• Keep car keys next to your bed while you sleep.  If you hear a suspicious noise and suspect that someone is trying to break into your home, press the Panic button on your key ring. The car alarm will sound, and the burglar will have no choice but to flee the scene.

• Plant thorny shrubs, such as rosebushes, beneath ground-floor windows.  They'll add beauty to your garden and deter burglars from trying to break into ground floor windows.

• If you're going away on vacation, ask a neighbor to check daily for flyers stuck in your front door.  Crafty criminals have been known to leave pizza ads in doors to see how long it takes for residents to remove them.  Also be sure to have your paper delivery stopped while you're out of town, as nothing says "I'm not home" like a small pile of old papers thrown on your driveway. 

• Rather than loading up the car the night before a weekend getaway, quickly do it in the morning right before you leave.   Left in front of the house, a fully packed car can serve as a green light for those looking for an upcoming potential break in once you depart.

• Lower the volume of your telephone ringer.  This way a passerby won't be able to hear it go to voice mail, which is an indication that no one is home.  With the adoption of cell phones there are less of us that have landlines these days, but should you have a landline this is a good practice to follow. 

• Don't store wood near the side of the house, as it can easily be used by intruders as a stepladder up to a window; keep logs in the garage or in a pile at the edge of the yard.  It's generally a good idea to not have your patio furniture stored by ground floor windows for the same reason. 

• If a yard worker or unknown visitor uses the bathroom, they may unlock a window for  illicit entry later; always be sure to double-check your interior door and window locks following these visits.

• If you don't have a security system, at least purchase a decal.  If you cannot afford a security system, buy an alarm or patrol service decal to place on your front door. While an accomplished thief is not fooled, decals may deter a less-experienced thief from entering.

• Join a community-wide crime-prevention program.  Operation Identification is a nationwide project that encourages people to mark their property to combat burglary and theft. In some cities, burglary rates for Operation Identification households were significantly lower than those of non-participants. Also look into groups like Neighborhood Watch to see how you can get involved.

• Here's a great video safety tip on the dangers of storing 9v batteries. We all have these in our "Junk" drawer at home, make sure you take some time to insure any loose 9v batteries are stored correctly so you don't experience a house fire like this family unfortunately has. 

• To product yourself from scalds, reduce the temperature of your hot water to between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit by turning down the control of your water heater. 

• Keep household chemicals, including cleaning products, in their original packages. Don't store these products in cups, soft-drink bottles, cans or bowls that you, your guests, or children might associate with eating and drinking and accidently use.

• Keep exits and passageways free of boxes, furniture and other tripping hazards. Regularly clear your floor and stairs of shoes, toys, games, magazines and other potential tripping obstructions.

• Make sure you can see over the top of what you're carrying to avoid tripping.

• Make sure that all of your small rugs have slip-resistant backing. Put cut-to-fit rubber matting or two-sided tape on rugs that don't have their own backing to reduce the chances of rugs slipping out from under you. 

• Mark sliding glass doors with decals or decorations. Someone or an animal could easily try to walk or fly through what looks like an open space.

• Wipe up spilled water, grease or food peelings immediately to prevent slipping.

• Place a rubber mat or adhesive strip on the bathtub floor. This will reduce the possibility of slipping in the bathtub.

• Purchase bedroom night-lights for children and elderly people. Falls can happen easily in a dark bedroom or trying to navigate dark hallways.

• If you have a clothesline, make sure it is above head level.

If you're looking for additional Winter Safety Tips be sure to reference last February's newsletter for assistance with our winter weather.  We may be having a handful of warm days here and there but we're not done with winter yet!