Keep Family, Home Safe This Holiday Season

SafetySmart Lilburn wants you to keep your home and family safe this holiday season. Here are a few tips to help you.

Decorating Safety Tips:

• Use outdoor lights only outside your home.
  • Examine light strings each year; discard worn ones.
  • Connect no more than three strands together.
  • Never use indoor extension cords for outside appliances.
  • Avoid overloading wall outlets and extension cords.

Shopping Safety Tips:

• Find a bathroom in a well-trafficked area.
  • Avoid darkened hallways and other backroom areas.
  • Park under a street light so you can see your vehicle on all four sides after dark.
  • Park close to entrances and/or exits.
  • Walk to and from your vehicle with another person—ask the security guard to walk with you if no one else is around.
  • Do not use your remote at a distance to locate your car: someone else may beat you to the door.
  • Have your key ready when you approach your vehicle.
  • Don’t leave purchases in plain view and unattended.
  • Remove items that might appear valuable from the seat and floorboard of your car: someone may break in to get the toy money your child was playing with.
  • Stow purchases in your trunk.

 Home Safety Tips:

• Ask your neighbors to watch your house —pick up the mail, papers; bring in the trash cans; collect deliveries, etc.—if you will be away for several days
  • Dispose of fireplace ashes in a metal container until cold.  Place at least 30 feet from the house when putting outside.
  • Install at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home.
  • Have smoke alarms on every level of the house, both inside and outside bedroom doors.  (Sleep with bedroom doors closed).
  • Have an operable fire extinguisher readily available.
  • Extinguish candles prior to going to bed or leaving the room.
  • Use timers on lights inside your home to show change of room and natural flow of activity.
  • If you have an alarm system, use it.
  • Make sure fire places are not burning when you leave the room.