Safety Reminder for the holidays
Matthew
Folks I know there should be no need to remind everyone about Safety for the
holidays. But I feel I need to talk about it for all our new slaves and a
friendly reminder in these hectic days.
Look at these pages for a list of plants that can be harmful to cats
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/?plant_toxicity=toxic-to-cats
they have others pages for our other furry friends
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/
Some Holiday tips from the experts
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/holiday-safety-tips.html &
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/cold-weather-tips.html for
anything that I miss.
Pay attention to your lights and any cord. Any break or frays. Even if you
feel they can be fixed throw them in the garbage it is not worth the risk.
Don't over load the electrical outlets or surge protectors. Use proper
equipment for the job
Watch about live trees and those decorations lights can cause fires if they
get hot. Also make sure they are anchored down. How man of us have come
home to see one of THEM in the tree and hung up or the tree laying on its
side. They make sprays and scents that keep them away from the trees.
Watch those open flames. Use covers designed to prevent tips and spills
along with a stable surface. The fur balls are and can be curious hence the
phrase can come to term curiosity killed the cat. :-(. If you leave a room
put the flame out.
Watch those space heaters. Keep stuff at least 5 feet away from it and make
sure it is on a stable surface and no furball can make a roost on the top.
EXTINGUISH ALL FLAMES if unattended that includes you smokers make sure
those smokes are out completely.
I have watched on the news in the last couple days here in Florida;
since it has gotten "cold" for us. Quite a few fires caused by a candle, a
space heater and a cigarette. Yesterday close to where I live a man got
Third degree burns on 40% of his body running into a burning house to save
his best friend and his family along with their dogs. They barely made it
out due to his courage. By the time the fire department got there the house
was gone. This fire was caused by a cigarette that they thought had been
put out.
This morning a space heater frayed caused another home to catch fire. The
two family apartment went up everyone got out. A man running a small foster
unit in the back unit was able to get all of his 12 cats out. The ASPCA is
helping him find other fosters to take the cats till new homes can be found.
Also this morning a candle in a Christmas wreath got knocked over and a
family of 5 lost everything and got hurt trying to get out.
But I have seen other families loose everything and their pets over
something so easy to remember and taken care off.
I can't imagine what is happening in the other places that have snow on the
ground. If you all can think of anything else. Please add to it.
Happy Holidays my friends. Stay safe
From the aspca web pages
Winter Weather Precautions
Not So Cool For Cats
During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars for
warmth and protection. But a car's fan belt can kill or injure an animal
when the motor starts. If you are aware that there are outdoor or feral cats
in your neighborhood, please bang on the hood of the car and wait a few
seconds before turning on the engine
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center urges pet owners to take steps to
prevent accidental pet exposures to two potentially dangerous products used
during the winter:
Antifreeze products containing ethylene glycol are highly toxic, and can
produce life-threatening kidney damage in pets, even in small amounts. Most
cases of antifreeze poisoning occur around the pet's home and are usually
due to improper storage or disposal, so it's important that you take the
following precautions:
- Always clean up antifreeze spills immediately.
- Store antifreeze in clearly marked, sealed containers, in areas that are
inaccessible to your pets.
- Consider switching to antifreeze products that contain propylene glycol,
which are relatively less toxic and provide an extra margin of safety for
pets and wildlife.
- Be alert for leaks and spills from neighborhood vehicles when taking your
pet on walks during the winter months.
Ice melts are available in both liquid and solid forms, and are used to melt
ice and snow on slippery sidewalks, roads and driveways. Ice melts may
contain ingredients that, if ingested by pets, can produce effects that
include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, excessive thirst,
weakness, and low blood pressure; in severe cases, cardiac abnormalities,
seizures, coma and even death can result.
If you suspect that your pet may have ingested antifreeze or ice melts,
contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (800)
426-4435 immediately.
Gandalf
<iamacat...@proudtoserve.com> wrote:
I'm top posting due to length.
The relatively new LED Christmas lights do not get hot, and draw FAR
less current than traditional lights, making them considerably safer to
use.
I am surprised I have not seen this in ads for them. Mostly they talk
about saving energy, which is also true.
Thank you for posting all of this important information.
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