Winter blunderland: Holidays are full of hazards

Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2000 | 9:05 a.m.

Holiday lights

'Tis the season to be alert.

"The key to safety is a heightened awareness of your environment," Metro Crime Prevention Specialist Kathy Ojeda said. "At this time of the year we try to get folks to focus more on their personal safety."

Year-end holidays are a minefield of activity that is potentially dangerous and sometimes deadly, say people in the safety business.

When people are preoccupied with family gatherings, Christmas shopping, seasonal parties and other events, they sometimes forget to exercise caution, notes Tim Szymanski, spokesman for the Las Vegas Fire Department.

Hazards range from burglars, muggers and pickpockets, to toys, Christmas trees and even dinner.

While a kitchen might be filled with the enticing aromas of pies and baked bread, Szymanski said it's what you don't smell that can kill you.

"Over the holidays, the leading source of carbon monoxide poisoning is the stove," Szymanski said. "Many people in the valley don't have stoves vented to the outside, so the carbon monoxide stays in the home.

"It's colorless and odorless and you won't know it's there. If you do a lot of cooking, then you need to frequently open doors and windows to let in fresh air," he said.

Szymanski said many new homes aren't vented because they use electricity for heat and cooking. Carbon monoxide comes from fuel that burns hydrocarbons.

"Never take a barbecue or hibachi into your home to cook," he said. "Not only is it against code, it's deadly. About half of the carbon monoxide cases involving multiple people being taken to the hospital are caused by barbecues and hibachis. People start partying and drinking and before they know it they're knocked unconscious."

Szymanski suggests every home have a carbon monoxide detector as well as smoke detector.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths, responsible for 1,500 deaths and 10,000 illnesses each year.

Meanwhile Ojeda said the potential for becoming the victim of a crime increases dramatically during the holidays.

"It's the cash-and-carry time of year," she said. "Muggings and other crimes involving money go up. Criminals have a shopping list, just like we do -- only they have a different list.

"It's a hectic, busy time. People get unfocused and caught up in what it is they're doing and what they have to accomplish and they let down their security defenses."

She urged people to be cautious when withdrawing money from ATM machines, where criminals sometimes hangout looking for prey.

"If you observe someone lurking near the ATM with no apparent business purpose, either in a car or on foot, don't stop," she said.

Retailers also experience more crime during the holidays, from robbery to pilferage by employees and shoplifting by customers.

The reasons for an increase in crime this time of year are obvious -- more shoppers, more merchandise and more kids on the street.

According to police, when schools close for winter vacation, most young people are home without supervision.

"A great percentage of home burglaries are committed by young adults during daylight hours, and within close proximity of where these young people live," a report by Metro Police said.

This also is the time of year for more parties, which means more drunk driving and more fatal car accidents.

Ron Corbin, another Metro crime prevention specialist, said one study showed statistics that the highest percentage of drunk drivers are on the road between 12:30 and 3 a.m.

"Be on the alert for drunk drivers even when the night is young, since many revelers start their celebration at office parties," he said.

Toys are also a serious matter when it comes holiday safety issues.

While no specific toys have been identified as especially hazardous this year by the Underwriter's Laboratory, the Public Interest Research Group, a consumer watch-dog organization, recently issued some general warnings about toys.

A survey released by PIRG said the most hazardous toys are those that cause choking. The report stated that toys with small parts, balloons and small balls are the leading cause of toy-related deaths.

"Balloons are the leading choking killer," Rachel Weintraub, PIRG attorney, said. "Balloons are inappropriate for toddlers. Consumers should avoid balloons altogether for children under 8, and even then use extreme caution."

Scooters, whose popularity is on the rise, are a dangerous toy, the PIRG study said. They have been responsible for more than 26,000 injuries and two deaths (a 6-year-old and an adult) so far this year.

According to the CPSC, approximately 141,000 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries last year.

The following is a list of safety tips compiled from reports by Metro police, the Las Vegas and Clark County fire departments, Underwriters Laboratories and the National Fire Protection Association.

At home:

If you are the victim of a home-invasion robbery:

While shopping:

Outside of the mall:

At home: