Story
Stay safe during the holidays
Posted: December 22, 2016
Story Link: https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/home/stories/viewstory/-/story/Holiday_Safety_2016
Cooking is the leading cause of residential fires year-round, but such fires peak on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and Christmas Eve. Gwinnett firefighters urge you to stay safe with these practical home fire safety tips:
- Use a timer to remind you that something’s cooking
- Turn off stove burners if you have to leave the kitchen
- Keep flammable materials away from the cooktop
- Don’t wear loose or dangling clothes while cooking
- Keep kids and pets away from heat and open flames
- Don’t cook when sleepy or after drinking too much alcohol
- Install and maintain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Have a household fire escape plan and hold fire drills
- Escape a fire quickly – call 911 from outside
- Bonfires, burning yard waste, and fireworks are banned until the drought ends
- Grilling, smoking, and campfires are banned in County parks temporarily
GCPD’s Holiday Task Force activated Thanksgiving night and continues through New Year’s Eve with an increased police presence at major retail outlets around the county. Gwinnett police officers offer these tips for safe holiday shopping and travel:
- Park your vehicle in a well-lit area
- Shop with others and allow retail employees to help you get packages to your vehicle
- Don’t carry large amounts of cash and use secure forms of payment
- Observe your surroundings and report any suspicious or loitering persons
- Store packages in the trunk of your vehicle
- When traveling, arrange for someone to collect your mail and newspapers
- Do not announce travel plans on answering machines or social networking sites
- Do not drink and drive – call a taxi or use a designated driver
Visit www.GwinnettSafety411.com for more tips on staying safe during the holidays.