Safety Tips for December 2019 from All Safety Products, Inc.

NEW: We now have a full Health and Safety newsletter available in a downloadable  .pdf format, if you would like to follow more safety news, crosswords, etc., Click here for December 2019 issue.

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Have a safer Christmas this year

This year Emergency room doctors say they see more injuries during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The most likely reasons:

* People are doing unusual things, like climbing a ladder to hang a decoration.

* Almost everyone is in a rush. They want to get places in a hurry and are often distracted. They may not drive cautiously, even though streets and roads are busy.

* Shopping takes its toll. People don't usually get hurt in stores, but it can happen if they don't watch for wet spots by the door. If they buy more things than they  can comfortably carry, people may not be able to see well, which means they may  bump into things or step off of curbs and fall because they can't see the street.

* Backs get a workout. People are more likely to lift a heavy box without help. They move furniture or shovel snow, and they may do these things incorrectly because they are preoccupied or in a hurry.

* People get tired and are less alert toward the end of the holiday months.

* Both adults and kids are handling new things, and that can be hazardous. Think about your plans for the holidays and allow enough time to do what you need to do. Be aware of your circumstances, and get enough rest so you can celebrate in comfort and safety.
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Power strip is basic for holiday lighting schemes

Experts on safety tell us not to overload circuits at Christmas time but they don't tell us how.
The solution to overloading is the power strip. Born of computer users' need for many electrical connections, the power strip can have six or more outlets.

There's no need to stack cords on a single wall outlet. The power strip has a circuit breaker that will turn it off, preventing a fire. But it does more. Put the power strip on the floor, and you can turn on decorations with a touch of your foot. Gone are the days when you had to crawl behind the tree to plug them in.      

The strips  work just as well for outdoor decorations, but should be protected from rain and snow. Placing the strip in a plastic bag or under a wooden box works very well.

Other decorating safety rules include:

* Select a fresh green tree and keep it in water while it is in your home.

* If you select an artificial tree, check to be sure it is made with fire retardant.

*  Position the tree so it is three feet away from any fireplace, candle, heater, heating vent, or other source of heat.

* Check each string of lights before using it. If a string has a frayed cord or any damaged light sockets, throw it away.

* Don't use indoor lights outside, because they may not be waterproof.

* Don't use outdoor lights inside because they burn hotter. Some lights are approved for both indoor and outdoor use, so you can use those in either place.

* If you have to use a ladder outside, use a sturdy one. Have someone steady the  ladder if it is against something unstable, like evergreen branches. Don't try to decorate very tall trees.

* Unplug indoor and outdoor decorations when you go to bed or leave your home.

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Delicious Recipe: Figgy pudding, or Christmas pudding with burning brandy

Oh, bring us some figgy pudding! We won't go until we get some! In the U.S., you could wait a long time for this Christmas dish   If anyone recalls Christmas carols these days, the one they usually remember is "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," which is pretty easy until the second verse.  At that point, the song mysteriously demands figgy pudding -- and right now. In the U.S., that demand may
be kind of like the lyrics to Louie Louie: no one knows what they mean.

Figgy pudding, or Christmas pudding, is a tradition that didn't cross the Atlantic.

It remains an English Christmas dessert, primarily made by fancy bakers and purchased at Christmas for enjoyment all year long. At one time, the making of The Pud was as laden with tradition as the pudding itself. It took a month to get the ingredients settled into the cake-like mound. Moms mixed it up on the Sunday before Advent, when the Church of England proclaimed: Stir Up Our Hearts, Oh Lord! Brits, who make everything into a tradition, called this Stir Up Sunday.

Recently, an informal survey of Brits on Facebook showed that none had ever heard of Stir Up Sunday. Though one person did point out that his grandma used to put silver coins in the Christmas Pudding mix and if you found one, you got a reward. He didn't realize it, but that actually is part of the tradition of Stir Up Sunday.

Nonetheless, the Christmas pudding has survived and people do compete to buy (not bake) the best ones from the best outlets.   These puddings are very dark, thick, cake-like creations filled with dried fruit (usually raisins) and held together  with suet. It is much like the American fruit cake.

Typically, it is molded into a mound and served with brandy that should be set afire at the table.
The key to the Christmas pudding is that it must be steamed for hours then allowed to age a month in a cool, dark place. Once it is sufficiently seasoned, it can be steamed for serving and enjoyed year round, if there are leftovers.

For the recipe, look at several examples online to find your best mix of tradition and ease.  First, a traditional recipe that can be used with an InstaPot:  Click Here for Recipe. 
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Next, the BBC, which even features a video about steaming the pud:  Click Here for video

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About All Safety Products

We are all about trying to save you money when we are able to.  It is our shipping policy to only charge you the actual shipping costs. Sometimes there is a shipping error on our website.  We do review all orders for accuracy and pleasantly surprise our customers when we notify them of an adjustment in their favor. We make money  on products, not shipping!

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All Safety Products, www.allsafetyproducts.com, P.O. Box 3822, Lakewood, CA 90711