For many people, the holidays mean family, friends, gifts and decorations.
For public safety officials, holidays also mean a jump in burglaries, identity theft and fires.
The tools to prevent tragedies and protect yourself from becoming a victim are simple awareness and common sense, Scranton's two public safety chiefs say.
"Most of our holiday crime seems to come from packages in cars - that seems to be a big thing," acting Police Chief Carl Graziano said. "This time of year, with people bouncing from store to store, they tend to leave packages in plain view."
He advised holiday shoppers to keep purchases out of sight in a car trunk and to always keep their surroundings in mind - to be aware while walking to and from cars in parking lots.
Don't carry cash unless it's absolutely necessary - credit cards can be canceled easily, while cash can't be traced after it's taken, Chief Graziano said.
Shopping online with credit cards can also be dangerous, however. This is the busy season for identity thieves and Internet scammers. Federal Trade Commission spokesman Frank Dorman said people should make sure they know who they're dealing with and protect their personal and financial information, because anyone can set up shop online under almost any name.
The FTC also recommends consumers look for a Secure Checkout while shopping online - make sure the website starts with "https" (the "s" stands for "secure"). Mr. Dorman recommended consumers check OnguardOnline.gov/SmartShopper for more in-depth holiday online shopping tips.
Fire hazards
When it comes to Christmas trees, Scranton Fire Chief Tom Davis said people should saturate them with water at the base; place them in the center of a room, rather than near walls or drapes; and be sure to turn the lights off before leaving home.
"If it's electric, make sure your service can take the amount of amps it requires," he said of decorations.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends placing the tree at least 3 feet away from fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights, and taking care not to block any exits. Replace any string of lights that has worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Don't connect more than three strands of lights, and make sure the lights are approved for indoor use. Never use candles to light the tree, and water it daily.
Chief Davis also sees an increase in fire-related incidents with the cold weather that comes around the holidays. Untended boilers, dry Christmas trees and auxiliary heating units are among his main concerns.
"The biggest problem we have is the steam unit; there's not water in their boilers," Chief Davis said.
To avoid explosions that can occur when boilers run with no water, he encouraged people to make sure boilers are filled and that heating units are inspected regularly.
He also suggested keeping space heaters and kerosene heaters in the center of the room and away from combustible objects, and ensuring adequate airflow around a kerosene heater to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter