Avoid getting burned by the holidays.

• Position: Cooking - Brief article

Do not get burned over the holidays--seriously. For a lot of people, December is filled with parties, decorating, and cooking. It also can be a prime time for accidental injuries, according to Trent Applegate, lecturer in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Indiana University, Bloomington.

* Food-related illness. "It is likely that there are increased cases of food-borne illnesses and allergic reactions." Food frequently is prepared in a rush or left out for long periods of time. This is a recipe for disaster. "People should be very careful to prance proper food handling techniques. Frequent hand washing, especially after handling meat, is one of the most important things people can do to prevent food poisoning."

* Stress-related injuries. "When we are stressed out, we are less aware of our surroundings. This could lead to an increased likelihood of slips, trips, We are also more physiologically susceptible to injury when we are stressed out. If you are already sick, stress can make you even more...