Tips of the Month
This Winter: Don't Crank the Heat to Stay Warm
As the days get shorter, the temperatures get colder. To stay warm indoors, you might be tempted to crank the thermostat. But there’s no need to overheat your whole home to keep yourself warm. Instead, focus on ways to bring the warmth to you:
- During the day day, open the blinds and shades and sit in the sunniest rooms in your home. Keeping the blinds and shades open can help to heat the whole home as well.
- At night, do the reverse, close the curtains and blinds to keep out the cold.
- Wear cozy fleece or flannel. Warm fabrics will keep you feeling warm.
- Get moving. Walk around the house, run up and down stairs, follow an exercise video online. Moving around will warm you up and it’s good for your health, too.
- Get a cozy comforter for your bed. You’ll be snug and warm all night.
- Use an electric blanket. The blanket will keep you warm and uses a lot less energy than heating the whole home.
- Reverse ceiling fans so they are pushing warm air down.
- Stop drafts. For just a few dollars, you can purchase outlet insulators, insulate around doors and windows, and put draft stoppers at the base of your doors.
- Try to avoid space heaters. They cause 25,000 house fires every year. But, if you do use them, make sure to buy ones that are UL listed and stay in the room with the heater and make sure no fabrics fall on or cover them.
From the City's Committee for a Better Environment
Crime Prevention Tips
On Wednesday, December 6, 2023 the Prince George’s County Police Department joined the City’s Public Safety meeting to discuss crime prevention for the holiday season. Be safe by following these tips for auto theft, home burglary, and more:
- If you purchase a high value item, break the box down into smaller pieces and place in the recycle bin.
- Be observant and alert of suspicious persons and vehicles.
- To prevent catalytic converter theft, paint the catalytic converter a bright color and etch your vehicle’s VIN number on it. This allows it to be traceable if criminals attempt to sell the part.
- Park vehicles with wheels sharply turned to prevent tire and rim theft. Turning the wheels makes it difficult to loosen the lug nuts and remove tires.
- If your home will be unoccupied, wait until after you return to share the memories of your trip online or on social media.
- If you are a victim of auto theft, immediately contact local law enforcement to provide your vehicle information and any identifying characteristics of the criminal.
From the Prince George's County Police Department