Holiday Safety Tips
HOLIDAY CRIME TIPS
During the holidays, we can easily be a target for crime as we become distracted with the stresses and obligations that often accompany holiday preparations. While we want to enjoy the celebration of the season, we also want to be mindful of the safety and security of our property and ourselves. Below is a list of safety tips that can help reduce your chances of becoming a holiday crime statistic.
VACATION HOLIDAYS AWAY FROM HOME:
• Lights and timers - change light bulbs just before leaving on your trip. Set lights, TV, and other electronic devises on timers so they go off and on throughout your house to mimic your routine when you are home.
• Notify a trusted friend or neighbor - leave an extra set of keys and an emergency phone number where you can be reached. Have them pick up mail, newspapers and flyers, take trash in and out, open and close drapes, whatever helps to make your house look occupied.
• Please don’t forget to lock your doors, garage doors, windows, and sliders.
IDENTITY THEFT
• Use only one credit card to make all on-line purchases. It is important to make your financial transactions on a secure site which either has an “s” at the end of the “http” or a closed padlock icon in the browser bar. If the padlock is open, it is pretty safe to assume it is not a secure website. You may not see these secure landmarks until you are on the order page. Do not give more information than is absolutely necessary to place the order. Monitor receipts and statements closely. Immediately report suspicious or unusual statement activity. DO NOT use an ATM card to make on-line purchases. It is your financial life.
• Do not place anything with personal information in the trash. Crosscut shred all mail correspondence, bills, and credit card offers, anything that can be used to obtain your personal information.
• Clean out your wallet or purse. Remove any unnecessary credit cards, debit cards, your Social Security card, and other unneeded documents that could compromise your identity if lost or stolen while shopping. Place them in a secure location. The more documents you have on you, the more difficult and time-consuming it will be to report and recover from your loss if they are stolen.
GIFT CARDS
Ways to reduce your chances of becoming a victim when you buy gift cards:
• It is possible to become a victim of theft when you buy gift cards from a display rack. In some cases, criminals are jotting down the gift card numbers. They wait a few days, and then they call to find out the balance on the card. If the card has been used by its rightful recipient, and there is still a balance, they go online and shop.
• To avoid this from happening to you, you may want to purchase gift cards from a customer service person or online where the gift cards are not viewable to the public.
• You can also spend your gift card money all at one time, and then there would be no balance for a criminal to use.
SHOPPING
• During daylight hours, when you know you will be returning to your car after dark, park directly under lights and as close to the entrance doors as possible. Do not burden yourself with packages in the lot. Drive to the entrance and have the packages delivered to your car. Most shopping centers offer this service, especially during the holidays. Don’t forget to lock up your car doors and windows.
• If you must leave items in the car, place them out of sight and in as secure a place as possible. If placing them in the trunk, do it prior to your arrival. Placing items in the trunk just before leaving your car is an open invitation to any observer with criminal intent.
• Carry only what you need to make your purchases - your ID, cash, a checkbook, and one or as few credit cards as possible. Do not flash cash - Be cautious about how you handle your money and credit cards, and carry these items close to your person, in a hip pack, positioned against your stomach, or in your front pants pocket. Leave backpacks and large purses at home.
• Credit Card Receipts: Make sure these receipts do not contain your full account number. All electronically printed credit and debit card receipts must shorten (truncate) the account information to no more than the last five digits of the card number. The expiration date of the card should not be on the receipt. This information does not apply to handwritten or imprinted receipts.
• When a consumer pays with a credit card, the merchant cannot record any personal information other than what is on the front of the credit card. When the consumer pays by check, the merchant cannot record the credit card number on the check.
• The safest way to shop on the Internet is to use a credit card. It is a good idea to use the same one for each of those transactions. If your credit was used without authorization, you can dispute it and usually you might only be responsible for the first $50 in charges. If you use a debit card or a check card, it can expose your bank account to theft. Debit and check cards are not protected by federal law to the extent that credit cards are.
CHARITABLE GIVING
Many frauds and scams use Law Enforcement, Fire, Paramedics, diseases or disorders as their focus to play on your sympathy, passion, or patriotism in order to get money from you, especially during the holiday season.
• Question phone calls or requests by mail or Internet, soliciting donations for a “worthy cause”.
