Don't make it easy for burglars to rob you.  Lock the doors and windows of your home, so that no one can enter when you’re away or in the house.

Don’t display gifts in plain view. While Santa leaves presents on Christmas Eve, many people have presents that they purchase and display around the Christmas tree. It looks festive, but when seen through a window, it can be a tempting sight for burglars. If you’re going to display gifts, keep your drapes closed or ensure they can’t be seen through a window. Before Christmas, keep them in closets or other storage areas.

Don’t advertise what Santa brought you. Remember that many boxes show what they contain, and can advertise new purchases when the boxes are left out for trash pickups. Rather than showing everyone that there’s a new VCR, TV, or other purchases in your house, break down boxes for recycling or trash pickups and/or place them in a bag.

Make it look like someone’s home. If a home looks occupied, burglars will generally leave it alone. If you’re going away for the holidays, put inside and outside lights on a timer. Don’t set all lights to turn on and off at the exact same time, as it will indicate timers are being used. Set a radio to a talk radio station, and set it on a timer to play for several hours a day. Have neighbors pick up your mail and park in your driveway, so it appears someone’s home.

Don’t give a burglar the keys to the house and car. Don’t leave extra sets of keys in your car. If you have a garage door opener, don’t leave it out in the open so that people passing by your car can see it. Also, don’t leave the garage door open, as this makes your home accessible to criminals.

Don’t use your car as a display window. When shopping, keep purchases in your trunk. In doing so, people can’t see what you bought and have in your car.

Don’t make it easy for thieves to enter your car. Lock the doors of your car, and make sure that the windows are rolled all the way up.

Don’t Drink and Drive. Remember that if you drink, don’t drive. Take a taxi, bus, or have a designated driver available. If you’re hosting a party, have non-alcoholic beverages available for guests who are driving, or tell guests they can stay the night if they’ve had too much to drink.

Buckle Up. Seat belts may prevent injuries in motor vehicle collisions, and are mandatory to wear by law. Check that passengers are wearing seat belts, and that children younger than six years old (or according to law) are seated in the back seat of the vehicle. Remember that the streets are busy during the holidays, so your chances of an accident increase. Play it safe and buckle up!

Don't flash around large amounts of cash.  People who don’t follow this advice can make tempting targets to muggers and pickpockets.

For pickpockets, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Don’t dangle a purse from your shoulder, as someone can snatch it easily. Hold your purse tightly under your arm, and make sure it’s zipped up or secured shut. Men, and women who don’t carry purses, should carry money, credit cards, and/or cheques in their front pockets. To really play it safe, don’t carry everything in the same place. If you’re robbed, the thief will only get part of it; the cheques, credit card, identification, or some other item … but not everything!

Don’t give a mugger a Merry Christmas. When shopping, make several trips to your car so that you’re not carrying vast amounts of purchases. Stay in well lit areas, and don’t park in the dark.

Canadian winters can be at their worst, so have a plan. Make sure you have extra blankets, and that every member of your family has a winter coat, mittens, and water-resistant boots. Have your car winterized before the snow begins to fall. Prepare yourself by having two weeks of food and water in your home, in case you’re snowed in. You should also ensure that you have necessary medical supplies in the house, such as a first aid kit and any prescription medicine that family members need.

Live Christmas trees need extra care. If you decide to have a live Christmas tree, pick a fresh one and secure it in a sturdy stand. Make sure that it’s properly watered, and doesn’t dry out. Keep the tree away from heat sources, and make sure that the tree doesn’t block exits.

Artificial trees need care too. If purchasing an artificial tree, make sure it’s fire retardant. Keep the tree away from heat sources, and make sure that the tree doesn’t block exits.

Ornaments on the tree and around the home can also be a fire hazard. Ensure that holiday candles are kept away from anything flammable, and never use candles to decorate a tree. Don’t leave children alone in a room with lit candles, and keep lighters and matches away from them. Since alcohol and fire don’t mix, don’t decorate your parties with candles. When decorating with electrical lights, make sure you only purchase those that are approved by a testing laboratory. Never decorate metal trees with electric lights, as this may cause fires or electrocution. Also, remember that there are indoor and outdoor lights, and you should only use them for the specified purpose (i.e. indoor lights inside, and outdoor lights outside). Always remember to unplug lights when leaving home or going to bed.

Never overload electrical outlets. Remember that electrical outlets are meant to provide a specific amount of electricity. Overloading outlets can cause fires.

Where there's smoke, there's fire hazards. If you’re having a party, remember to use large ashtrays, so that no one misses the ashtray. Check ashtrays regularly, so they don’t smolder and cause a fire.

Be careful with fireplaces. If you’re hanging stockings on the fireplace, then don’t start a fire in the fireplace. When burning fires, use a sturdy screen to keep logs from rolling and embers from jumping.

Remember that fireplaces need to be cleaned. Creosote is a chemical substance that forms when wood burns, and can build up in chimneys. If the chimney hasn’t been cleaned, the creosote buildup may cause a chimney fire. As such, you should have your fireplace cleaned by a professional at the beginning of the heating season.

Heaters can cause fires. If you decide to use space heaters or portable heaters for extra heat, remember that they should be kept at least one meter (three feet) from anything flammable. This includes drapes, wallpaper, bedding, clothing, and other combustible items. If you leave the room or go to bed, turn the heater off so that it’s not unattended.