Holiday Safety Tips From the Experts:

For many of us, the week between Christmas and New Year's Day is one of full hearts, full stomachs, full houses and full schedules. It's also a time of year when people let down their guard – in the spirit of the season -- and that's not always a good thing. What follows are a few pointers from the folks whose job it is to look after us.

Crime

According to Bath Township Police Chief Michael McNeely it takes just a little forethought to keep your home and loved ones safe.

The chief advises:

• Get to know your neighbors and be familiar with what they drive, and call police if something seems out of the ordinary.
• Always lock up when you go out, even if only for a few minutes.
• Close your garage door when not in use.
• Never leave your house keys in the car.  Remove the house key when using valet parking.
• Do not mark your status on social networking sites as "on vacation" or "out of town." 
• Use automatic timers to turn on lights when you are away.

offers these tips while shopping:

• Keep track of your packages and your purse. It's best to carry a wallet in your front pocket, or hold your purse close to your body.
• Tell your children to seek out a police officer or store security guard if you become separated.
• Be extremely careful using ATM machines. Try only to use them in daylight hours. If you have to go at night, pick a machine in a well-lighted area that is visible to passing traffic.
  

Pets

Kathleen Harpley, owner of is certified in pet first aid and has been caring for animals for the last 16 years.

She suggests that dogs and cats be kept in a back bedroom or home office if your house is going to be filled with a lot of guests. "Not only do animals get excited by all the attention, they also get underfoot and could be let out by accident," she said.

If your animals have the run of the house, be sure to keep them away from the the water under the Christmas tree – pine sap is toxic to both cats and dogs.

Watch the leftovers. "A trash can full of holiday scraps is like a buffet for your pet," Harpley said. "And they're just as likely to overindulge as we are."

Cooked bones are a no-no. "They splinter too easily and could cause problems when swallowed or digested."

Skip the tinsel on your tree. It can cause serious digestion problems for cats, at worst it can result in an impacted bowel.

Poinsettias and chocolate are toxic to pets, so it's a good idea to keep them out of reach,  but one piece or one leaf isn't deadly. "It's about quantity," Harpley said. "If a chihuahua eats a candy kiss it's much different than if a rottweiler eats one."

Prepare ahead to be panicked if something should go wrong. Here are two emergency vet centers:  Akron Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, 330-665-4996 and Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital 330-666-2976.

Medical

Dr. Erick Zoumberakis is medical director of the in Montrose. He said the west-side emergency room sees a lot of traffic this time of year from the kind of accidents that occur when people are busy and distracted.

Zoumberakis suggests taking an extra second to act, no matter how crammed your schedule might be.

"Adults are rushing around even more than usual," he said. "We see lots of lacerations from broken wine classes, cutting food.  We see falls, people getting up on ladders to dust something or hang lights, and there are lots of slips and falls in the snow and ice.

"One thing I cannot stress enough is to make sure someone always has an eye on the kids. Lots of people are visiting, there's lot of distractions. It's very easy for a little one to get a bulb off the tree or put something from the ground into their mouth. Choking is always a concern."

All unused electrical outlets should be covered," Zoumberakis added.

Also, be sure everyone covers exposed skin when outside to guard against frostbite.

About those indulgences, be it food or alcohol, Zoumberakis refers to advice from a mentor. "He told me that the solution to pollution is dilution. That means if you have had too many cocktails, it will take time and lots of fluids to make you feel better.

"What happens is that alcohol tends to dehydrate you because you urinate more, and dehydration can cause headaches. Some people also take an anti-inflammatory before they go to sleep with the idea of heading off the headache they are going to have the next day.  Just remember, fluids, fluids, fluids."

The AGMC emergency room is open 24 hours and is staffed with board certified emergency room doctors, surgeons and pediatricians. For an emergency, call 9-1-1.

The number for the National Poison Control Center is 800-222-1222.