Our Top 5 New Years Safety Resolutions for 2017

Dec 20, 2016 | General News

Well, the holiday leftovers are dwindling and 2016 is drawing to a close. You know what that means: New Years resolutions. New Years resolutions are famed for being generally unrealistic and abandoned by mid-January. It is possible to be successful in setting goals for the coming year, though, if you choose something achievable and make a concrete plan. We’ve been talking a lot about safety on the blog this year, so here are our top 5 New Years safety resolutions for 2017. 

Stay Healthy

Back in October, we talked about flu prevention. We still have a couple months of flu season left, and it’s not too late to get your flu shot if you haven’t yet. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about it.

In addition to immunization, there are plenty of everyday things we can do to keep ourselves healthy and prevent the spread of disease. Some of these include:

  • Wash your hands regularly
  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
  • Make time for exercise
  • Take a multivitamin
  • Cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze – but use a tissue or your sleeve, not your hand

Be Ready for an Emergency

We talked about creating a family emergency plan and kit in our post about hurricane preparedness. The New Year is a great time to review your plans as a family and make any necessary changes. Take a look at your emergency kit and make sure everything is still in good shape. Add anything you may have forgotten, and replace anything too old or damaged.

Don’t have an emergency plan and kit? Now is a great time to make one.

Check for Safety Hazards

Take some time during the holiday to check your home for safety hazards, inside and out. Outdoor safety hazards include:

  • Clogged gutters
  • Dead branches or trees that may fall
  • Slippery, uneven, or broken pavement on sidewalks and driveways

Indoor safety hazards include:

  • Fire hazards – check your appliances and outlets to be sure they are in good working order. Make sure you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and that they are turned on and working.
  • Choking hazards – If you have small children or pets, take a look around your home for any small objects that they could reach and try to swallow. Keep these objects up high, away from curious hands and paws.
  • Check your home for any areas that might cause you to trip or fall. Make sure stair railings are securely attached and tighten them if they are loose. Make sure all rugs have non-slip pads underneath to keep them in place and that walkways are clear and free of debris.

Keep Your Car In Good Shape

Virginia requires annual safety inspections for cars, and for good reason. This keeps you and other drivers safer from faulty vehicles causing crashes on our roads. Make sure your vehicle’s inspection sticker is up to date. You should also follow your manufacturer’s recommendations for oil changes and tune-ups throughout the year to keep your car running smoothly and to catch any developing problems.

Pledge Not to Text and Drive

We discussed the well-known dangers of texting while driving in September. Take some time to talk with your teens about the dangers of distracted driving again. Take a pledge together not to text while driving, or renew your pledge if you made one already. Repetition helps both you and your teens remember these important lessons.

The Richmond personal injury attorneys at Geoff McDonald & Associates wish you a happy and safe New Year!

Geoff McDonald and Associates: 804-888-8888.

FREE CONSULTATION

No Fees Unless We Win







    Super Bowl Parties and the Dangers of Drunk Driving – A Checklist

    The Super Bowl is more than a big game. It’s an annual occasion when people gather with friends and family to eat and drink and watch the game. Alcoholic beverages are common at Super Bowl parties so be careful not to let anyone drink too much and drive. If you’re...

    Richmond Youth With Disabilities Gain Job Skills

    May marked the graduation of more than 90 Virginia high school students from Project SEARCH, a job training and placement program that serves Virginia students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. More than a third of the students had jobs by the time...

    Our Case Results

    $4,700,000
    Industrial Plant Accident

    Attorneys for the Plaintiff: Jeffrey A. Breit and Justin M. Sheldon Our client was killed in an industrial accident when an unauthorized worker was operating an overhead crane and pinned our client between…

    $1,750,000
    Rear-End Crash

    Our client suffered a traumatic brain injury, facial trauma, a dislocated hip and severe abdominal trauma when she was rear-ended at a traffic light by a tractor trailer. Suit was commenced shortly after…

    $1,250,000
    Assault of Log Truck Driver

    Attorneys for the Plaintiff: Geoffrey R. McDonald, Frank H. Hupfl, Justin M. Sheldon.
    Our client suffered a traumatic brain injury after being assaulted and knocked to the ground while fueling his logging…

    $860,000
    Drunk Driving Crash

    Our client suffered neck/head trauma and a broken wrist after his vehicle was struck by a drunk driver while he was stopped at a traffic light. Upon rejection of a settlement offer of $325,000, our litigation…

    $700,000
    Rear-End Collision

    Attorneys for the Plaintiff: Justin M. Sheldon and Geoff R. McDonald, Richmond
    GMA’s client was injured as a result of a rear-end collision in the greater Richmond area. The crash occurred a little after…

    Client Reviews

    Cheryl and Rich were wonderful and patient with me throughout the case. All of my questions were answered. They really helped me through this tough time and made sure to let me know what was going on. I really thank Geoff…

    Troy Saxby

    My experience with GMA staff was first rate. They always represented in a professional way and made sure I had everything as far as paperwork. Kara and Theo made sure to answer all my questions, was always available and so…

    Shirley Brown

    Geoff McDonald & Associates is the team that you want on the field if you’re in need of top notch legal defense! Mr. Taj Henley demonstrated true customer service skills and his expertise made me feel comfortable throughout the…

    Julian Reeves

    Geoff McDonald & Associates: Thank you Taj Henley for all of your hard work and dedication! Very expeditious in my case and I was very satisfied with my settlement. Will recommend to all my friends and family!

    Shareema Williams

    Geoff is number one in my book and I especially appreciate the support of Mr Henley

    Ebony Conwell

    I was so pleased with the knowledge and support from Mr. Taj Henley

    Kideem Frierson

    Thank you Geoff McDonald &Associates. A special thank you to Mr. Taj Henley

    Denise Conwell

    Mr. Taj Henley displays exceptional professionalism for Geoff McDonald & Associates, along with commendable communication skills and customer service. By his work ethic and commitment to the people he serves his value to any…

    Justin Fitzgerald