Wednesday, November 21, 2018 S15

[THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]

Keep safe this holiday season and avoid medical mishaps

The holiday season might
not be the most hazardous
time of the year, but there
is an uptick in safety con-
cerns during this season of
festivity and fun.
Components of the
holiday season such as
decorating, shopping,
celebrating, and travel-
ing, carry some risk. The
National Fire Protection
Association says 30
percent of all home fires
occur during the months
of December, January and
February. Christmas trees
and decorative holiday
lighting displays contribute
to the uptick in fires and
other accidents between
Thanksgiving and New
Year’s Day. But fire is not
the only concern during the
holiday season. Revelers
who celebrate a bit too
much can pose a threat, as
can road weary travelers
or overnight guests who
unknowingly put loved
ones in harm’s way during
their stays.
Thankfully, many acci-
dents that occur during the
holiday season are avoid-
able if holiday celebrants
focus on safe ways to
celebrate.
· Choking: All of that
entertaining and partying
means more food is con-
sumed. To keep up with
the hustle and bustle of
the season, many people
must eat on the go. The
National Safety Council
says nearly 3,000 people
in the United States die
each year from chok-
ing. Taking small bites
and chewing completely,
while also avoiding talk-
ing while chewing, can
help. Children should
be kept away from small
decorations, as even pine
needles can be a choking
hazard.
· Toxic plants: Some
plants, including mistletoe
and holly, can be toxic to
pets and young children
whose smaller bodies may
be more vulnerable than
adults’. When decorating,
consider decorating with
artificial plants instead of
live, potentially poisonous
plants.
· Alcohol-related incidents:
Holiday fun frequently
involves alcoholic bever-
ages. Law enforcement
officials point out that
the rate of driving while
intoxicated tends to
increase during the holi-
days. Implementing strict
“designated driver”
rules and making contact
information for taxi or
ridesharing services readily
available to holiday guests
can prevent tragedies.
· Medicine mishaps:
Relatives visiting for
Christmas may bring their
prescription medications
along when staying over-
night. Curious children
may encounter the drugs
and think they’re candy,
so encourage guests to
place their medications
in childproof bottles or
containers.

SHOPPING
From Page S9
based on a separate survey
of consumers.
The survey found that
nine in ten (91%) con-
sumers believe it is more
important than ever to
support small businesses
this holiday season, and
83% plan to do at least
some portion of their holi-
day shopping at a small,
independently owned
retailer or restaurant -
either in person or online.
On par with previous years’
celebrations, nearly six in
ten (58%) U.S. consumers
reported being aware of
Small Business Saturday,
and among those, 80% plan
to go out and Shop Small
at independently-owned
retailers or restaurants on
the day.
Additional results of the
survey:
A majority of consumers
(94%) value the contri-
butions small businesses
make in their community;
As consumer shopping
habits shift further online,
nearly two-thirds (65%)
are likely to seek out small,
independently-owned
retailers when shopping
online, including 59%
who plan to Shop Small
online this Small Business
Saturday; even 40% of
consumers say they will
shop with a small retailer
online this Cyber Monday;
Among consumers who
plan to shop on Small
Business Saturday:
Nearly all (96%) said
Small Business Saturday
inspires them to go to small,
independently-owned
retailers or restaurants
that they have not been to
before, or would not have
otherwise tried;
Plans to shop include
visiting independently-
owned bakeries (40%);
clothing, accessory and
shoe stores (40%); restau-
rants, bars and pubs (37%);
bookstores (32%); and gift,
novelty and souvenir stores
(30%).
“When shoppers spend
locally at small businesses,
communities win,” said
NFIB CEO and President
Juanita D. Duggan. “We
encourage consumers to
celebrate Small Business
Saturday by shopping at
small and independent
shops and restaurants. We
are proud to partner with
American Express to pro-
mote small businesses.”
Every year, small busi-
nesses, local Chambers
of Commerce, business
associations and other
community organizers join
together as Neighborhood
Champions to bring their
neighbors out to shop on
the day. In 2018, more
than 7,500 Neighborhood
Champions have commit-
ted to plan activities and
events to get shoppers in
the doors of small busi-
nesses on Small Business
Saturday. Discover
Neighborhood Champions
online here. Small business
owners can create cus-
tomizable Small Business
Saturday marketing mate-
rials and find additional
inspiration for events to
rally their communities at
ShopSmall.com.
In addition to
Neighborhood Champions,
the Small Business
Saturday Coalition coordi-
nates activities with public
officials, small business
age or older. The sample
was collected using an
email invitation and an
employees provide to the
economy based on an anal-
ysis used by the U.S. Small
the ninth annual Small
Business Saturday, proudly
backed by American
owners and consumers on anonymous online survey Business Administration. Express. Dedicated to sup-
the day. Women Impacting from October 15-26, 2018. ESI also estimated how porting the diverse range of
Public Policy (WIPP) has The survey has an overall much of each dollar spent local businesses that create
led the Small Business margin of error of +/- at the average small busi- jobs, boost the economy,
Saturday Coalition since it 2.2%, at the 95% level of ness remains in their local and enhance neighbor-
launched in 2011, and it has confidence. community, and used hoods around the country,
grown to include national, The 2018 Small Business input-output analysis Small Business Saturday
state and local associations Economic Impact Study across 100 representative was created by American
across the country and in was conducted by Econsult U.S. counties to calculate Express in 2010 in response
U.S. territories. Solutions, Inc. (ESI) the additional impact that to small business owners’
American Express has on behalf of American is generated locally as the most pressing need: get-
also enlisted the support Express. ESI calculated result of the spending of ting more customers.
of many companies that the share of national Gross employees and the spend- Learn more at and connect
are serving as Corporate Domestic Product (GDP), ing of the small business with us on ShopSmall.
Supporters to help drive employment and employee with local suppliers and com, instagram.com/
excitement for Small compensation that small service providers. shopsmall, facebook.com/
Business Saturday. businesses with under 100 November 24 the is SmallBusinessSaturday.
Together these companies
reach millions of small busi-
nesses and consumers. The
2018 Corporate Supporters
include FedEx, Etsy, Intuit,
Microsoft and Square.
Everyone is welcome to
join the Shop Small com-
munity online by using
the hashtags #ShopSmall
and #SmallBizSat between
now and Small Business
Saturday. Consumers
can also RSVP on the
Small Business Saturday
Facebook page and receive
reminders to Shop Small
this November 24th, and
show your support using
our brand new stickers
and GIFs by searching
‘Shop Small’ on Giphy via
Facebook, Instagram, and
Snapchat stories.
The 2018 Small Business
Saturday Consumer
Insights Survey was con-
ducted by Teneo on behalf
of American Express and
the National Federation of
Independent Businesses
( NFIB ). The survey is a
nationally representa-
tive sample of 1,995 males
and females 18 years of