If you're feeling stressed and fatigued and having trouble sleeping, you could be suffering from that annual holiday ailment known as gift-giving pressure.

Perhaps you've counted millions of sheep while thinking about what to get Aunt Martha, who has it all, or cousin Larry, who has every gadget known to man and alien. Well, I may have a solution for you: Think safety. Yep, that's a good way to show your loved ones you care. Sure, safety-related gifts aren't tasty, cuddly or fuzzy, but they may be just the thing to help keep your good buddies alive and well into the coming year.

The Dangerous Three

• Fire: Unfortunately, home sweet home is not always home safe home. On average, American homes are the scene of nearly 20,000 accidental deaths and more than 6 million injuries each year. Of these, fire accounts for more than 5,000 deaths (80 percent in homes) and 25,000 injuries.
• Carbon-monoxide poisoning: It's the most common cause of poisoning death. In fact, 10,000 people will seek medical attention or miss at least one day of normal activity due to carbon-monoxide poisoning this year.
• Burns: Additionally, burns due to scalding water have been cited as the second-most common cause of serious burn injuries in children under 5 and in adults over 65.

The best way to treat an illness or injury is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Here are some gift-giving suggestions for your loved ones and friends.

• Working Smoke Alarm: As of 1995 about 93 percent of American homes had a smoke alarm. The bad news is that many aren't checked regularly and may not be working. In some cases, the alarm may just need a new battery. Working smoke alarms — placed in the right areas of your home — are terrific early warning systems and can reduce the risk of dying from a fire by almost 50 percent. It's also a good idea to keep two fire extinguishers in your home (one in the kitchen and the other in the bedroom closet).
• Carbon-Monoxide Detector: When properly installed (and placed) carbon-monoxide detectors can prevent deaths from carbon-monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is colorless, tasteless and odorless. It's produced by the incomplete combustion of fuel, such as gasoline, coal, oil, natural gas, propane and kerosene. You may be exposed to carbon monoxide from automobile exhaust or appliances like furnaces or hot-water heaters that are improperly installed or malfunctioning. If fumes are released into an enclosed space such as a house or apartment, carbon-monoxide poisoning can result. Symptoms include abnormal sleepiness, dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting. Be especially concerned if all members of the household have the same symptoms.