Home Safety Tips

Since insurance rates are determined by claims, preventing losses is in everyone's best interests.

By reducing hazards, you not only protect your property, you keep your family safe and you help to reduce or maintain insurance rates. At Westminster Mutual, we are concerned about the safety of our policyholders and their property. When you're a Mutual policyholder, you're an owner and you share in the financial success of your company, so preventing losses is to your benefit.

Use these tips to protect your family, home, farm or business:

Mutual Protect

Burglary

Fire Safety

Fire Prevention

Mutual Protect

Engravers and OPP stickers available at our office and brokers' offices

• Keep an up to date household inventory with serial numbers, purchase date, etc.
• Alarms: There are many effective systems available today. Both wireless and "hard wired" You could qualify for an alarm discount on your property policy!
• Locks: It's hard to beat good locks. Strong locks are harder to pick and take longer to force open.
• Lock sets: Look for heavy duty latch bolts with a dead lock, panic-proof inside knob, and non-rusting exposed parts.
• Handles Sets: One inch throw dead bolts are more burglar resistant.
• Dead bolts High quality one inch throw dead bolts have massive protection for cylinders that are clamped to the door. These features resist attack.
• Safety Locks: Simple one hole installation on exterior doors. Look for locks that clamp to the door with internal long length screws.
• Install inside key locks on your patio doors and lay a length of metal rod or wood in the sliding track.
• Neighborhood Watch: It's a mutual concept. Since your neighbours know who you are, how many are in your family, know your car, and your basic routine, they can spot trouble and call police. You can do the same for them. If the whole neighbourhood participates everyone feels more secure.

More Tips:

• Use your locks.
• Be extra careful where you hide spare keys.
• Have a good lock on your garage door.
• Keep ladders locked inside the garage.
• Keep tools and equipment locked in the house if possible.
• Keep tempting valuables away from windows.
• Adequately insure your home and contents.
• Have adequate exterior lighting.
• Secure Basement windows.
• Install wide angle viewers for exterior doors.
• To find out more about avoiding theft ask your police department.

How to Prevent Home Burglary

Criminals have no respect. They break windows. Kick in doors. Steal your most prized possessions.

Your police department does everything in their power to prevent burglaries. But part of the responsibility to prevent theft is yours.

• Think like a thief.
• Consider places where entry can be gained. Look for weaknesses such as milk boxes, exhaust fans, and air conditioning openings. Some older homes have old coal or wood chutes blocked with a thin piece of wood. Are they secure??
• Burglars can use ladders, trash bins, trellises, TV towers, and low roofs to reach second storey windows. Don't give them the chance.
• Keep your home looking "occupied". Always make your house look as though someone is home. Place lights on timers when you are away. Keep a radio playing. Don't leave notes to friends or delivery people that tell burglars you are not at home. Don't let your answering machine message give you away.
• Vacation time - cut off mail and newspaper delivery or ask a neighbour to collect them. Arrange for someone to cut your lawn or shovel your snow.
• Valuables - keep cash, jewelry, stocks and savings bonds in a safety deposit box at your bank, trust company or credit union. Mark your social insurance number (or licence plate number) on sound and video equipment with an engraver or special ink. Your police department can help with this.

Fire Safety

• Practice a home fire drill.
• Discuss the escape plan with your family.
• Smoke alarms are an excellent early warning system. There are two types on the market - ionization and photoelectric. Both are effective.
• Choose only smoke alarms that are tested and rated by Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (U.L.C.)
• Locate alarms on each level of your home, especially on the hallway ceiling near the sleeping areas. Don't place them too close to cooking areas, in the garage, or near vents.
• Maintain units by testing batteries monthly and replacing weak ones immediately.

Fire Extinguishers, although not designed to fight full-scale fires, are excellent for putting out small fires that have just started. Everyone in the house, except for the smallest children should know how to use them.

• B/C type fire extinguishers are to fight grease and electrical fires.
• A, B and C extinguishers are the multi-purpose type, for fighting paper, wood, grease and electrical fires.
• Locate extinguishers on each level of your home. Keep one in the kitchen, not too close to the stove. Don't forget the garage, workshop, basement, camper and vacation home.
• Maintain extinguishers by checking them monthly to be sure each unit is holding its charge.
• We recharge fire extinguishers free for our policyholders.
• Because your family comes first!!

Cooking Fires: Prevention and Treatment

• Pay attention to your cooking. Don't overheat grease. Watch for grease overflows that can start fires. If you have to leave the stove to answer the phone or doorbell, turn down the heat. If you'll be gone more than a few minutes, turn it off.
• If your children help you cook, make them aware of cooking hazards. Turn skillet and hot handles toward the centre of the stove to prevent accidental overturning.
• Don't leave towels or napkins on or near the stove. Don't wear frilly garments - especially those with loose, floppy sleeves - while cooking.
• Keep a Class ABC fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen. An ABC rating indicates the fire extinguisher can be used on fires involving grease, paper towels, electrical appliances, and other materials commonly found in the kitchen.
• If the grease fire is small, you may be able to stop it with a handful of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda). But don't use baking powder, which contains flour or starch and could spread the fire. And never use water on a grease fire; it also increases the chance of this type of fire getting out of hand.
• Always have the pot lid handy to smother a small grease fire.
• Don't try to move or carry a pan in which there is a grease fire. Even though moving the pan is a common reaction when a grease fire is discovered, it often results in burns to the carrier and additional fire damage.
• If a fire is a big one, don't try to fight it. Call the fire department.

Fire Prevention

• Clean up - get rid of trash and rubbish.
• Replace worn wiring. Use only 15-amp fuses unless the circuit is specifically designed for a larger one.
• Make sure all electrical equipment is CSA approved. Do not use ordinary electrical equipment in wet areas, and guard against breakage/contact with combustible materials.
• Is your pump on a separate, dependable electrical circuit?
• "No Smoking" signs in hazardous areas.
• Fire extinguishers - have the right extinguisher in the right place. Inspect them frequently and have them recharged when necessary.
• Petroleum products - underground storage is best, but store at least 40 feet from any other building.
• Refuel equipment outdoors, away from open flames and sparks - shut motor off and cool before refueling.
• Keep cistern (and stock pond) safely full for fire fighting & accessible to fire apparatus at all times of year.
• Check lightning protection and grounding - check TV antenna stability and grounding.
• LP gas ("bottled" gas) cylinders should be securely fastened to a firm support and resting on a solid foundation, away from windows and basement openings.
• Chimneys - keep in good repair - especially in attic areas. Bracket supports are not approved. Rusty or pitted smoke pipes must be replaced and supported by approved metal thimbles when passing through walls and ceilings. Stoves and heaters must be kept away from walls, furniture and other combustible material. Have the chimney cleaned professionally and regularly .