Winter Safety

With the holidays approaching quickly, the last thing many of us think about is safety. It seems there’s just no time between shopping, gift-wrapping, baking, traveling, caroling and making merry. But, to ensure that your holidays are a time filled with peace and joy, take the time to pause and think about home and vehicle safety.

Home Safety Tips:

Get your furnace serviced regularly.  A furnace that isn’t serviced is one that may start a fire in your house. Contact a service company to so they can change the filter and check on the state of your furnace. By maintaining the quality of your furnace your home stays warm, you save money, and remain safe. The same goes for chimneys. Get them cleaned regularly and Santa will be able to come down to deliver presents safely!

Watch candles. Candles account for a multitude of fires during the holiday season. If you burn candles, put them in a safe place away from children, pets, and flammable material. Flameless candles and candle warmers are safe and fragrant alternatives to candles with an open flame.

Don’t overload electrical circuits. Yes, lights are beautiful and brighten up a holiday home, but too many plugs in one outlet can result in a fire. Try to minimize the amount of plugs you have in one outlet, or consider purchasing a surge protector. A few more things to look out for are holiday lights with frayed wires or anything else that might spark a blaze.

Keep all walkways ice-free.  Slips and falls can really bring a person down.  Make sure all walkways and stairs are cleared of ice. Shovel regularly and apply ice-melt, cinders, sand, or even cat litter to make surfaces less slick.

Auto Safety Tips:

Watch your speed. While this is good advice any time of the year, it’s especially important during winter driving conditions. Ice and slush on roads make it harder to stop; the slower the car is driving, the easier it will be to stop. Cars can also lose control easily on icy streets, so slower speeds mean more control if the car does happen to slip. Keep a good distance between your car and the car ahead of you to avoid collisions caused by weather conditions.

Four-Wheel Drive isn’t perfect. While four-wheel drive vehicles provide better traction and ease of travel, it doesn’t mean everything. When ice covers the road, stopping and good control still remain an issue. Drive according to the conditions of the road and don’t rely on four-wheel drive for safety. And remember, use it only as often as it’s needed. Using four-wheel drive on dry or wet roads can damage the vehicle.

Keep the tank full.  When road conditions are unfavorable, there is a chance that you could become stranded on the road. Make sure to keep your car’s tank full to provide heat in the event of a breakdown. Hypothermia is dangerous and deadly!

Pack emergency supplies.  Blankets and an extra pair of warm clothes, flashlights, a first-aid kit, a shovel, nonperishable foods, and water are just some of the items to have on hand in a vehicle

Check your tires.  Make sure that your tires have plenty of tread and proper air pressure to ensure better traction in the event of a snowstorm. Chains are also helpful to have in case the vehicle loses traction completely.  Some tire stores also sell studded tires specifically used for snowy driving conditions, but be sure to check your local state or county guidelines on when studs or chains may be used.

Follow these simple tips and your celebrations will stay merry and bright. From all of us here at Freeway Insurance, we wish you and your family the very best this holiday season.

By Jessica L. Degarmo