Public reminded of holiday safety

City officials are urging Oahu residents to celebrate safely and responsibly this holiday season to avoid preventable accidents.

At a press conference Friday with safety and emergency officials, Mayor Peter Carlisle said accidents can be especially devastating around the holidays but "can often be avoided through reasonable precautions and common sense."

Police Chief Louis Kea­loha advised motorists to be patient and to allow extra travel time in case of traffic delays.

"There is a lot of traffic congestion during the holiday season," he said. "Everybody is rushing around trying to get last-minute shopping in, going to concerts that we’re having now, and plays, and visiting and going to parties and things like that."

He said officers will be out enforcing traffic laws against drunken driving, speeding, cellphone use while driving and not wearing a seat belt.

Mel Kaku, director of the city Department of Emergency Management, added that winter is the start of the state’s wet weather season, so motorists should drive carefully through rain and pools of water. Residents should also be prepared with batteries, lamps, flashlights and a radio in case of flooding, and heed calls to evacuate if necessary.

Kealoha advised shoppers not to leave purchases in cars in plain sight because there are people "cruising the shopping centers just waiting to take those gifts."

The holidays bring unique fire hazards with lights and other decorations, Christmas trees and firecrackers.

Fire Chief Kenneth Silva said fires are most likely to start in the kitchen, so never leave cooking unattended. He also warned against leaving lights and decorations on if leaving the house or going to bed, and pointed out that Christmas trees can dry out quickly, making it easier for them to catch fire.

The upcoming New Year’s period is the second in which virtually all consumer fireworks are banned on Oahu. The exception is firecrackers, which may be purchased with a permit. Permits are available at satellite city halls through Friday. A firecracker permit costs $25 and entitles the bearer to buy up to 5,000 individual firecrackers. There is no limit on how many permits a person may buy.

Firecrackers go on sale the day after Christmas and may be set off between 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve and 1 a.m. New Year’s Day.

Emergency Services Director James Ireland said to expect large surf in the islands this holiday season.

"Check with a lifeguard (on conditions and warnings), especially if it’s a beach you’re unfamiliar with, prior to going in," he said.