By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
For many families, the Christmas and New Year period offers an opportunity to travel or be away from their homes to spend the time with loved ones or friends.
The yuletide period falls within the dry season in Nigeria, which sets in toward the end of the year and extends to April or May of a new year.
This period comes with a number of environmental hazards that impact households; one of these hazards is fire outbreaks.
This is not unconnected to the fact that the dry season makes it easy for a fire outbreak to quickly spread and consume everything in its path.
In Nigeria, households often record cases of fire outbreaks during the yuletide season, which coincides with the onset of the dry season in Nigeria.
With many families away for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, homes are often left unattended and vulnerable, leading to fire outbreaks, flooding, break-ins, and other security challenges.
In this article, Impact Nigeria Newspaper highlights some basic precautions families can adopt to safeguard their homes during the yuletide holidays.
Turn off the cooking gas supply
One of the major causes of fire outbreaks when families are away is gas leakage. In the haze of activities requiring attention while preparing for a trip, families or individuals may forget to turn off the gas supply.
To ensure the safety of the home and properties, the gas cylinder valve or central gas supply must be completely turned off. Also, double-check that all stove burners are properly closed before travelling.
Turn off the main electricity breaker
Beyond turning off appliances before travelling, it is also very important that the main electricity breaker at the distribution board is switched off for greater protection.
This is because power surges, faulty wiring, or electrical faults can still cause sparks that may lead to a fire when families or individuals are away.
When the main power source is completely shut off, the risk of an electrical fire while the house is empty will be significantly reduced.
Unplugging sensitive devices such as televisions, phone chargers, and kitchen appliances even after switching off the breaker adds a layer of security and helps prevent damage when power is restored.
Turn off the main water source
When families or individuals embark on a journey for an extended period of time, turning off the main water source is one way of keeping their homes safe from flooding.
This is because a burst pipe or a minor leak can flood a house within hours if no one is there to notice it and cause serious water damage to walls, floors, furniture, and electrical systems.
To guard against this, the main water valve that supplies water to the home should be located and shut off before travelling.
Store valuables safely
Another precautionary step to take while travelling is for families and individuals to keep important documents, cash, and valuables in a secure, discreet location.
If possible, use a safe or lockbox stored out of plain sight. This extra step helps protect your most important belongings in case of theft or other unexpected incidents while you are away.
Avoid announcing travel plans publicly
In a world where people are monitored via social media and targeted for attacks and other harms, it is best to keep travel plans off social media, other public platforms, and even with acquaintances.
It is safer to delay posting travel updates or holiday photos until later or when it is safe to do so without bringing any risks to the family or oneself.
Announcing publicly that your house will be empty may attract unwanted attention and increase the chance of a break-in.
Install or activate security measures
When traveling, it is important that families or individuals adopt an extra layer of security by installing or activating security systems such as motion-sensor lights, door alarms, CCTV cameras, or even simple outdoor lighting.
This will ensure that intruders are deterred and families or individuals are warned of any danger early.
Another security measure may be to ask a trusted neighbour or relative to check on the house occasionally to avoid signs that no one is home.
