Merry Christmas
The holiday season is upon us and
it's a great time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better
for those around us. While that can be difficult at times as we struggle with
shopping lists, holiday cards, cooking and the occasional melt-down, it is
important to remember the people in our lives who make it all completely worth
it.
This holiday season there are going to be
many situations that are out of your control, however when it comes to common
holiday risks there are a few ways we can protect ourselves. Check out our tips
below to help ensure that you and your family stay protected.
It truly is the most wonderful time of year
and we wish you a very happy and safe holiday season!
BEWARE OF CHRISTMAS TREE
LIGHT DANGERS
- Inspect each set of Christmas lights (old or new) for
damage. Return or throw out any set with cracked or broken sockets, frayed
or bare wires or loose connections.
- Replace burned out bulbs promptly with bulbs of the same
wattage.
- Choose Christmas lights that have been tested and deemed
safe by a reputable testing laboratory, the best are UL or ETL. Christmas
lights listed as safe by these laboratories will note that on the
packaging.
- LED lights are the best to use. They use much less energy
and do not give off heat.
BE CAUTIOUS WHEN HANGING LIGHTS
OUTDOORS
- Decorating with lights often requires the use of a ladder,
and improper ladder use could lead to an injury. Always be cautious and be
sure to have someone around to help if case of an emergency.
- Use extension cords properly. Outdoor cords can be used
anywhere, but never use indoor extension cords outside. Also, do not
overload extension cords--they can get hot enough to burn.
- Secure outside Christmas lights with insulated holders (never use tacks or
nails) or run strings of lights through hooks.
BE COGNIZANT OF PORCH PIRATES
With all the online shopping happening this
year, be cognizant of when your packages are arriving. (Ask your neighbors to
keep an eye out, or ask the delivery company to make sure to get a signature
when delivering.)
HIDE "EXPENSIVE" BOXES
FROM THIEVES
Avoid putting boxes for expensive items, such
as TVs, gaming consoles, etc, at the end of your driveway or overflowing out of
your trashcan. Items like this can be a beacon for thieves.
BE CAUTIOUS AROUND FIREPLACES
While majority of Floridian's either don't
have a fireplace or don't use them, for those of you that do, please be
cautious:
- Be sure to keep your tree away from any heat sources, like
radiators and fireplaces, which will expedite the drying process.
- Tossing wrapping paper into the fireplace
may seem harmless enough, but doing so can result in a flash fire.
Merry Christmas to all
University Properties, Inc.
