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Holiday Safety Tips
Health & Safety Top Story 

Holiday Safety Tips

Michael

The holidays are a special time to reconnect with family and friends. NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS) would like to provide the following tips to ensure safe and joyous holidays for you and your family.

Travel Safety

  • Be weather wise – know the weather forecast during your travel.
  • During the winter months, an earlier sunset means you’ve got less daylight to work with. Ideally, plan your trip to avoid travel during the night.
  • Prepare your car for winter weather before hitting the road for the holidays. Remember to pack an emergency supply kit.
  • Stay off the road during and after a winter storm.
  • If you’re traveling by plane for the holidays, review airport security screening tips.
Winter driving tips

Shop Safely

Extra precautions need to be taken during the holiday season for both online and in-person shopping.

Online shopping

  • Do your online shopping at home, and make sure your home wireless network is protected. 
  • Be cautious online – during the holidays, scammers may send fake emails that are too good to be true. Don’t click on links! 
  • Set strong passwords and change your password often.
online shopping safety

In-person shopping

According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), you should:

  • Secure bags and valuables before existing or entering parked vehicles and public transit facilities.
  • Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
  • Only travel with credit cards you plan to use.
  • Practice safety using an ATM to withdraw money. Also, make sure the area is well-lit and populated.
  • While dining or shopping, do not leave your handbag over the back of a chair, on a stroller, or in a shopping cart.
  • Carry your purse close to your body.  Never wrap the strap around your body.
  • A wallet should be carried in your front pocket or jacket breast pocket.
  • If someone bumps into you while shopping or walking in a crowd, be aware that this action might be related to a pickpocketing attempt.

Toy Safety

To promote safety around toys, the Institute for Childhood Preparedness says that you should:

  • Inspect all toys before purchasing. Avoid toys with flying parts, sharp edges, or points. Toys should be sturdy and able to withstand rough play.
  • Check the label to see where a toy or product was made, because imported toys are more likely to contain lead (lead paint was banned in the US for use in toys in 1978). For instance, imported painted antique or collectible toys or costume jewelry may contain lead.
  • Choose toys for children under 3 that do not have small parts (which could be choking hazards).
  • For children under 10, avoid toys that must be plugged into an electrical outlet.
  • Inspect toys for age, skill level, safety, and developmental ability before allowing children to play.
  • Items that require the use of lithium-ion batteries must be properly maintained according to the manufacturer’s guidelines if the battery or device is stored in a NYCHA apartment. Proper battery maintenance includes only charging the battery with the charger supplied with the device; keeping the battery dry; not opening the battery; and not using the battery if it is damaged, leaking, hot, or producing an odor.
  • If you’re buying a toy for a child with special needs, consider all sensory issues and check the toy’s movement and texture to make sure it’s safe.
  • Always supervise children while they’re playing with toys.
child playing with toys

If you have questions about this or any environmental health and safety matter, please email ehs@nycha.nyc.gov. Residents, employees, and members of the public can submit environmental health and safety concerns at https://on.nyc.gov/submit-concern.

For more information on holiday safety, please visit: