City of Long Beach Offers Tips for a Safe and Joyful Holiday Season

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The holiday season is a cherished time for celebration, meaningful connections and time-honored traditions. While each of us may celebrate the holidays in our own unique ways, it is equally important for us all to make safety a priority. As we continue to gather with our loved ones, the City of Long Beach is offering the following tips to ensure a safe, festive and hazard-free holiday season for all.

Decorate Safely
Decorating is one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit but can also be a common source of household fires. Decorate safely and with care by following these guidelines:

• Place Christmas trees at least three feet away from any heat source, such as fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights. Remember to add water to the tree stand daily to prevent drying out.
• Replace any light strings that have worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections and use clips, not nails, to hang lights to prevent damaging cords. Do not exceed the manufacturer's instructions for number of light strands to connect and avoid overloading electrical outlets.
• Avoid placing breakable ornaments or ones with small, detachable parts on lower tree branches where small children and pets can reach them. Always turn off all light strings and tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
• Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Never use lit candles to decorate a tree. Candles should be kept away from decorations and other things that can burn, and instead of using open-flame candles for a table centerpiece or decor, opt for battery-operated instead.
• Keep potentially poisonous plants, such as mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry and amaryllis, away from children and pets.

Entertain Safely
With the hustle and bustle of holiday gatherings with loved ones, it is important to follow the below steps to ensure everyone remains safe, healthy and injury free.

• If entertaining in the evening, ensure your entryway is well-lit so guests have a safe walkway into your residence. Also consider removing low-to-the-ground décor or small furniture inside or outside to avoid bumping, tripping or falling.
• Always stay in the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop; unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and casualties, which increase each year during the holiday season. If using the oven, be sure to check it regularly, use a timer and remain home while food is cooking.
• Always keep children and pets away from hot stoves as well as hot food and liquids, as steam or splash could cause serious burns. Lit candles, matches and lighters should be kept up high and out of reach of children and pets.
• While preparing your delicious holiday meals, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers several food safety tips to help ensure you and your loved ones remain safe from foodborne illness this season.
• When cooking a turkey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that improper handling or undercooking can lead to food poisoning and illness and offers guidelines to avoid poultry-related foodborne outbreaks.
• The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends against deep-frying turkeys. Never deep-fry a frozen turkey.
• Test smoke alarms and tell guests about your fire escape plan. Don't have an emergency plan? Follow these steps to get you and your family prepared.
• Provide a quiet, dark space for your pets to retreat to if they become overwhelmed by guests.

Have a Healthy Holiday
The best way to ensure a healthy holiday is to stay up to date on flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. The Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) encourages residents to consider testing for COVID-19 before traveling or attending large gatherings with friends, families and loved ones, or after contact with someone who has the virus or when experiencing any COVID-like symptoms. The Health Department also recommends people continue to follow other common-sense COVID-19 and flu safety strategies, such as staying home when sick, avoiding close contact with those who are sick and frequent hand washing.

Commute Safely
During the holidays, it is especially important to note the importance of not driving while impaired or distracted. The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) is committed to keeping the community safe and will increase its police presence throughout the city to help deter drivers from distracted driving and driving under the influence. DUI-related traffic collisions claimed the lives of four people in 2023 and four people in 2024.

The LBPD would like to share the following tips to help ensure drivers, pedestrians and all commuters practice safe and responsible behavior:

• To prevent injury to yourself and others, designate a sober driver, or use a taxi or ride-sharing service to get to and from your destination. Remember that driving under the influence includes alcohol, cannabis, some prescription and over the counter drugs, and illegal drugs.
• Distracted driving poses serious threat to people's safety. Plan routes in advance and avoid texting or otherwise using a cell phone while driving.
• Pedestrians and bicyclists should maintain strict awareness of their surroundings, especially at night and when crossing streets, even when crossing in a marked crosswalk.

Shop Safely
It's important to stay vigilant while shopping during the holiday season. Here are some essential safety tips to help you shop confidently and reduce the risk of theft or other crimes:

• Place all gifts and packages in the trunk of your vehicle or out of sight.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times and walk with confidence.
• Park in well-lighted areas.
• Avoid shopping alone; there is safety in numbers.
• Use credit or debit cards for purchases to avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
• Keep car doors locked and windows closed.
• Carry purses or bags close to your body.
• Have your car keys in hand prior to arriving at your vehicle.
• Immediately lock your car doors upon entry.
• Report suspicious persons or packages to on-site security or police.

Prevent Package Thefts
To prevent package thefts and/or burglaries, the LBPD would like to remind the community of the following tips to help keep holiday packages safe:

• If out of town, have packages delivered to a store, facility or a trusted neighbor and/or schedule package deliveries for when someone will be home.
• Opt for providing special instructions to delivery services. When able, ask for your delivery to be placed in a hidden area, such as on the side of your home or behind plants or other objects.
• When able, immediately bring in packages as soon as they arrive. Additionally, if possible, install exterior motion sensor lighting and home security cameras at your residence.
• Additional crime prevention tips are available here.

Fireworks Safety and Reporting and Other Illegal Activity
While fireworks are often used to mark special occasions and holidays, they are not safe in the hands of consumers and are best left to the professionals. The City reminds everyone that all personal fireworks, including sparklers and those labeled "Safe and Sane," are prohibited within Long Beach city limits. The City encourages people to report illegal firework usage; additional information is available at longbeach.gov/fireworks.

"Celebratory" gunfire is considered an illegal discharge of a firearm and is very dangerous. Discharging a firearm for celebratory purposes could result in injury or death to anyone struck, and jail time for the offenders.

In Case of Emergency
Community members are encouraged to practice "See Something, Say Something" and report any dangerous or illegal activities to the Long Beach Police Department. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, people can dial the non-emergency phone tree at 562.435.6711.

By celebrating the holiday season safely, collectively we can help achieve a safe Long Beach for all.

Media inquiries may be directed to the Office of Public Affairs and Communications at [email protected].

About the Celebrate Safely Campaign
The City of Long Beach launched the Celebrate Safely campaign in 2019 to provide information, resources and ongoing safety messaging for the Fourth of July holiday, in addition to several other holidays where fireworks are often used. The campaign has since served as an ongoing platform to educate community members about the importance of participating in safe, family-friendly activities for holidays throughout the year.

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