Staying safe and sane during the holidays is a matter of common sense. Here are some tips offered from local law enforcement and fire authorities to keep in mind as you start the New Year.
Do not dispose of Christmas trees in the fireplace. Remove all decorations and take it to a designated tree disposal center or call a community pick up service. The city of Signal Hill will pick up Christmas trees from residential curbsides on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at no cost. If you have trash service through the city of Long Beach, leave your trees where the trash is usually picked up before 7am on Saturday, Jan. 8. Log onto longbeach-recycles.org for tree recycling disposal sites or call 888-CLEAN-LA for other ways to recycle your tree.
Ring in the New Year without the bang and the noise. Fireworks are illegal in Signal Hill and Long Beach, so if you’ve kept a stash from the last Fourth of July, don’t be tempted to light it. Your neighbors will appreciate it, and you could be giving the fire authorities the night off.
If you have firearms, do not fire your guns into the air. Do the physics. What goes up will eventually come down, and according to a study cited by the Long Beach Police Department, a bullet can climb in the air for two miles and then fall at a velocity of 300 to 700 ft. per second. At that rate, it can penetrate the human skull and can seriously hurt someone.
Stay alert when you use your automatic garage doors. While it’s a convenience for the doors to automatically close after your car enters your garage, that short time window after you drive through is enough for someone to follow you inside your residence.
Never leave valuables in the car overnight. Don’t be lazy when it comes to safeguarding your possessions. Take your shopping bags inside. Don’t leave anything in your car that would tempt a thief to break in.
Avoid the temptation to overindulge in the alcohol. If you are under 21, consider a new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA cited a study indicating that there were 1,980 hospital emergency department visits involving underage drinking on New Year’s Day in 2009. According to the report, that number is almost four times the daily average for alcohol-related emergency room visits for people under 21.
And of course, don’t drink and drive. Leave your car keys with a designated driver.
