When:
December 20, 2022
[field_department_school]
On behalf of the Department of Public Safety, please see the below holiday safety tips:
Around your home:
- Be sure to salt (or use a deicer for) your driveways and stairs.
- Track your packages, parcels and deliveries and remove the parcel as soon as possible.
- When possible, have someone at home to receive packages.
- Install a RING camera or other front door camera to watch for deliveries.
Vehicle safety:
- Clear all snow off your windshield and vehicle before driving.
- Lock your vehicle at all times.
- Change your winter tires as soon as possible.
- Place an emergency kit in your car (blanket, candle in a can, lighter, matches, flashlights, booster battery pack, jumper cables, water, energy bar, hard candies).
- Check that your windshield wipers are in good conditions.
- Top up your windshield washer fluid.
- Do regular maintenance checks to ensure your vehicle is in good running condition.
- Keep your cell phone fully charged in case of emergency.
- Have charging cords and/or extra battery power pack for your cellular phone available.
- Remain with your vehicle when warming the engine and keep doors locked.
- Keep packages, gifts, purchases in the trunk or out of sight to prevent theft.
Traveling for the holidays? Be prepared:
- If you're traveling this year, be sure your vehicle is in good running condition, get plenty of rest and be prepared for any emergency.
- Stay safe on the roads over the holidays — and every day.
- Prepare your car for winter and keep an emergency kit with you.
- Get a good night’s sleep before departing and avoid drowsy driving.
- Leave early, planning ahead for heavy traffic.
- Make sure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up no matter how long or short the distance traveled.
- Put that cell phone away; many distractions occur while driving, but cell phones are the main culprit.
- Practice defensive driving.
- Designate a sober driver to ensure guests make it home safely after a holiday party; alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription and illegal drugs can cause impairment.
Toys and gifts:
- New toys and gifts are holiday highlights for many children. Minimize potential hazards from new gifts by buying sturdy, well-made toys that are appropriate for your child's age.
- Toys for older children may contain small parts or other hazards that may make them unsafe for young children.
Holiday trees:
- When buying a real tree, make sure it's fresh (you can tell if the needles are hard to pull off). Water the tree daily once you bring it indoors for decorating.
- Place the tree away from high traffic areas and doorways. Make sure the tree is well-secured in a sturdy stand.
- Place the tree away from heating vents, radiators, stoves, fireplaces and burning candles.
- Keep metal, sharp or breakable tree ornaments with small removable parts away from young children.
- Dispose of the tree as soon as the holidays are over, or as soon as the needles start to fall. Dispose of it according to local regulations--most municipalities have tree recycling programs.
