9-1-1 Holiday Safety Tips to Remember as You Celebrate with Loved Ones

The holidays are when people get together and enjoy extra time with family and friends. This might be the first time in a while you have celebrated with loved ones due to the pandemic. It is essential to put safety first as we plan the holidays. Follow these great reminder tips to keep you and your family safe this holiday season.

Christmas Trees

Many families will buy a natural Christmas tree for their homes. Some things to keep in mind include always keeping the tree watered. When a tree does not get watered, it dies and dries out. This then becomes a fire hazard.

Other tips for trees include placing a tree in areas not too close to heat, a fireplace, or candles. After the holidays are over, the best way to dispose of your tree is to take it to a recycling center or have it picked up by community service.

Holiday Lights and Decorations

Decorating can be jolly and fun, but safety is still a must when putting out your holiday décor. Inspect holiday lights for possible frayed wires or broken lights. Replace broken lights, throw out lights that are not working correctly, and not overload your electrical outlets. Too many plugs into one outlet can be a severe safety hazard. Instead, buy extension cords and multi-outlet plugs.

Traveling During the Holidays

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the safest way to avoid spreading or contracting COVID-19 is to stay home and celebrate the holidays with family virtually. If you do travel, please wear masks in crowded areas, practice social distancing and wash your hands often.

Also, make sure to never post on social media when you are out of town. If the wrong people get ahold of this information, your home could be burglarized.  It would be best if you kept an eye on your digital security. Many transactions during the holidays give more opportunities to fall prey to identity theft. Remember to only shop at reputable online stores and use a virtual private network to add an extra layer of security to your surfing.

Calling 9-1-1 During the Holidays

Please remember that 9-1-1 is for emergencies only.  When we dial 9-1-1 for anything other than an emergency, we take away emergency resources from someone who could need them. But if you do see an emergency or are involved in one, please do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 for help.

Cell Phone Sally wishes you a safe holiday season!