Holiday Safety Tips

With all the decorations, shopping, parties, and fun coming up with the holiday season, it’s important to be safe while also having fun. SafeWise Security Systems shares five tips to help keep your family and home safe during the holiday season:

1. Keep your travel plans offline.

If you are planning to travel during the holiday season, keep your travel plans off social media. Never post where you are going, when you are leaving, or when you will be back. This is prime information for a thief because he will know when your house will be empty. Even if you have the highest-level of security on your Facebook or Twitter accounts, posting this personal information is never recommended.

2. Notify a neighbor.

If you will be out of town during the holidays, notify a trusted neighbor. Ask them to keep an eye on your home and report any suspicious activity. You’ll also want this neighbor to keep your walks cleared of snow and to pick up your mail and newspapers while you are away. Make your house look like somebody is home to deter a burglar.

3. Hide any Christmas gifts.

You probably want to keep gifts out of sight from children, but you also want to make sure gifts are hidden from a potential burglar as well. Putting pretty wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree looks nice, but it’s also an open invitation for a burglar. Try to keep your Christmas tree, with gifts underneath, away from windows or other places with a view. When you aren’t home, it’s easy to break through a window and grab all of your gifts.

Take care of your electronics as well, those that are meant as gifts and those already in the home. Keep cameras, CDs, DVD players, computers, and iPads within your view and out of sight for a burglar.

4. Watch your Christmas lights.

December is the deadliest month for electrical fires. Before you string lights on the house or the tree, inspect the strands to make sure there aren’t any frayed cords or cracked lamps. Replace any broken lamps and throw away strands with frayed cords. This will help prevent any accidental fires. You’ll want to buy cords that have been tested by an independent laboratory, like the Underwriters Laboratory.

Also, be sure to turn any holiday lights off when you go out for the evening or when you go to bed. Try using an outdoor timer to switch lights on and off.

5. Inspect the furnace and the chimney.

Heating-equipment, like furnaces and fires can many deaths every year in the United States. In fact, in 2008, the U.S. Fire Administration reported approximately 2,650 people were killed by house fires. Take the time to have a professional come inspect your furnace and clean the chimney before you need to heat your home.

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The holidays can be the most wonderful time of the year, as long as you stay safe during them. Be sure to take the precautions you need in order to fully enjoy the season.