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December – Keep the Holidays Happy

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December – Keep the Holidays Happy

Martinez Area CERT and CalOES safety tips for this holiday season.

Traveling?

With the holidays coming up, many Californians will travel to visit family, friends and loved ones. Before you hit the road, check out these tips for staying safe.

Pack an emergency kit for your car

In case of unexpected delays or emergencies during winter weather, it’s essential to have an emergency car kit packed in your vehicle. Your kit should include items such as a flashlight, extra batteries, a first aid kit, blankets, a portable phone charger and non-perishable snacks.

Make sure your car is well maintained

Before you travel by car, you should follow these car maintenance tips:

  • Check your tires
  • Make sure your gas tank is full – as you travel, don’t let you tank get below half full
  • Replace worn windshield wiper blades
  • Check your lights
  • Inspect your brakes
  • Fill up on winter wiper fluid
  • Keep your battery in good shape

Be weather wise

Make sure you’re wearing weather-appropriate clothing to stay warm enough, especially if you get stuck in your vehicle. Your emergency car kit should have some warm clothing and blankets. Check the weather as you plan your travel and try to avoid driving in severe rain or snow. Make sure you continue to watch for any updates to the forecast as your travel date gets closer. It’s also a good idea to do most driving during the daylight hours in the winter months, if possible. During heavy rain, flooding may occur. You should never drive through flood waters—just 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars. When you see flooding, turn around.

Plan your route and share your ETA with friends and family

Try to stay on main roads and highways and choose a route with flat roads if you can. Know possible safe places to stop along the route, if needed. It’s always a good idea to avoid driving alone and let others know the route you plan to take.

It’s important to check official sources when planning your route, such as QuickMap. Don’t rely on third-party apps or navigation tools to find a shortcut. Let your friends and family know your route and intended arrival time.

Know what to do if your car breaks down or you get stuck

If you must stop, pull to a safe place close enough to the side of the road for others to see you and turn on your hazard lights. If safe to do so, it’s best to stay in your vehicle and out of the cold. If you’re waiting for help for an extended period you can run your engine for about ten minutes every hour to stay warm. Just make sure to check that your car’s exhaust pipe is clear first and open a window slightly for ventilation. If you have to spend the night in your car, turn on the interior overhead light so others, including rescuers and work crews, can see you.

Entertaining for the holidays?

Follow a few simple safety guidelines to keep your family safe.

Cooking Safely

Keep an eye on food when cooking. Set multiple timers and don’t leave the cooking area. If you plan on frying a turkey please read these tips.  Do not wear loose clothing or sleeves that dangle while cooking. Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen. Ready.gov recommends an ABC type at minimum. Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen and on each level of your home near sleeping areas. Read this from Ready.gov for more about home fire safety.

Holiday Decorating

Set holiday lights on timers set to turn off at night. Keep candles away from flammable materials, children, and pets. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Maintain your fresh holiday tree – keep it watered, don’t let it dry out.

Holiday Shopping

  • Shop securely online over the holidays.
  • Watch for suspicious activity that asks you to do something right away, offers something that sounds too good to be true, or needs your personal information. Think before you click. When in doubt, do NOT click.
  • Limit the personal information you share online. Change privacy settings and do not use location features.
  • Don’t share PINs or passwords. Use devices that use biometric scans when possible.
  • Check your account statements and credit reports regularly.
  • When shopping in stores, park smart. Use parking lots with attendants whenever possible and take all your valuables with you, from cellphones to backpacks. Always keep your keys in your hand while approaching your car.
  • Keep your wallet in a hard-to-reach place and don’t carry excess cash.
  • It is easy to get distracted while shopping. Keep your eyes ahead of you and not on your phone.

 

Visit Cal OES for more important information here.

Martinez Area CERT has prepared a 12-month Preparedness Guide. Download it here or December only tips here.

 

GET ALERTS

SMART 911

Get alerted about emergencies and other important community news by signing up for Martinez Alerts. This system enables The City of Martinez to provide you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, police activity, missing persons and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods. You may specify your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages and more.

THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY COMMUNITY WARNING SYSYEM

The Contra Costa County Community Warning System (CWS) is one of the nation’s most modern and effective all-hazard public warning systems. CWS is an all-hazards system designed to alert the community of an emergency through multiple communication tools. CWS is generally not used for traffic alerts. Sign up to receive important alerts from CWS here.

KNOW YOUR ZONE

Be prepared for wildfires that may affect your home. Know when to act and what action to take. These notices are issued for a Zone with an evacuation status. Find out your home’s zone at CWS Know Your Zone . Zone Aware is now called genasys. Learn more here.

CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

California EOS provides alerts and messaging with critical information. Don’t let earthquakes catch you off guard! Seconds of advance warning can provide opportunity to take life-saving actions. Register for California Earthquake Early Warning. Wireless Emergency Services (WEA) is a nation-wide system providing lifesaving information for the State of California sent by state and local public officials. Register for these free services at Cal OES Alerts .

Visit our Resources page for more!