Cascade Highlands Neighborhood Association

SAFETY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

• Place the Christmas tree well away from heat registers, space heaters, fire places, wood stoves, televisions, computer monitors and other heat sources.
• Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times
• Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles.

• Inspect holiday lights each year.  Do not use if they have frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking
• Do not overload electrical outlets.
• Make sure to periodically check the wires – they should not be warm to the touch.
• Unplug holiday lights when you go to bed or are not home.

• Working smoke alarms/detectors more than double your chances of surviving a fire.
• Install a smoke alarm on every level of you house, test them monthly, keep them clean and change the batteries when you change your clocks.
• When the smoke alarm sounds, get out fast and stay out!
• Plan your escape. Know two ways out of every room.
• Practice your escape plan with your whole family at least twice a year.

• Do not leave valuables, including holiday gifts, in your vehicle. There are no places to 'hide' valuables inside your vehicle; thieves know all the 'hiding' places. 
• At your home, do not leave gifts or valuable clearly visible through a window.
• Be aware of your surroundings when you are in store parking lots. 

• Always approach your car or your home with your keys already in your hand.
• Avoid isolated areas.
• Walk with confidence and with another person, if possible.
• If you are suspicious of a person or circumstance, go immediately to a safe place. Contact security or the police if you need assistance.

• Do not leave your car unattended while it is warming up, even for a minute.  If you must warm-up your car, lock it with a second set of keys. 

• Protect your incoming and outgoing mail. Remove items from your mailbox as soon as possible. Do not leave outgoing mail in your mailbox.  Notify the US Postal Inspector if your mail has been stolen or tampered with: https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactUs/filecomplaint.aspx
• Shred and completely dispose of all personal documents with your personal information on it.
• Order a credit report once a year and verify that all accounts are accurate

• Police needing your help to solve crimes or find missing persons
• Knowledge about a hazardous situation near your home (fire, hazardous materials release, or police response activities)
• Emergency protective measures during a disaster