Freelance writer, Aimee Lyons is our guest blogger for today! Aimee has some tips to help keep you, your family and friends as well as home safe over the holidays. These safety tips are smart and some are useful year-round!
Keeping Your Home Safe Around the Holidays: Common Risks and How to Avoid Them
The holidays are a time of giving, yet crimes and tragedies don’t seem to take a break over the holiday season. From thieves stealing packages from the porches and mailboxes of homes to vandalized Christmas décor, accidents, and more, there are some common safety risks during the holiday season that you can avoid with some extra precautions.
Stolen Packages
Stolen packages from porches and mailboxes has been a problem for years. In 2015, though, the package-stealing trend seemed to reach new heights. According to data from InsuranceQuotes.com, 23 million Americans have had packages stolen from their homes, a trend attributable in part to the growing number of consumers who order gifts online rather than brave the stores during the holiday shopping season. If possible, ask your delivery drivers and mail carriers to tuck packages away in a less-visible location or get a box for deliveries that could be tuck behind a bush or somewhere less obvious to passerby. Often, thieves look for packages that are visible from the road that they can grab quickly to avoid being caught in the act.
Robbery and Vandalism
If you’re taking a trip out of town for a few days, put your lights on a timer to make it less obvious that you’re away from home. Would-be robbers and vandals often seek out properties that give the appearance that no one is home.
You should also hold your mail while you’re away, as an overflowing mailbox can be an indicator that families are away from home. While there’s little you can do to completely prevent vandalism short of not putting out any exterior décor, you can attach your yard decorations and other outdoor items securely to permanent structures to lessen the risk of theft.
image via pixabay by fbhk:
If your immediate neighbors are home most days, tell them if you are going to be gone for a specific time frame. Offer your mobile phone number so that you can be contacted by text message or phone call if they see suspicious activity!
Lights and Décor Safety Risks
Holiday décor can get you in the spirit of the season, but it can also be a safety hazard if set-up improperly.
–Don’t overload circuits or connect a multitude of strands of lights together. Often, packages will indicate the maximum number of strings that can be connected.
—Never use an extension cord designed for indoor use outdoors.
–You should also aim for a minimum of 10 feet between your outdoor décor and powerlines.
–Instead of a ladder, opt for a light-hanging pole to lessen the risk of slips and falls when decorating the exterior of your home.
–Always choose décor options that meet current safety regulations and recommendations.
Winter Weather Travel Hazards
Winter weather conditions make traveling treacherous. If you’re hosting a holiday party, make sure that your guests know the safest routes to take to get to your home in the event of inclement weather. If you have guests traveling great distances, offer them a place to stay or find somewhere nearby where they can spend the night to avoid traveling on snowy and icy roads, particularly late at night.
Likewise, if you’re traveling to a friend’s or family member’s home for holiday festivities, keep an eye on weather reports. If it looks like the roads could be slippery, book a hotel room near your destination for the evening so that you don’t have to spend more time on the icy roads than necessary.
No one wants to experience a devastating accident or tragedy during the joyous holiday season. Take a few extra precautions to ensure the safety of your home, your family, and your guests this season.
Have a happy- and safe- holiday season!!
Aimee Lyons
About the author, Aimee Lyons:
Aimee loves crafting, refurbishing furniture, remodeling rooms, and landscaping. She runs DIYDarlin, which provides DIY project resources and tutorials.
Aimee Lyons shared really smart tips on how to be safe! While we don’t have a lot of icy and snowy weather here in California, the same tips apply equally well here since we are dealing with a massive rain storm. This rain storm is delivering rain from northern to southern California and it will make the roads slippery in greater Los Angeles basin!! Be safe!!
Stevie Wilson,
LA-Story.com
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