Seasons Greetings from Delco Alarm Systems.
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or simply the Winter Solstice, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season. Since security is our business, we’d like to offer a few tips to help keep you and yours safe this time of year.
FIRE SAFETY
Whether it is a plate of cookies, a Bûche de Noël or ham and black eyed peas, our family’s favorite holiday food will likely grace our tables. Before you get busy cooking, it’s a good idea to give your heat and smoke detectors a quick check to make sure they are in proper working order. Also, make sure you have fire extinguishers on hand. And don’t forget to make sure everyone in your home is familiar with an escape plan in the event there is a fire emergency
IT’S COLD OUTSIDE!
As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, we fire up our home’s heaters and fireplaces. Never toss fireplace ashes in the trash. Space heaters need to be in good working order. Keep everything away from these heaters or risk a fire. Change your heater’s filter at least monthly. It’s a good idea to use battery-operated candles to avoid the very real possibility of a fire, especially if you have children or pets. Carbon monoxide detectors are crucial. Make sure you have one on each floor. Because CO mixes with air, place the detector about six feet high on a wall, not the ceiling.
REMEMBER YOUR PETS TOO
The Christmas trees in many of our homes can pose a danger to our pets. Some cats climb the trees and occasionally topple them over. Dogs and cats both seem to like to drink the water out of the base of a live tree. That exposes them to bacteria which could make them sick. Plants like poinsettias, mistletoe and holly are toxic to pets. Tinsel is attractive to pets, especially cats, and if ingested can cause intestinal blockage. Keep these things, along with fragile ornaments and extension cords out of the reach of your four-legged friends. Try to keep the holiday spirit alive through the rest of the winter months. Spend some time outside every day. Take a walk. It will lighten your mood. Share good times with family and friends. Have a happy and healthy new year!