November brings thoughts of the holidays, time with family and friends, and the potential for winter weather.
Knowing how to be prepared for the season is key to protecting your home and family.
Holiday Cooking Safety
If deep frying a turkey, practice safety first. Never overfill the fryer with oil, keep the fryer on a flat surface and far enough from structures
Never leave cooking unattended
Create a kid-free zone to keep children and pets at least 3 feet from stoves, ovens, and hot liquids
Have a fire extinguisher on hand in the event of fires. Remember NEVER use water on a grease fire
Holiday Shopping Safety
Shopping at local stores:
Lock your vehicle when you are away from it
Hide your purchases. Never leave bags or valuables in plain site in your car
Park strategically. Choose well-lit parking spots near stores or security cameras.
Shop with a friend. There is safety in numbers, travel in pairs when possible and establish meeting spots when you get separated from your group.
Have your keys ready before walking to your car. Always check around your vehicle for anything suspicious before unlocking your car.
Shopping online:
Stay with trusted retailers. Always make your purchases from established and reputable websites.
Ensure the webiste you are going to is not missleading. Watch for mispellings to ensure you are going to the correct online store.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi. Never make purchases or log into financial accounts using free and unsecured Wi-Fi locations such as coffee shops.
Be sure to use Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) for all your shopping and banking transactions