CityView Magazine

FEATURE Celebrate Safely and more nice. Unfortunately, while this time of year tends to bring out the I With a few precautions, you can ho-ho-ho without worry or woe BY KHARY MCGHEE t's the holiday season, a time for fellowship and merriment with family and friends, eating a bit too much turkey, making giſt lists and checking them twice, and hopefully being less naughty best in people, the hectic holiday season also spurs more than its fair share of mischief and mayhem. 'Tis the season when the hustle and bustle of holiday celebrations and the break- neck, harried pace of holiday shopping make us especially susceptible to mishaps and the misbehavior that is prevalent during this time of year. Despite the vigilance of the Fayetteville Police Depart- ment, the Fayetteville Fire Department, and the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department to annually arm residents with crime-prevention and safety tips, it seems inevitable that something can go wrong. We don't want that. So, in an effort to make important holiday safety informa- tion more memorable, CityView has decided to incorporate some of the suggested guidelines into the perennial Christ- mas favorite, "The 12 Days of Christmas." (Though in this instance the song would be more aptly ti- tled "The 8 Days of Christmas." Just go with it. And feel free to sing along.) 52 | Food & Wine • 2011 On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me … a flammable, dry Christmas tree. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, fires claim the lives of over 400 people, injure another 1,650 and cause close to $1 billion in damage during the holiday season each year. Thirsty, dry, natural Christmas trees are just one of the culprits for holiday fires — pine needles, acting as kindling, jumpstart the trouble and can have a room engulfed in flames in seconds. But Christmas trees aren't the only worrisome possible fire hazard this time of year. An overloaded elec- trical socket, thanks to your desire to outdo your neighbors Christmas-lights display, can spell trouble, too. Lit candles, sometimes used for decorations, have also caused problems. On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me … two flaming turkey fryers. Granted, not everyone is frying a turkey for Christmas (that was so 2002). But preparing a holiday meal, especially given the increased volume of cooking some encounter when preparing huge family dinners, can turn dangerous if not careful. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, leaving cooking food unattended is the leading cause of kitchen fires. That's prone to happen in the throes of the rollicking family dinner or holiday party you're throwing. Entertain guests, but keep one eye on the stove.

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