Towing a large load with your vehicle such as a travel trailer, fifth-wheel trailer or cargo trailer is a great way to carry additional items without making lots of trips. Trailers are also convenient to use when your personal vehicle is not large enough to carry the items you want to transport. Motorists must be careful when towing, though, to prevent accidents and remain safe on the roadways.

According to GM Canada, an airbag propels out of a dashboard at up to 320 kilometres per hour – faster than the blink of an eye. Though they are designed to absorb the impact of a crash for adult motor vehicle passengers and drivers, children can suffer major injuries from an air bag.

Air Bag Safety Recomendations

To keep children injury-free while riding in your car, consider these safety recommendations:

• Place small infants in rear-facing child safety seats in the backseat.
• Place toddlers over 1 year old and at least 9 kilograms in forward-facing convertible safety seats in the backseat of the vehicle. Since these car seats would situate the child several centimetres closer to the dashboard, they pose a risk for air bag injuries if they are placed in the front seat. Therefore, they must be placed in the backseat only.
• Place children who have outgrown convertible safety seats but do not fit correctly with a lap/shoulder seat belt in a car booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
• Children under age 12 should ride in the backseat of the vehicle with a seat belt securely fastened.

After a disaster strikes, returning to your home can be an emotional experience. Unfortunately, if you’re not careful, it can also be a dangerous one. The disaster may have caused damages to your home that now present a safety hazard to you and your family. It is important that you properly inspect your home for potential hazards before you resume your life there.

Hazards to Look For

• Natural gas. If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound, open a window and leave immediately. Alert the gas company as soon as possible. Do not smoke or make use of any other items that have an open flame inside a damage house unless you are sure there are no gas leaks or other flammable materials present.
• Sparks and broken or frayed wires. Use a flashlight when first entering your home if you are unsure of the condition of your electrical system. Do not turn on any lights until you are sure they are safe to use. If you suspect damage to any part of your electrical system or if there is standing water in your home, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box if you can safely do so.
• Roof, foundation and chimney cracks. A close examination of your home’s structural integrity is very important. If you feel that there is a chance for collapse, leave immediately.
• Appliances. If appliances are wet or appear to be damaged, turn off the electricity running to them at the main fuse box and then unplug them. Check that they, and your electrical system, work properly before plugging them back in.
• Water and sewage systems. If any pipes are damaged turn off your water at the main valve. Check with local authorities before using any water for cooking or cleaning as it may be contaminated. If you are supplied by your own well have a sample tested before use. Also, make sure sewer lines are intact before using toilers.
• Food and other supplies.  Throw out all food and other perishable items that may have been contaminated. This is especially important when goods have come into contact with standing water.
• Clean up hazardous materials. Household chemicals, raw sewage and other hazardous substances that have spilled or leaked throughout your home need to be cleaned up as soon as possible. Make sure you take the proper care to protect yourself from the substance during this process.
• Call your insurance agent. Take pictures of damages before you begin cleanup and keep good records of repair and cleaning costs.

Fun in the sun is even better when you have a swimming pool in your backyard to stay cool on hot, summer days. Despite all the entertainment that a swimming pool offers, there are also homeowner liabilities. To help you minimize your risk, we’ve gathered some safety tips to keep you in the know as you swim.

Sink Swimming Pool Dangers

To Minimize Drowning Risks:

• Install safety fences around the pool with a locked latch and place a cover over the pool when you are not using it. This should deter unwelcome guests from entering your property and trying to swim.
• Always supervise welcome swimmers at all times.
• Do not allow swimmers to dive in shallow water.
• Keep lifesaving equipment near the pool and learn how to properly use it.
• Do not allow swimmers to horseplay in the pool.

As the homeowner, you are liable for the safety of all swimmers. To ensure that you can adequately protect people on your property, consider taking lifeguarding, CPR and first aid courses so you know what to do in an emergency. 

To Minimize Disease Risks:

• Keep the pool water properly filtered and chemically treated.
• Do not allow swimmers with open wounds or illnesses to go in the water.
• Do not allow babies to swim unless they are wearing swim diapers. Regular diapers do not provide protection in water and will not protect against accidents.
• Keep pets out of the pool.
• Before going in the pool, make all swimmers take a shower.
• Do not allow swimmers to drink pool water.

To Minimize Chemical Risks:

• Avoid over-shocking the pool; keep chemicals at the proper levels.
• Follow manufacturer’s instructions carefully when adding chemicals to the pool or filtration system.
• Keep pool chemicals stored and locked away, so they are out of children’s reach and those who may try and enter your property to use the pool without your permission.
• Store chemicals in a cool, dry place where they are away from fire hazards and lawn care products.

Helping you to avoid claims is just one of the many value-added services we provide. Call us today to learn more about all of our personal risk management solutions for your auto, home and life.

Sprinkler systems are not just for commercial buildings—they can also be installed in your home. While there are many different types of sprinkler systems, wet-pipe sprinkler systems are the most popular for installation in homes. This type of sprinkler system uses pipes that are constantly filled with water, waiting to be released. Because homes are generally heated during the winter months, homeowners don’t have to worry about frozen pipes. Luckily, wet-pipe sprinkler systems are less expensive than other types, are easy to maintain and even come with sprinkler heads that can be recessed into the ceiling discreetly to avoid interfering with the home’s décor.

Safety First

According to the Canadian Association of Fire Marshals, around 80 per cent of deaths caused by fires are because young children, seniors, and people with limited mobility are unable to escape in time. However, the risk of dying in a home fire is reduced by 80 per cent when a wet-pipe sprinkler system is installed.

Shortly after her 2012 wedding, Natalia Esparra received the news no new bride wants to hear—something went wrong with the memory card in the photographer’s camera and nearly all of the photos from the couple’s big day had disappeared.

Unfortunately, problems with wedding vendors happen more often than you think. When vendors go out of business, don’t show up or have problems with their equipment, it puts a damper on your celebration. Inclement weather and unexpected injury or illness to key people involved in the wedding are other calamities that leave you scrambling to find an alternate location, or in some cases, a completely new date for your wedding. This adds even more expense to a day that has already cost you a lot of money and time to plan.

Sometimes navigating a parking lot can feel like a free for all. In fact, even though a parking lot accident can affect your car insurance premium just as much as a road accident, it can be very difficult to determine who's at fault. In most parking lot accidents all drivers are considered to be equally at fault.

According to Identity Theft Canada, ID theft is one of the most common crimes occurring in Canada today. Once a victim of ID theft, you may spend an average of $1,500 and 175 hours to get your life back in order. Even though that statistic may be alarming, with a few safety precautions you can stay one step ahead of ID thieves with the following precautions.

Many people enjoy travelling to learn about new and different cultures, history and traditions. As a result, many Canadians seek out extreme adventures, with their destinations becoming more and more remote. As this type of travel increases, so does risk of kidnappings, muggings, hotel break-ins and other crimes around the globe. Knowing how to protect yourself is the first step in helping you have a safe trip, too.