Autumn’s arrival always brings with it the anticipation of the upcoming holiday season. Even though the Christmas holidays do not officially get underway until Thanksgiving, those hoping to get an early jump can dive into Halloween. Some communities are already looking forward to Halloween despite coronavirus concerns.
This year’s holidays – which, for the purposes of this post, run from October 31 to January 2 – are bound to be different. With the country still attempting to emerge from coronavirus while simultaneously dealing with social unrest, wildfires in the West and more, some might find it difficult to get into the holiday mood.
One thing we can say for sure is that safety is still of paramount concern. Regardless of how you celebrate this year, do so safely.
Halloween in Carson City
If you need evidence that Americans are still looking forward to the holiday season despite coronavirus, look no further than Carson City, Nevada. According to the CarsonNow.org website, local residents are joining their counterparts throughout the state to celebrate Halloween in a big way.
Nevada residents are expected to invest more than $128 million in this year’s Halloween celebrations. Local Carson City homeowners will be decorating their homes and passing out candy. They will be attending family parties and neighborhood get-togethers. Of course, all of this will be done with the mind toward social distancing.
In Florida, the small town of Davenport is already planning for their annual Christmas festival and parade. Even as other central Florida towns are canceling Christmas 2024, Davenport feels it is necessary to stick with tradition. They want to give local residents something to look forward to as the Christmas season approaches.
Practical Holiday Safety Tips
From Nevada to Florida and everywhere in between, municipalities and individual residents have to decide for themselves how to celebrate the 2024 holiday season. As you make plans for yourself and your family, consider the practical safety tips listed below. The tips are complements of Vivint Smart Home, a nationwide provider of home security and automation technologies.
1. Continue Social Distancing
For the time being, social distancing is still recommended as one of the best ways to stop the spread of coronavirus. Keeping a 6-foot buffer between non-family members is not ideal, but it is also not the end of the world. We can still enjoy great holiday festivities without getting too close.
Take passing out Halloween candy, for example. You could ask guests to stop halfway up the sidewalk so that you can get a headcount. Then leave an equal number of pieces in a dish on the porch and step back inside. Your guests can approach and take their candy. Again, it is not ideal, but it will work.
2. Be Aware of Surroundings
Many of the safety issues we deal with on a regular basis are in some way related to paying attention to what is going on around you. Whether you are worried about social distancing, crime, or even children running out into traffic, being aware of your surroundings is indispensable.
Always be aware of others around you. Teach your children to do the same. When you are attending holiday parties, make a point of being aware of how close together people are standing.
In terms of crime, being aware of your surroundings is important when you’re at the mall doing your shopping, as you’re walking down the street on your way to meet friends at a local bar, and so on. It is important to be aware of your surroundings even at home. Pay attention to people in the neighborhood who do not look like they belong.
3. Utilize Home Security
Additional dangers surrounding holiday celebrations have little or nothing to do with the spread of coronavirus. We are talking things like crime, fire, and even carbon monoxide poisoning. One of the best defenses against these sorts of threats is home security and automation.
If you already have a security system, now is the time to give it the once over to make sure everything is working properly. If you do not utilize home security, consider giving yourself and your family an early Christmas present. Affordable wireless security systems are readily available these days.
Homeowners commonly utilize security systems to protect against burglary and home invasion. Go one step further this holiday season. How? By installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. A smoke detector can save lives in the event of a house fire. The same goes for a carbon monoxide detector should your furnace or water heater malfunction.
4. Give Porch Pirates a Hard Time
The combination of convenience and coronavirus restrictions likely means more people will do their Christmas shopping online this year. You know what that means: the next few months will be very busy for porch pirates. Do not let them victimize you.
Porch piracy is an ongoing problem because too many of us make it too easy. Never forget there are things you can do to give porch pirates a hard time, beginning with installing a video doorbell or a security camera pointed at the front door. Video surveillance will sometimes deter porch pirates.
You might also consider installing a package safe, asking delivery companies to put your packages in the garage, or even arranging for delivery to a neighbor’s house. The last thing you want to do is assume that porch pirates are not working in your neighborhood. That is what they are counting on.
Take Care Of One Another
Whether you live in Carson City, Davenport, or anywhere else in the USA, make the most of this year’s holiday season. Do not let fear take the joy of the season away from you. As a very wise man once said, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Plan the best of holiday celebrations this year. And when you do, make a point of taking care of friends, family, and neighbors. If we all make a stronger effort to take care of one another, we can overcome the troubles that so easily drag us down.
