Tis’ the Season for Safety and Security

CHICAGO, Dec. 07, 2016 -- The holidays bring joy, family and friends together but they also come with their own set of potential risks that are often overlooked. For over 100 years, the safety experts at UL have studied, researched and tested to ensure the consumer safety and security. And for over fifty years, John Drengenberg, UL’s Consumer Safety Director, has worked tirelessly to communicate safety tips to help keep families safe. And this holiday season, he shares the safety steps necessary to stay safe while shopping, decorating and entertaining.

A video accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f873807e-bc51-47bb-91d4-93fdf0f67674

Safe While Shopping

Shopping is inevitably part of the holidays. It’s important to be careful with your payment information when buying online and in-store. EMV chip-enabled cards may mean a slightly longer check-out, but they add another layer of security to your purchases. In fact, fraud decreased 27% since the implementation of EMV chip-enabled cards.

Keep these tips in mind while shopping both on-line and off-line:

• Use only one credit card for holiday transactions to keep better track of all purchases, as well as any suspicious charges.
   
• Install anti-virus protection on your computer and make sure you keep it up-to-date.
   
• Always shop on sites you know and trust. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
   
• Consider purchasing an RFID wallet-blocking card to shield your credit cards from the radio frequency used to obtain information through your wallet or purse.
   
• Experts recommend using a credit card vs. a debit card. They offer greater protections.

Safe Holiday Décor

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were more than 15,000 injuries involving holiday decorating that resulted in emergency room visits last year. The National Fire Protection Association also reports that U.S. fire departments respond to an average of 10 home fires each day involving Christmas trees during the holiday season. It is important for families to keep safety top-of-mind during the holidays when decorating.

• When buying a tree, run your fingers through the needles to make sure they are fresh. Trees that have dry needles burn faster.
   
• Keep the real tree base filled with water at all times, as it reduces the risk of fire. Check daily to ensure there is enough water in the base.
   
• When taking last year’s decorations out of storage, inspect them carefully. Wear-and-tear over the years may lead to potential safety hazards in the home.
   
• When decorating outdoors, be sure you’re using lights and other electrical decorations appropriate for outdoor use. 
   
  • The red UL Mark on the label indicates the item can be used both indoors and outdoors. While, the green UL Mark on the label means the item should be used only indoors.

For more information, visit SafeBee.com.

About UL:
UL is a global independent safety science company with more than a century of expertise innovating safety solutions from the public adoption of electricity to new breakthroughs in sustainability, renewable energy and nanotechnology. Dedicated to promoting safe living and working environments, UL helps safeguard people, products and places in important ways, facilitating trade and providing peace of mind.

Media Contact:
Brooke Arrington
847.664.1298
[email protected]