Cherry Hill Preps For Santa's Arrival, Holiday Safety

CHERRY HILL, NJ — As Cherry Hill prepares for Santa's arrival, public-safety personnel are getting to work.

The township released a video with a behind-the-scenes look at holiday prep by Cherry Hill's police and fire departments.

Among those tasks: ensuring smooth travels for Santa Claus. Santa is coordinating with Cherry Hill's public-safety teams, who have contacted the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure the skies are unobstructed for his reindeer.

Meanwhile, Cherry Hill residents can take actions to help ensure safe gatherings during Christmastime and the holiday season.

Here are Cherry Hill's holiday safety tips:

Contact Info

• emergencies: call 911
• non-emergency dispatch: 856-665-1200
• fire administration: 856-795-9805
• general police information: 856-488-7828

Tips from the Cherry Hill Fire Department

• Test your smoke alarms. Test monthly, replace batteries yearly, and replace units every 10 years; ensure they're on every level and outside sleeping areas.
• Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms: Install and test these as well, especially near sleeping areas, as CO is a silent killer.
• Electrical cords: Inspect holiday lights. Don't run cords under rugs where they can fray.
• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
• Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
• Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.
• Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them. Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding.
• Blow out lit candles when you leave the room or go to bed.
• Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
• Get rid of the tree after Christmas or when it is dry. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage or placed outside against the home.
• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater.
• Have a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

Tips from the Cherry Hill Police Department

• Remove valuables from your vehicle.
• Lock up your house, car, garage, etc.
• Turn on lights, alarms and security systems.
• Contact police if you see any suspicious activity.
• Never leave keys in the car.
• Close and lock all windows.
• Avoid posting on social media when away from home so people don’t realize you are away.
• Make sure your cameras are on and working (if you have them).
• Trim trees and bushes to maintain sightlines and eliminate hiding spots.