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greg dale/getty images w i n t e r 2 0 1 4 | g o i n g p l a c e s 55 Home sweet Home Home for the Holidays 7 tips for staying safe this season by Janet Gyenes The holidays are about celebrating and spending time with loved ones. Make yours memorable – for the right reasons – by following a few precautions to avoid fires, break-ins and other seasonal mishaps. 1 Get fresh: ere's nothing like the fragrance of fir to sig- nify the holiday season, but beware: dry needles can easily ignite. Choose a freshly cut tree (give it a shake to see if needles stay put), set it up away from a heat source and keep it well watered. 2 Light it right: When untan- gling strings of lights, check for broken bulbs and frayed wires, which can spell danger. Use CSA-certified LEDs that burn cooler than incandescent bulbs (consider retiring these), and don't plug multiple strings into an extension cord; use a power bar with a circuit breaker that will trip if it's overloaded. 3 Use candles with caution: Placing lit candles on win- dowsills and mantels might safe- guard them from wee ones' grasps, but watch out for drafts, drapes and combustibles such as cards. Before you turn in for the night, walk through all rooms to make sure candles have been safely snuffed. 4 Check your detectors: Keep a fire extinguisher handy, install carbon monoxide detec- tors and make a habit of testing them and your smoke detectors monthly. A flickering fire is the ultimate in winter comfort, but whether you burn wood or gas, watch out for hazards such as sparks and carbon monoxide. 5 Prevent uninvited guests: Keep thieves with prying eyes from peeking in at gifts tucked under the tree – make sure your holiday haul can't be seen from the street and draw your curtains when you're not home. Consider recycling packaging from high- end goods, such as electronics, at a city drop-off instead of at home where would-be burglars can sift through curbside bins. 6 Secure your home for the holidays: Before you hit the road for the holidays, make sure your home looks like you never left. Ask a neighbour to pick up your mail, and set lights on a timer. If your home isn't checked while you're away, any losses from a break-in may not be covered by your home insurance (speak to your insurance agent for your policy details). A home-watch ser- vice such as the one offered by Commissionaires can take care of these tasks, including monitoring your home for break-ins and checking that your pipes didn't burst dur ing a de e p fre ez e. CAA members save 10% on Com- missionaires home security services. 7 Perform a post-storm safety inspection: Clear snowdrifts blocking your furnace and stove vents, which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning; clear snow from your chimney and reignite your gas fireplace's pilot light if it blows out. gp CAA members now save on new or existing home security systems from ProTELEC Alarms. www.caamanitoba.com/ protelec