Winter Break Safety & Security Tips from the Boston Police Department
Always make sure to secure your home when you leave by locking all doors and windows.
Remove air conditioning units from windows, especially if there is access to a fire escape. If they cannot be removed, make sure they are securely fastened.
Take any and all items of value with you as they are often attractive targets (iPads, laptops, gaming systems, currency, jewelry).
Take precautions in advance and if need be, contact your management company or landlord to make sure that the locks are in working order.
If possible, ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your home during your time away.
Consider installing motion-censored or timed lighting in and outside of your residence to create the illusion that someone is home.
If you will be staying home, keep an eye on your neighborhood and call 911 if you see anything suspicious. Keep in mind that the Boston Police Department will still be monitoring neighborhoods for noise and underage parties during this period, as your homes are in neighborhoods where people live and work.
Holiday Safety Tips from the Boston Police Department
Ensure your family's home is equipped with working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Christmas is the second most common day for home fires in Massachusetts, and a holiday can quickly be ruined by a cooking accident, candle fire, or a carbon monoxide incident from prolonged oven use.
When cooking, always stand by your pan to prevent cooking fires and place a lid on if one does occur. Never use water to put out a fire caused by oil. Leaving cooking unattended is the leading cause of fire, so always stay nearby and use a timer. Cooking is the leading cause of fires in the home, so it is important to take extra precaution around the holiday season.
Remember to have the furnace and chimney of your home checked by professionals prior to the start of the holiday season and when heating with wood, dispose of the ashes in a lidded metal ashcan outside of your home. Always keep combustibles, like holiday decorations, at least three feet away from heat sources. Heating is the second leading cause of home fires during the holiday season.
Heating is also the leading cause of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home. Carbon monoxide fumes are odorless and invisible, so it is important to ensure carbon monoxide detectors are working to warn your family of a potential leak. Both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are required in Massachusetts homes.
Increased candle use around the holiday season unfortunately leads to an increases in fires. Consider using battery-operated candles, especially if there are young children or pets in your home.
Always keep your Christmas trees watered and place them well away from any heat sources. One third of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical issues, and one quarter start when the tree is placed too close to a heatsource such as a fireplace, woodstove, radiator, or space heater.
