Please do not leave candles unattended. (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

In my small hamlet, there are certain sounds I relish hearing. Children laughing, gentle winds, and trees creaking — a peaceful atmosphere. The sounds we never want to hear are those of emergency vehicles.

I appreciate the need for sirens, horns, emergency whistles and the people/services keeping us safe. Seeing red flashing lights speed past my house any time of year conjures feelings of fear and dread. No “good” time of year exists for an emergency, but a winter tragedy adds another level of despair to anyone suffering loss.

Whenever I pull over to allow room for the flashing lights and siren of a fire truck or other emergency vehicle, I say a silent prayer or remind my kids to hope everyone is safe. It’s a different feeling when you see an emergency vehicle turn onto your street. (Thankfully, the purpose was a safety check.)

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, half of all home fires occur in December, January and February. It certainly makes sense for those of us in the chilly north who require heat–holidays also heighten the need for fire prevention with more string lights, candles and interior trees.

Extension cord overload is always a safety issue. I’m not sure about other people’s children, but my kids can make an extension cord look like modern art in moments. It isn’t that they don’t know better than to overload a circuit, but more because “the other outlet is so very far away.”

In January, we usually check our fire extinguishers, alarms and carbon monoxide monitors. We don’t have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, so having an ash bucket isn’t part of our checklist. Those of you who do, please check that the metal ash bucket doesn’t have holes, is covered, and is a safe distance from your house.

For anyone using space heaters, please be careful. I double-check to make sure my mother doesn’t use hers as a towel-drying rack. In addition, make sure a space heater is plugged directly into the wall, not into an extension cord, and never left unattended.

Please take a moment to review your New Year’s safety plan for the rest of the winter. We can’t prevent all emergencies, but it eases the mind to know we did our best. Stay safe.