Ep 13. Holiday How-To Guide

Holiday How-To Guide is the thirteenth episode of season 21 of Dateline. With the holidays fast approaching, the episode aims to uncover the best strategies for staying safe and secure during the festive season. The show kicks off with an insight into the latest scams and frauds that pop up during this time of the year. Viewers get to see how criminals take advantage of people's generosity during the holiday season and the measures that law enforcement agencies have put in place to combat these misdeeds.

The episode goes on to provide a guide on how to protect oneself from opportunistic burglars and package thieves who are notorious for cherry-picking during the holiday season. Given that people tend to travel more during the holidays, their homes and apartments are left empty, and burglars take advantage of this. The show highlights some practical security tips that homeowners and renters can implement to keep their properties safe.

Another segment of the episode delves into the dangers of impostor scams, particularly those that come in the form of emails and phone calls from fake charities soliciting donations. As the episode unfolds, viewers get to see the various ways fraudsters entice people into giving their personal information to them.

The show also covers issues related to the dangers of holiday décor, especially those that involve electrical appliances. It details some of the hidden hazards that people expose themselves to when decorating, such as overloaded electric sockets, frayed wires, and fire hazards. Furthermore, the show covers in detail the importance of reading the manufacturer's instructions when using electric appliances and recommends that homeowners invest in safety devices like smoke detectors.

Finally, in the last segment, the show explores the dangers of drunk and distracted driving during the holiday season. Dateline emphasizes the importance of planning ahead and the different ways that people can avoid distractions while driving. Also covered are the key symptoms of drunk driving and how to spot them. There is also a brief segment on the legal consequences of breaking traffic rules while behind the wheel.

Overall, the episode is insightful, relevant, and timely, especially as the holiday season approaches. The show presents a hopeful outlook on how to enjoy the holidays without putting oneself and others in harm's way. It provides practical solutions to common problems encountered during the season and is a perfect guide for anyone looking to have a safe and secure holiday.