While it may seem like the most wonderful time of the year, there are dangers lurking around every brightly decorated corner this holiday season. Keeping your family safe this holiday season can be made easier by following these holiday safety tips:
- Decorate with care: Make sure when decorating to keep an eye out for fire and electric hazards. Make sure to use extension cords properly and never run them through a window or garage door. Christmas trees should also be decorated with tree-safe lights; and, if your family opts for a live tree, keep it well watered to avoid a potential holiday fire.
- Avoid holiday theft: Theft across the country tends to increase during the months of November and December. Making sure that your property is secure is essential to preventing theft. Lock your cars and the doors and windows to your home and never leave anything valuable in plain sight. Even leaving a garage door unlocked could lead to significant theft.
- Leave the lights on: If you are heading out of town for the holidays, be sure to leave a few lights on throughout your home that make it look like you could still be there. Thieves do not usually approach a home that appears to be occupied. Leaving an outside light on, or having a motion-detecting light, can help keep your home safe.
- Package delivery: 2020 has been the year of online shopping and receiving much needed joy through packages coming to the front door. Many thieves have taken this online shopping trend and used it to their advantage by simply walking up and stealing packages right off of front porches. If you are having your holiday gifts delivered this year, request a signature confirmation when the package arrives or have a trusted neighbor hold on to the package for you. Never leave a package in plain sight on your front doorstep.
- Box disposal: Placing that 70-inch television box outside for trash pickup may not be the wisest decision this holiday season. Leaving intact boxes of new holiday gifts out for trash collection or recycling may give potential thieves a clue as to what you now have in your home that they may want. Break down all of your gift boxes as much as you can and put them in a large trash bag.
- Cooking dangers: The holidays are known to be the best time for all of our favorite comfort foods. When cooking your holiday dinner, make sure to be careful. If deep-frying a turkey, take the frying outdoors and away from the house to prevent possible fires. When baking, make sure to keep an eye on your tasty treats so as not to start an indoor fire. Also, make sure the kitchen is properly ventilated.
- Social media: It is important to think about what and when you post to social media this holiday season. Waiting to post your holiday trip, or when you will be out of town, is a good idea to help prevent any potential thieves from noticing you may not be home. Thieves may be stalking social media pages to find those who are not home for the holidays, which gives them the perfect opportunity to break into an empty home. If you do post about gifts or holiday trips, make sure to remove any location information.
- Unexpected visitors: While you may have a few close family member or friends over this holiday season to celebrate, be aware that there may be criminals who knock on your door to scope out your home’s valuable goods. These people may pose as a delivery driver or someone asking for charitable donations. If a person you are unfamiliar with knocks at your door, do not give them any personal information and do not let them into your home.
- Staying safe at home: This year has been especially tough with the COVID-19 virus spreading across our country. If having family members or friends over for a small gathering, be sure to have handwashing stations ready, hand-sanitizer available, and try to stay socially distanced. If you are unable to stay socially distanced, wear a mask to help prevent any possible spread of the virus. The best gathering would be outdoors if possible, or in a well-ventilated space with fresh air circulating.
- Traveling safely: If you are traveling to visit family this year, by plane, train, or car, be sure to stay safe by following all CDC guidelines for travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wear a mask, stay socially distanced, and wash or sanitize your hands frequently.
The Ezequiel Reyna, Jr. Law Group Wishes You Happy Holidays!
The team at Ezequiel Reyna, Jr. Law Group hopes your and your family have a wonderful holiday season. We hope the holidays are filled with joy; however, if you or someone you love is involved in an accident over the holidays and needs an experienced South Texas personal injury attorney, contact us for a free consultation.
