PITTSBURGH, Dec. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- With the holiday season officially underway, shopping, cooking, decorating and celebrating are on tap for the next few weeks. As you bring together family, friends and loved ones, it's important to remember that this is also the season for increased safety hazards that can ruin an otherwise wonderful holiday.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) statistics, 30% of all home fires occur in the months of December, January and February. And, results of a survey by C + R Research reveal that upwards of 36% of people surveyed have been a victim of "porch pirates" who have stolen a package right off their front doorstep. Whether it's fire, theft or another emergency, it's important take precautions now to be prepared during this busy time of the year.
Smart home security provider Guardian Protection offers these safety tips to help ensure your family, home and valuables are safe and secure this holiday season.
- Decorate with Caution. While it's fun to have the most holiday lights on the street or the biggest tree on the block, proceed with caution as you decorate for this festive season. Always place trees (real or artificial) at least three feet away from fireplaces and open flames; use indoor lights for indoors and outdoor lights for outdoors; don't overload electrical outlets with multiple plugs; and always choose the right ladder for hanging any decorations.
- Shop Smart. With the increase of online shopping and fast delivery, more consumers are shopping from the convenience of their phone, tablet or computer. With the increase in home delivery comes an increase in package theft. Porch pirates (another name for thieves) prey on homes where packages are delivered during the day and no one is home. To avoid being a victim of these "pirates" consider when and where your packages are delivered. Choose times when someone will be home or have them delivered to your workplace or other spot that is more secure. Video doorbells and monitored security systems also deter thieves who might attempt to grab your gifts. Thieves are more attracted to homes that have no security system in place, which are up to three times more likely to be broken into.
- Cook Carefully. Kitchen fires and carbon monoxide poisoning are real dangers all year 'round but during the holidays they are even more of a threat to your home and family's safety. First and foremost, ensure your monitored and non-monitored smoke and CO detectors are working properly and test them to confirm. Never leave a stove or oven unattended or allow children near hot appliances. Use space heaters sparingly and ensure they are away from curtains, furniture and other fabric. Finally, think twice before frying that holiday turkey. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports there have been 154 turkey-fryer related fires, burns or other injuries since 2004, and $5.2 million in property damage losses.
"The holidays are meant to be filled with fun, food and family; not fire, theft and injury," Kevin Bish, Vice President, Marketing commented. "Our goal at Guardian is to help people be prepared and aware. We want everyone to have peace of mind knowing that their home, family and valuables are secure, so they can enjoy the holidays."
For more safety tips and to learn about monitored home security options, visit the Home Matters Blog on Guardian's website or follow Guardian on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
About Guardian Protection
Guardian Protection is a premier provider of smart security and automation solutions for residential, commercial, institutional, and multi-site customers. Hundreds of thousands of customers trust Guardian's award-winning monitoring services and in-house, U.S.-based customer care specialists. Founded in 1950, Guardian Protection is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 security companies in the U.S. and is the first company in history to be recognized twice as Security Company of the Year.
SOURCE Guardian Protection
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