Holiday Safety Tips

Published on December 19, 2024

‘Tis the Season for Safety

Keep the Grinch Away: Holiday Safety Tips for Gifts and Packages

Don’t let thieves steal your holiday cheer.

The holiday season is a prime time for package thieves and car prowlers. Kirkland Police offer these simple tips to keep your gifts and deliveries safe:

Package Safety

Sign up for delivery alerts so you know when packages arrive.
Provide specific delivery instructions to keep packages out of sight.
Have packages delivered to work, a trusted neighbor, or a secure pickup location.
Don’t leave deliveries unattended for long—ask a neighbor to grab them if you’re not home.

Shopping Safety

Always lock your car and roll up the windows.
Keep valuables, bags, and gifts out of sight. Better yet, take them with you!
Park in well-lit, high-traffic areas, and avoid spots hidden by large vehicles or shrubs.
Drop gifts off at home if you can—don’t let thieves spot you loading up your car.

Prevent Fire Hazards

The holidays are a time for festive lights, cozy decorations, and candlelit charm—but they also bring an increased risk of fire. Did you know over one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles? The Kirkland Fire Department has some simple tips to help keep your celebrations safe and bright:

Water real trees regularly—dry trees can quickly become a fire hazard.
Keep candles away from decorations, trees, and anything flammable.
Check your holiday lights: Use indoor lights indoors, outdoor lights outdoors, and replace any worn cords or loose bulb connections.
Hang lights safely: Use clips, not nails, to avoid damaging cords.
Be fire-ready: Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher—and know how to use it.

Before you leave the house or head to bed:

Blow out candles to keep your space safe.
Turn off all lights and decorations to prevent hazards.

Check out this video from FEMA to see easy tips you can follow to stay safe.

Keep the Heat, Lose the Hazards

As the weather gets cold, many people turn to portable space heaters to help warm their homes. If you plan to use one, the Kirkland Fire Department offers these important safety tips:

Use a heater with a seal from a qualified testing laboratory.
Keep the heater at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, including furniture, curtains, people, and pets.
Choose a heater with a thermostat and overheat protection for added safety.
Place the heater on a solid, flat surface to ensure stability.
Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off feature that turns it off if it tips over.
Keep the heater out of high-traffic areas and never block an exit.
Keep children and pets away from the heater at all times.
Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet—never use an extension cord.
Always turn off and unplug space heaters when you leave the room or go to bed.

Charge Ahead with Confidence

If your holiday shopping includes devices like phones, laptops or other gadgets powered by lithium-ion batteries, avoid battery blunders this holiday season with these simple tips from Kirkland Fire Department:

Buy products using batteries that are listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
Stop charging a battery once it is full.
Use only the charging equipment that comes with your device.
Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or a change in color.
Store batteries away from extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, exits, and anything flammable.
When it comes to e-bikes, e-scooters, and electric vehicles, the safest place to charge these devices is outdoors away from your home and not in direct sunlight.

Prep Your Pets for Winter Weather and Holiday Gatherings

Are your pets prepared for winter weather? Keep your furry friends safe by updating their microchip and Kirkland Pet License info. Pack a kit with the essentials: food, water, medications, a favorite toy, and a towel or blanket. If your pet gets nervous around others, consider adding a muzzle too. A little prep now means peace of mind later! Get more tips to build your kit here: ready.gov/pets

Some pets love a party, while others prefer peace and quiet. If you’re hosting guests, make sure your pets stay safe and sound this season—starting with a pet license from the Kirkland Police Department so they can find their way home if they get out. Here are some tips to keep tails wagging and paws out of trouble:

Party Time:

If your pet gets overwhelmed by visitors, set them up in a quiet room or crate for comfort.
Avoid putting pets outside in cold weather—keep them cozy inside with plenty of toys to stay busy.
Let guests know ahead of time you have a pet, so everyone’s prepared.

No Table Scraps!

Keep your pet on their regular food and treats. Some common holiday foods to avoid:

Bones, candy, citrus, coffee, raisins, nuts, raw meat/fish, onions, and chocolate.

Holiday Decor Tips:

Keep pets from chewing on tree branches or drinking water from the tree base—both can be harmful.
Position lights, tinsel, and ornaments out of reach.
Never leave candles unattended—pets can easily knock them over.
Watch out for seasonal plants like ivy, holly, mistletoe, and poinsettias, which can be toxic if ingested.

Be a Holiday Hero: Help Prevent Impaired Driving

For many, the holidays mean parties, celebrations, and time spent with loved ones. But they can also come with a higher risk of impaired driving. Let’s all do our part to keep the season safe by preventing drunk or high driving.

Washington law enforcement will be out in full force with extra patrols through January 1, and you can help, too. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission offers these tips:

Be the sober driver or stop someone you care about from getting behind the wheel impaired.
Arrange a ride — call a cab, rideshare, or designate a driver.
Offer your couch for the night or help them stay where they are.
Call for backup — if you’re unsure how to intervene, get others to help or call 911.

If you call 911 to prevent a crash, remember:

Share the car’s make, model, and license plate.
Give the route, direction, and a description of the driver.

Stopping someone from driving impaired is like reaching out to prevent a fall—you’re helping protect them and everyone else on the road. Let’s get everyone home safely this holiday season.

Ride Fare-Free this New Year's Eve

King County Metro, Sound Transit, and other regional transit partners are teaming up to provide free rides for one of the busiest New Year’s Eves in years. On Dec 31 riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Water Taxi, Metro Flex, Sound Transit Link, Sounder trains, Community Transit, Everett Transit, and the Seattle Streetcar. Whether you’re headed to see the Seattle Seahawks fight for the playoffs at Lumen Field, are a hockey fan making their way to the NHL Winter Classic Fan Village, joining the large crowds for the fireworks at the Space Needle or going out to other events throughout the region, transit has got you covered.

Ready, Set, Travel: Essential Tips for Your Winter Adventure

Planning a winter trip? Stay prepared with these helpful resources:

Check the Weather

Before you head out, visit the National Weather Service (NWS) Seattle for up-to-date weather conditions and alerts.
Follow NWS Seattle on social or visit on the web: https://www.weather.gov/sew/

Monitor Road Conditions

For real-time road updates, check WSDOT’s travel data to stay informed about closures and delays.
Follow WSDOT on social or visit their Travel Data webpage: https://wsdot.com/travel/real-time/

Be Prepared

Dress in layers, pack essential gear, and always let someone know your plans when heading outdoors.
Stay safe, stay flexible, and enjoy your winter adventures!

Let’s keep the season bright and safe. Stay alert, take precautions, and enjoy your holidays!