How to keep your home safe during the Holiday Season
Now that the Holidays are approaching it’s a good time to revisit some ways to make sure our homes are safe, whether we are staying cozy at home with a cup of hot chocolate or traveling to visit family and friends.
Lights!
- Before you trim the tree or make your house light up like Clark Griswold, inspect your string lights for frayed cords or loose connections. If a bulb needs replaced make sure you unplug the light strand first and ensure you are replacing the original bulb with a like voltage and wattage.
- When you are leaving the house or going to bed, make sure all holiday lights are turned off.
Sound the Alarm!
- Make sure you test your smoke alarms monthly to ensure they are working properly.
- If you do not already have carbon monoxide detectors, make sure at least one is installed on each floor of your home, close to sleeping areas.
Escape Routes
- The Holidays are a good reminder that we should always have a fire escape plan. Take this time to review the plan with your loved ones. Make sure you determine at least two exits from every room in the house.
Make a List and Check it Twice!
- Create an inventory of your valuable property, including electronics and jewelry. Make sure you include make, model and serial numbers along with a detailed description and photographs. This inventory should be kept in a safe place away from your home.
Anybody Home?
- To give the illusion you are home when you are really indulging on Grandma’s cookies, set at least two light timers to turn the lights and TV on and off. When setting the timers, make sure you set them in a sequence similar to your normal movement through the home.
Proper Prepping
- Prior to your extended vacation make sure you have stopped your mail and newspaper deliveries or made arrangements for a neighbor or friend to pick them up. If you have a trusted neighbor, ask that they keep an eye on your home in your absence.
One last check before you hit the road
- Double check all windows and doors to make sure they are locked and if you have one, engage your motion detector or alarm system.
Announcement! Announcement!
- While belonging to social media sites are great ways to keep in touch, you need to make sure that you are not advertising the exact days you are going to be away from home. Instead of stating you are only two hours from Florida and can’t wait for your five whole days of fun and sun, make a general remark that you can’t wait to see Uncle Fred and Aunt Sally.