By Khalida Sarwari
December was made for relaxing.
There is no better time to kick up weary, mall-traveled feet than the holidays. Here are some tips to make sure that if you must leave the warmth and safety of your couch at any point, it’s to get an eggnog refill and not to call 911.
The Santa Clara County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office want to remind people to get their ducks in a row before settling down with a slice of pie to watch A Miracle on 34th Street on TV. Following a few simple safety tips is essential to maintaining peace of mind during the holidays.
According to Gina Cali, a public education officer for county fire, most emergency calls this time of year tend to revolve around kitchen fires or heating or electrical issues.
Tree safety is of utmost importance, she said. Keep your tree at a minimum of 3 feet from the fireplace, wood burning stoves, portable heaters or other sources of heat.
Furthermore, remember to place the tree in an area where it will not block your escape path in the event of an emergency and make sure to water it every day, depending on the size of the tree.
“Make sure the tree is fresh and there’s no needle removal once [you] get [your] hands on it,” said Cali.
Gathering the family to decorate the tree is one of the best things about the season, but it can go quickly awry if the wrong decorations make it onto the tree. As self-evident as it may seem, “never put lighted candles on a tree,” said Cali. With the prevalence of candles around the home this time of year, it’s important to keep them out of reach of children and to ensure that they are not left unattended.
Maintaining the chimney isn’t beneficial only to Santa; a clean chimney can prevent unnecessary fires. Make sure that the chimney is swept every year because residue builds up, Cali said. Never burn a fire without a protective screen or glass door, because embers can fly out and ignite the carpet.
Don’t overload outlets; if you need to plug in more than two cords, use a surge protector.
Maintaining working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms is crucial. The life expectancy of alarms is eight to 10 years, Cali said. Maintenance requires a monthly test and changing the battery at least once a year. Smoke alarms should be in every bedroom, in the hallway and on every level of the home, while only one carbon monoxide alarm is necessary for each level.
Fires are not the only bad guys during the holidays. Home burglaries tend to be on the rise this time of year, according to Kurtis Stenderup, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office. “By far the most prevalent crimes this time of year are burglaries,” said Stenderup. “Unfortunately, burglars know that people go out of town for the holidays.”
To keep from becoming a statistic, remember to close all windows and doors and lock your mailbox. Stenderup advises taking the extra step of notifying your neighbors that you’ll be out of town.
“You’ve got to communicate with people you trust,” he said. “Telling your neighbors you’re going out of town goes a long way in someone keeping an eye on your house.”
To prevent vehicle- related burglaries, Stenderup advises taking precautions with valuables and keeping them out of the sight of opportunistic thieves. That means don’t leave items such as wrapped presents, purses, laptops, iPods or iPads in plain view. The best preventive measure is to lock those things in the trunk.
Residents are also advised to consider their own personal safety. When walking outside, stay in well-lit areas and try to walk in pairs or groups, Stenderup said. “Stay away from places that are isolated or have low lighting.”
Finally, he recommended alerting the authorities in the case of any suspicious circumstances.
“We’d love to come out and investigate something that turns out to be nothing rather than come out and take a report of someone who’s been a victim because no one called to report something suspicious,” Stenderup said.
For more information, the public should contact the Santa Clara County Fire Department at 408.378.4010. or the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office West Valley Station at 408.868.6600.
