Christmas safety tips for the home with JCF

Safety is essential for both inside and outside the home, especially now that we are in the season for fun, food and family.

Here are 10 tips from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) that can help homeowners and families remain safe during the Christmas season.

1 Make every effort to use sturdy locks to secure doors, gates and other entrances of your home.

2Invest in security cameras – to capture movements when no one is around.

3 Be very careful of the persons you invite in your home during this time.

4 Be careful to not dispose of gift wraps, bags or boxes with names and address in places where criminals can gain access to them; they may use this to their advantage.

5 Invest in motion sensor lighting, as criminals may find creative ways to lure persons from the safety of their home during the night. Ensure you see them before they see you.

6 Ensure to purchase Christmas trees that are fresh. These are less likely to catch fire. Dry trees can burn faster than newspaper.

7 If using ladders to hang decorations, be extremely careful. Numerous persons are treated for ‘ladder’ related injuries during December.

8 Do not overload sockets. Refrain from using damaged or frayed light sets. Both actions can cause fire.

9 Avoid tiny or broken decorations at home, especially if there are children around.

10 Keep children away from the kitchen. This becomes a very busy area during the Christmas season, with various potential hazards around.