Holiday Safety Tips Online, at Home and in the Kitchen

Dec 7, 2011 | Homeowners, Safety

A few extra precautions this holiday season may make it a much happier and memorable time for your entire family and will keep the grinches away!

HomeSecurityGuru.com, recently collaborated with security experts and organizations to create a comprehensive list of the top safety tips to follow this holiday season. Fire safety precautions were high on the list due to the growing popularity of turkey fryers which cause an estimated $15 million in property damage each year according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Also of prime importance this year is taking precautions online to protect your home off-line, which are new safety measures people should take now that social media has become more commonplace and a popular way to communicate with groups of people.

Technology Related Tips

  • Do not share that you’re going to be out of town and away from home on an email autoresponder.
  • Do not share your holiday travel plans on Facebook, blogs and other social sites.
  • Don’t put vacation updates on social sites.
  • Don’t include away from home messages on your cell phone or home answering machines.
  • Consider investing in a home security camera that syncs with the internet so you can keep an eye on children that are off from school for the holidays or monitor your home while away

Home Security & Safety Tips

  • Remove objects that may allow access into your home, such as ladders
  • Don’t put gifts near windows or where they can be seen from outside the home
  • Turn the volume down or off on your home phone ringer so anyone outside can’t hear it ringing
  • Be careful when discarding boxes from gifts as thief driving by can see what new items may be available in your home next time you are away
  • Have a friend or neighbor pick up any mail or deliveries that are sent to your house
  • Don’t leave keys outside, even if they are hidden
  • Cut tree limbs back from second story windows
  • Use lights that are on a timer and set them to turn on at nightfall
  • Keep in mind to not cover your address number of your house with decorations so emergency personnel can correctly identify your home if needed

Cooking Safety Tips

  • Opt for the new type of “oil-less” infared turkey fryer instead of the traditional fryer
  • Clean your ovens and cook top range vents to clear them of all grease
  • If an oven or microwave fire occurs, keep the door closed. Turn the power off and wait for the fire to die.
  • Never leave cooking unattended, it’s the #1 contributor to cooking fires according to the NFPA
  • Never throw water or flour on a grease fire
  • Never put frozen food in boiling oil, which can cause an explosion of grease

Fire Safety

  • Buy a fire extinguisher  that is ABC Rated and learn how to properly operate it
  • Change smoke detector batteries
  • Test smoke alarms to ensure they are operable
  • Make sure fire alarms are located on all levels of a house and outside of bedrooms
  • Limit the number of appliances used simultaneously
  • Never use frayed electric cords or run them through a doorway