The Christmas holiday is a fun time of year. Many people enjoy the thrill of buying gifts and the pride of giving great gifts. But, the holiday season is one that’s unfortunately fraught with dangers. These risks come in all types of shapes and sizes. What’s more, not all are foreseeable. But, most are predictable and completely preventable. Sure, you might already have a security system in your home, but that won’t be the solution for every scenario.
Property Crimes Rise Steeply during the Holidays
The fact of the matter is, home safety tips can do a lot to make the holiday a wonderful time. As Christmas grows closer day by day, property crimes increase substantially. Vehicle theft and break ins become more prevalent. Home break ins and invasions also rise around the holiday season. Vandalism (which typically peaks on and around Halloween) likewise spikes.
“While the holiday season is a time of joy, it can also pose many dangers. Every year about 8,000 injuries occur from accidents related to holiday decorating activities. Christmas trees alone are involved in hundreds of fires which result in almost 40 deaths each year. Decorating with safety in mind can keep you from becoming one of those grim statistics.” —Today’s Homeowner
Then, there’s robbery, another crime which goes up in frequency throughout the holidays. And, it’s not just property and crimes against persons. Unfortunately, other serious problems arise during the Christmas season. These include house fires and less serious mishaps. Falls, slips, trips, electric shock, and more all increase in frequency during this time of the year. So, it’s important to know and understand what’s most likely to occur to take the proper preventative measures.
Top Home Safety Tips for Holiday Travelers
You want the Christmas season to be a pleasant experience and a fond memory. So, here are some of the best home safety tips for holiday travelers leaving their homes temporarily vacant:
- Keep your travel plans offline. While you’ll probably book your flight and/or hotel online, don’t broadcast your trip on social media. Sure, it’s tempting to share your excitement. But, it gives thieves too much information. At the very least, don’t share when you’re leaving or when you plan to return.
- Notify trusted neighbors. Approach at least one trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your house while you’re out of town. (Asking a couple of neighbors is a great way to have more eyes looking out for your home.) Let them know what where you’re going. Give them your contact information. And, ask them to report any suspicious activity.
- Hide any Christmas gifts. Putting wrapped Christmas gifts under the tree is a great way to decorate and get into the spirit. But, it’s a unnecessary temptation for burglars. Stash Christmas gifts out of sight until you return.
- Be proactive with Christmas lights. December is the deadliest month for electrical fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Make sure to inspect those lights to help prevent fire from breaking out.
- Inspect your home for problems. If your home is equipped with a fireplace and chimney, now is the time to have it inspected. Also, check around the rest of your home for any fire or other hazards before you go out of town.
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