With the holidays just around the corner, following are some safety tips to make sure the season is bright for you and your family!

Home Safety Tips

Trees and Lights

• Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree.
• Use indoor lights only indoors, and outdoor lights only outdoors.
• Check your lights for frayed or bare wires, loose connections or cracked sockets. Throw away damaged sets.
• Link no more than three strands of lights together per extension cord. And be sure the extension cord is rated for its intended use.
• Keep your tree away from floor heaters, fireplaces and other heat sources.
• Never use electric lights on a metal or metallic tree.
• Be sure to water your tree sufficiently. A 6-foot tree will use one gallon of water every two days.
• Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
• Do not leave tree lights on for more than six to eight hours, even if you're home and awake the whole time.
• Choose a sturdy tree stand, one that's designed to not tip over.
• Safely dispose of your tree after the holidays. Do not leave it in your garage or against your house. Dried-out trees can be highly flammable.
• When stringing lights on trees outside, be sure to decorate only those trees that do not touch any power lines.

Decorations and More

• Do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace, as it can ignite suddenly and cause a flash fire.
• Never use candles on a tree or near other evergreens, such as garland.
• Poinsettias are known to be poisonous, so be sure to keep them out of reach of children and pets.
• It's advisable to anchor your tree securely, especially if you have young children or pets.
• Keep ribbons on gifts and tree ornaments shorter than seven inches. A child could wrap a longer strand of ribbon around his or her neck and choke.
• Store scissors and other sharp objects used for wrapping out of children's reach.
• Avoid mittens and gloves with strings as they can cause choking.
• Keep children away from space heaters and fireplaces.
• Children are in awe of holiday decorations. Keep a watchful eye on children, and don't let them play with wiring or lights.

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

As You Shop

• Walk confidently and be alert.
• Don't burden yourself with too many bags or packages.
• Don't display large sums of cash.
• Carry your handbag or purse close to your body with the clasp or flap toward you.
• Don't carry your wallet in your back pocket.
• Shop with friends whenever possible.
• Report suspicious people or situations to mall security.

In Parking Areas

• Park in a well-lit area as close as possible to mall entrances.
• Store your packages in the trunk of your car.
• Have your keys ready when returning to your vehicle.
• Leave only your ignition key with a valet or parking attendant.
• If you have car trouble, remain in your car and use a cell phone to call for assitance, or return to the mall and notify security.

Reducing Risk of Identity Theft

• Be careful not to leave your credit cards with store merchants.
• Be wary of providing your credit card information over the phone where the wrong person could overhear your account number and other important information.
• When shopping online, purchase goods from only those web sites that you know to be legitimate.
• Check your credit card statements regularly, to ensure there's no unauthorized activity.
• Shred credit card statements - and all documents with personal information - before throwing them into the trash.
• If you notice unauthorized activity on your credit card, notify your credit card company immediately.
• When using your ATM card to withdraw money, be sure no one can see you typing in your PIN.
• Resist the urge to put personal information in holdiay cards or on family web sites; it's too easy for a card to be deliverd to the wrong address and get into the wrong hands.