Tip of the month archives

December, January and February are the leading months for U.S. home fires and home fire deaths. On average, more than one-third of home fire deaths in the United States occur during the winter months. As the holiday season approaches, we are all looking forward to special gatherings and celebrations with friends and loved ones.

Our homes will be decorated to enhance the atmosphere of the holidays. Holiday decorations can be joyful but also dangerous if improperly used, especially for children. Every year thousands of needless injuries and deaths are caused by decorations. A little caution and planning while decorating will help you avoid tragedy during the upcoming holiday season:

	Pick only fresh Christmas trees - you’ll know it’s fresh if the needles are firmly attached.
	When the tree is in your home, keep plenty of water around the base. A dry tree is the source of more than 1,000 home fires every year! Remove tree promptly after the holidays. Every day in the house the tree gets a little drier.
	Do not use lights with worn insulation, broken plugs and loose sockets. They can cause fires, shocks and even electrocution.
	Do not overload electrical sockets. Turn off all inside and outside holiday lights before going to bed.
	Keep space heaters away from curtains, bedspreads, furniture and other flammable materials. Warn children of the dangers of space heaters, such as fire or getting burned.
	Be sure fireplace openings are covered with a sturdy metal screen or heat-tempered glass. This reduces chances of a fire from escaping sparks or wood. Make sure any stockings hung by the fireplace are removed before lighting a fire.

A Great Gift Idea: Carbon Monoxide Detector

Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and tasteless. It is produced by incomplete combustion of fuels including oil, coal, gasoline, propane, wood, natural gas, diesel fuel, charcoal and kerosene. Carbon monoxide exposure can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness and other symptoms. Prolonged exposure brings more severe symptoms, including confusion, disorientation, convulsions and unconsciousness. In severe cases, it can be fatal. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends installing a carbon monoxide detector in each level of your home - especially near bedrooms.

Residential fires during the holiday season are especially tragic. Celebration and joy can quickly turn to sorrow and anguish because basic fire safety guidelines were neglected. "It can happen to you," so be careful and have a safe and carefree holiday season.

Burglaries go up in December

The holiday season is one that burglars happily look forward to as well.  Burglary rates are highest during the November / December holiday season and also during the July / August vacation season. Are you prepared for the peak burglary season?

There are many simple protective measures you can take, such as installing deadbolts on all outside doors, and making sure that all doors and windows are securely locked before leaving home.

The average burglar spends two minutes to get into a home.  If the doors and windows are secure, and a motion detector lights up the house, the burglar will probably be deterred and will look for easier pickings elsewhere.

Although burglary rates have been steadily declining the past 20 years, these all important tips can help prevent an unfortunate incident at your home:

	Use deadbolts on all exterior doors.
	Install an alarm to protect you home.  Even just having the emblem of a reputable alarm / security company displayed on your home is a great deterrence.
	Have a trusted neighbor keep an eye on your house while you are gone.
	Adequate outdoor lighting is an important nighttime deterrent that will make your house less attractive to a burglar.
	Give your home a "lived in look" by using inexpensive rotary timers to turn lights, radios and TVs on and off during the night. They do not need to be on all night. but having several lights come on and off at random times and for random periods will make it appear that someone is home.

If there is a topic you would like to see added to our Tip of the Month, please let us know.

Tip of the month archives