Dr. Niru Prasad

Precautions for Safe Holiday Shopping

The Thanksgiving Day turkey is hardly cold, but many of us are already thinking ahead to Christmas and juggling our gift lists. It’s a joyful time and we can keep it that way by following a few simple steps for safe shopping during this holiday season.

To avoid robberies and other unpleasant happenings, Dr. Niru Prasad, on staff at St. Joseph Mercy Community Healthcare System, suggests the following precautions while shopping for Christmas goodies:

Don’t shop late in the evening or at night.

Don’t carry too much cash with your and always keep a close eye on your purse or wallet.

Always park your car in lighted parking lots and lock the doors.

Never leave children unattended in cars and keep a close eye on them in shopping malls.

Teach your children not to talk to strangers and to stay close to you when shopping.

You may wish to take advantage of valet parking, a service many malls now offer.

Wear your health alert bracelet if you have a heart condition, epilepsy or other condition that warrants it.