During the winter holiday season, there are a lot of things to think about. You have plans for shopping and baking and general merrymaking. While it’s okay to have visions of sugarplums dancing in your head, you may want to keep a couple of other things in mind as well.

Stay safe at ho-ho-home

Stacks of presents, Christmas trees and other large decorations can really set a holiday tone for your home. But be careful where you put them. Don’t let your tree, gifts or large decorations obstruct your clear path out of the house and make sure they are properly secured so that pets and children can’t easily knock them over. Try to avoid making your gifts visible through windows and exterior doors. A pile of gifts can be an invitation to someone else to come in.

Use your Monitored Home Security System

Even if you’re leaving your home for a short while, having a monitored system is like having a good neighbor watching your home. By arming the system, you can be sure that someone is watching your home for intrusions, fires or other unexpected events that could ruin a holiday season. If you are leaving for a longer period of time, let your security provider know and ask a trusted neighbor to pick up your mail and newspapers. Putting interior lights on a timer may be a good idea as well.

On the outside

Don’t neglect to include the outside of your home when thinking about home safety. Make sure that exterior decorations and lights don’t obstruct your street number. Finding your house quickly in an emergency can save valuable minutes for the fire, police and EMS departments. Also, be sure to put away ladders and tools after installing decorations and lights. You don’t want to inadvertently lend a helping hand to some Grinch looking to steal your Christmas.

Make chestnuts the only things roasting on an open fire:

If you have a real tree, use a tree-stand that allows you to fill it with water or wet sand to help keep your tree green and vibrant. Dry trees can easily catch on fire. Don’t set your real tree up near a heat source such as a fireplace or heat vent; this will dry out your tree and make it more likely to ignite from sparks or open flames. If you are using an artificial tree, make sure it is made from a flame retardant material. While using candles to decorate your tree may seem like a very classic and pretty idea, it is also very dangerous. Keep your candles in secure candle holders and never leave them unattended. Lights are much safer and can be just as beautiful but make sure your lights are in good repair. Damaged or frayed wires can cause fires. Never overload your electrical outlets.

Check the detectors

Finally, make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are tested regularly. These devices should be tested monthly and can be incorporated into a Monitored Home Security System. That way, even if something goes wrong when nobody is at home, authorities can still be notified and dispatched if a fire occurs.

Remember, when it comes to indulging in holiday treats, it may be okay to throw caution to the wind. But when you dealing with the safety of your family, a little common sense can go a long way. The best gift we can give our loved ones and ourselves this year is a safe and happy holiday season.

This article was provided by VOXCOM Security Systems. For more information and tips on home security and fire prevention please visit www.voxcom.com ; the Canadian Safety Council ; Fire Prevention Canada ; and National Fire Prevention Association .