• Research their legitimacy before committing. Ask for information to be sent to you. Ask how they got your name and number.
• One of the ways you can check on a charity is to visit some of these websites:
-www.caag.state.ca.us/
-www.give.org
-www.guidestar.org
-www.charitynavigator.org
• NEVER make a “right now or never” or “once in a lifetime opportunity” decision. Legitimate organizations are proud of their cause, and will gladly provide you with as much information as you need to rally you to their organization’s cause. They welcome donations any time of year.
• If your refusal to donate or request for information results in verbal abuse, hang up. If you receive abusive correspondence, report it.
You’ve heard it before - If it sounds too good to be true, it is. If it’s free, you can’t afford it.
PROTECT YOUR PET FROM A HOLIDAY HOSPITAL VISIT
The holiday season is a joyful time of year and most pet owners include their little “fur & feather people” as an integral part of their festivities. However, this can also be one of the busiest times of the year for veterinary hospitals due to lack of knowledge, inattention, or misguided acts of love.
FOOD: Chocolate is toxic to animals and can be fatal. Wrapped and placed under the tree, arranged in a beautiful display on the coffee table, or left unattended in the kitchen, it can lead to violent illness or death. Sweets, turkey - dark meat and skin, ham, drippings, onions, dressing, other fatty or rich foods, alcoholic beverages, and bones can cause severe physical discomfort and even death in extreme cases. Foil candy wrappers can act like a razor as they are swallowed and ingested and can cause internal injuries.
PLANTS: Any of the traditional holiday plants such as holly, mistletoe, poinsettias, ivy, and amaryllis can cause nausea, vomiting, or possibly death – Keep them out of the reach of pets. If your pet eats a plant, take it with you to your veterinarian so they can identify it to help your pet recover.
HOLIDAY DECORATIONS: Tinsel, decorative papers and packing, tree ornaments and metal ornament hooks, fire salts, ribbons and bows can cause intestinal problems, choking, or death. Use wooden or resin ornaments on lower branches. Candles are bright and attractive, but can cause burns or fire. Brace or secure trees to a wall to prevent them from being pulled over. Tape electrical cords down to baseboards or under rugs. Chemicals that prolong the life of trees are toxic. Many of these cautionary statements can be considered when it comes to a young child’s safety as well.
COMPANY: ID tags are critical during this time of year. People coming in and out can leave doors ajar. Upset in routine, loud noise, too many people, or the love of the outdoors can tempt your pet to bolt out the door. During the holidays, local animal shelters overflow with lost pets that have no identification.
CHRISTMAS TREE SAFETY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
A Christmas tree purchased from a lot or cut on a tree farm can remain relatively fire resistant if you follow these simple steps:
• Cut 2-3 inches off the bottom of a fresh tree and put the tree in water immediately. This prevents the sap from forming off the cut and allows the tree to absorb the water. Use a sturdy holder and fill with water daily.
• Check lights carefully for broken sockets or frayed wires before you put them on your tree. Replace any strings that look damaged.
• Keep your tree away from heat sources, such as a fireplace or heaters, which will dry it out.
• Unplug the tree lights and any outdoor lights when you go to bed or leave for the evening.
• Avoid placing breakable ornaments and ornaments with small parts on lower branches where children or pets can reach them. Ornaments and other holiday decorations should be non-combustible or flame resistant.
• Do not burn wrapping paper or tree branches in your fireplace.
• Dispose of your tree right after the holiday is over.
TIS THE SEASON FOR RESPONSIBLE HOSTING
The decision to serve alcoholic beverages in your home carries with it a responsibility for the welfare of your guests. Responsible attitudes towards drinking should make us behave in such a way that we never regret a foolish decision made under the influence of alcohol. People don’t like to admit that they are impaired and may argue that they are capable of driving. Share with your guests the fact that impairment begins with the very first drink, and remind them of the penalties they face if convicted of driving under the influence. Be a loyal friend and responsible host. Have a contingency travel plan for guests who are impaired.
Orange County Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) suggest to:
• Set a drink limit, and don’t push drinks—push food and non-alcoholic beverages.
• If you serve an alcoholic punch, make it with a non-carbonated base.
• Never let your guests drink and drive.
• Never serve alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age.
• Don’t ride in a car with anyone who is impaired by alcohol or drugs.
• Have a designated driver for all party events.