Ready PA Monthly - December 2021

Car tires on winter road covered with snow

Arrive Home Safe this Holiday Season

Article contributed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)

As we approach the Christmas, New Year’s, and other winter holidays, more people are hitting the road to see family and friends. While winter weather is always something to be concerned about, those of us involved in the safety field are also turning our focus to ways that motorists can try and reduce the chances of an empty spot at the holiday table.

This is where Operation Safe Holiday comes in.

It is a time of year when law enforcement and safety professionals do what they can to keep our roads safe for you and your loved ones.

Blue background with We all #FightFlu and three peoples faces in circles

National Influenza Week

Did you know National Influenza Vaccination Week is December 5 – 11, 2021? Getting a flu shot every year is the best way to protect yourself and the ones you love against the flu.

National Influenza Vaccination Week is a call to all Americans 6 months and older to get their annual flu vaccine if they have not already. Flu remains a significant public health concern, and there is still time to get a flu vaccine. The only vaccine that protects against flu—to prevent flu illness and potentially serious complications.

Holiday Online Safety

The holiday shopping season is one of the busiest times of the year. This is the time of year when gifts are bought for family and friends at stores and online. Donations to charitable causes are made.

The holiday shopping season is a prime opportunity for people to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers through fake websites, malicious links, and even fake charities.

When looking for online deals, be Holiday Safe with these helpful tips.

Beware of ads on search engines or social media - Scammers advertise popular items at deep discounts but fail to deliver and steal your payment information.
Use legitimate apps - Download retailers’ apps directly from their website to be sure you have the real one. Scammers can create imposter apps to steal your payment information.
Choose credit over debit - Protect your right to dispute a charge by paying with a credit card.
Secure your internet connection - Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks when shopping online. Check the URLs (especially on the submit payment screen).”

Here are some more Holiday Shopping Tips from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency:

A “free” gift is probably too good to be true!
Skip autofill!
Track your accounts to make sure everything looks right.
Verify your sources.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication.
Don’t save your credit card information online, it could end up in any place.

Fire Hazard - Christmas Light Smoking stock photo

Holiday Fire Safety

As more families return to celebrating the holidays with one another, it is important to remember that cooking remains the number one cause of house fires. These incidents peak every year with the Thanksgiving holiday, but the elevated incident rate remains high through the end of the year. Turkey fryers and inattentive cooking are consistently listed as the leading causes of home fires during this season.

In addition to the variety of risks associated with food preparation, there are a number of other areas in the home that deserve attention. As the weather turns colder, we depend more on heating systems that require regular maintenance. Combustible material should never be stored near vents and exhaust lines, or near the furnace itself. Both modern and older fireplaces have unique needs. Scheduling an annual inspection with professionals prior to use is an effective preventative measure.

Decorating for the holidays is a fun a festive way to celebrate but avoid open flame candles and never use them on or near a live Christmas tree. Live Christmas trees, even when well-cared for, can pose a significant fire risk. Use only electric lights for decorating and inspect the wiring annually to ensure it is free of damage. Avoid overloading electric outlets and do not run extension cords under carpets and rugs.

Following these helpful tips can be a great start so that your family can #BeFireSafe during the holidays, but more information is available online at www.osfc.pa.gov/BeFireSafePA and www.facebook.com/PAOSFC.

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