Safety & Loss Prevention Tips

Smoke Alarms
Height Requirements & Airbags
Fall & Winter Safety Tips
Preparing for a Vacation
A Guide to Help Prevent Water Damage
How to Reduce Basement Flooding
20 Ideas For Business

Smoke Alarms - Click here to view a 5 minute US News Story showing some children sleep right through the ringing alarm.

Height Requirement For Children To Ride In Front Of An Airbag

The limit of 12 years was selected because the average 12 year old has typically attained the height and weight of a small female (about 5' and 100 pounds) and has a tolerance to injury that is generally greater than that of younger children. He or she can fit better in the seat and obtain correct belt fit. By correct belt fit meaning that the shoulder belt passes over the centre of the clavicle (shoulder) and across the centre of the chest bone or sternum. In smaller children the shoulder belt will frequently rub against the neck or slip off the shoulder resulting in inadequate restraint of the upper body. The lap portion of the belt must lie low across the hip bones and not up into the soft region of the abdomen.

The serious airbag injuries and airbag fatalities that Transport Canada have investigated thus far have essentially all been due to children who were not correctly restrained. The most common error has been the placement of the belt behind the back where in the event of a crash involving airbag deployment there is nothing to restrain the upper body and prevent the head and neck from coming into contact with the airbag.

Children do come in all sizes and parents often may not always be able to place everyone in the rear seat. To determine who should sit in the front seat, Transport Canada recommends selecting the tallest child who fits the seat and seat belt the best (as described above) and who can understand and respect the rules that come with sitting in the front seat. These include:

1. Always wear the belt correctly even for short trips to the corner store.
2. Never place feet on the dash.
3. Do not lean against the door as the belt will not fit as well and some vehicles may be equipped with side airbags.
4. Sit up straight (no slouching) and no fooling around with the radio controls etc.

For more information on Child Road Safety please see Transport Canada’s website: http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/menu.htm

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Fall & Winter Safety tips:

1. Leaving your home for more than 4 consecutive days this winter? To keep your coverage valid ensure a competent adult checks your home daily, or alternatively maintain the heat and drain/shut off all water systems. For more details, check out the vacation safety tips below.

2. Slips and falls are at an all time high and so are the related lawsuits. Please ensure your walkways are kept clean of snow & ice at all times.

3. Cold winter driving can mean automobile breakdowns. Make sure your vehicles are properly winterized and you carry emergency supplies such as blankets, candles, flares, first aid kit, roadside emergency reflectors, etc.

4. Winter driving means ice & slippery road conditions and a greater chance of accidents. Raise your headrests to a level even with the top of your head, slow down to a reasonable driving speed and ensure your tires are good for winter driving.

5. Winter snowmobiling is great fun! Be safe though:

• Alcohol & snowmobiling DO NOT MIX
• Know your riding area
• Keep your machine well maintained
• Dress properly
• Obey the law and follow the rules
• Drive within your ability
• Do not ride alone
• Beware of darkness
• Take great care over water
• Exercise extreme caution in mountains – Avalanches Kill!
• Also refer to the Alberta Snowmobile Associations’ safety tips listed under “Info Library” at www.altasnowmobile.ab.ca.

6. Cold weather means cold vehicles; take the necessary precautions if you are leaving your vehicle running. Carry a spare set of keys, ensure your doors are locked and NEVER leave children unattended.

7. This time of the year people often use their wood burning fireplace or candles. Do not leave these unattended and ensure they are completely out before leaving the house or going to bed.

8. By making the top of your car seat headrest level with the top of your head you will greatly reduce neck and head injury if ever in an accident. A raised headrest will give your head and neck additional support.

9. PLEASE DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!

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Preparing for a Vacation:

Safety Tips to Reduce the Possibility of a Loss while you are away on vacation

If you are going away on vacation, please consider these loss prevention tips!

• Plan to have someone trustworthy check your house daily:

1. To pick up your mail. You may even want to cancel your paper delivery.
2. To check inside your house for any possible water leaks or heating problems (especially in the winter months)

• Turn off the water to your dishwasher & washing machine

1. You may want to have your water heater checked if it is more than 10 years old

• To protect against damage from power surges, unplug major appliances. (ie: TV’s, computers)

• To discourage possible intruders:

1. Close all curtains or blinds
2. Have your radio and lights in the home set on timers to turn on/off  automatically

• If you are not taking your vehicle, purchase a safety device to lock the steering wheel, while you are away.

Have a safe and enjoyable vacation!

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A Guide to Help Prevent Water Damage - Click here to view the Economical Insurance Brochure on Water Damage prevention.

How to Reduce Basement Flooding - Click here to view the ICLR Handbook for Reducing Basement Flooding.
Posted with permission from the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), by Dan Sandink.

20 Ideas For Business - Click here to view the article by BDO Dunwoody. For further information please contact Bob McColl of BDO Dunwoody.

Contact Drayden for more details!
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