Christmas is an exciting time and it is often easy to forget about being safe in all of your activities. Here’s a helpful list of ways to protect yourself and your family during the holidays!

1. Gifts

It’s easy to forget that some toys are not appropriate for all children due to parts coming off that could cause choking, or if they break too easily. Also, monitor which toys require lithium ion batteries (the ones that look like a nickel) as children are more likely to ingest these. Check out which toys have been recalled here.

2. Fire

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and the most smoky. Be wary of leaving fireplaces and candles lit as the National Fire Protection Association reported that 12% of home candle fires occur in December.

3. Food

If there is one constant about the holidays, it’s the massive amount of food we all consume! Some basic guidelines are to keep your food separated. While most red meat can be cooked to varying degrees, all chicken should be thoroughly cooked. All food should be refrigerated within two hours, and when storing turkey, cut leftovers into smaller pieces so that the chilling process will occur faster and prevent bacteria growth. See more food safety tips here.

4. Packages

As we’ve moved to an online society, so has the way we shop. Package theft is up significantly in the past few years, as thieves wait for carriers to drop Christmas packages off at unwatched homes. One way to combat this is to have all high priority packages sent to a location where someone will sign for them, such as your office. If this isn’t an option, then consider renting a P.O. Box for the Christmas season – the small fee will be worth the peace of mind knowing that you don’t have to deal with missing presents.

5. Pet Safety

Holidays present a multitude of opportunities for pets to cause or get into varying amounts of trouble. Christmas trees should be secured, and all ornaments should be kept at a height that the pets won’t be able to reach. As we said earlier, never leave lighted candles out, the temptation and danger are high for curious pets. Make sure anything edible is placed out of reach. And even though you want Fido to have an amazing Christmas, be selective of your presents for your animals. Cheaper toys will oftentimes end up in tatters and in Fido’s stomach. Stick with pet tested toys.

6. Decorate Carefully

Holidays are the premier time for decorating your home (the giant hanging wreath above the front door is a NECESSITY!), and it is also one of the top times for injuries to occur. When on a ladder, make sure it is secure before you start your trek to the top. Also, be careful with any tools you use in general (i.e. when hanging stockings, trimming the tree, etc.)

7. Travel

Traveling is enough of a hassle, especially during the holidays, but it can be made infinitely worse if someone with ill intentions decides to target your home in your absence. Some steps you can take are to have a security system installed. Most major companies run Christmas discounts that will help with the cost of installation, or there are a good number of DIY security systems. It’s also smart to tell your neighbors (ones that you trust of course) that you will be gone and when you expect to return.

8. Shopping

Robberies increase in the month of December for numerous reasons: people tend to carry more cash on them, they purchase several items and store them in their cars, and the amount of purchases can even leave you open to identity theft/fraud. Here are some ideas on keeping yourself safe when shopping:

• Shop during the daylight
• Don’t walk out of the store with too many bags which leaves you with no free hands.
• Keep your doors locked and be wary of your surroundings when approaching ATMs.
• Be mindful of jewelry, wallets, and accessories as these can easily go missing in crowded shopping centers.