CAA Saskatchewan has you covered with very seasonal advice to help keep you and your family safe, whether you’re staying home, or travelling during the holidays.

Home for the Holidays Safety Advice:
•    Christmas Trees: If you’re setting up an artificial tree, check to see that it’s “fire resistant.” Live trees should always be kept fresh and moist. Keep all trees away from fireplaces, heaters, and other heat sources.
•    Holiday Lights: Please inspect for broken, frayed, or loose connections and toss out damaged sets. Turn off all holiday lights when going to bed or leaving the house. Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into ground fault circuit interrupters.
•    Indoor Decorations: Should not be left near lights, candles, heaters, and fireplaces. Candles should be placed in non-combustible containers. Never leave burning candles unattended.
•    Christmas Gifts: It’s a safe idea to keep packaging of pricey gifts out of sight to prevent window shopping by burglars. Keep watch for any suspicious behaviour in your neighbourhood and report any questionable observations to the proper authorities.
•    Family Safety: Keep matches and lighters out of sight and reach of children. Do not leave cooking or baking unattended. Have the chimney and furnace professionally cleaned and inspected. The carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms must be properly installed and in good working condition.

Away from Home for the Holidays Safety Advice:
•    Newspapers & Mail Delivery: Suspend delivery and arrange for someone to pick up your mail or contact the service to store it until your return.
•    Social Media: Show discretion, never letting potential burglars know that you’re not home.
•    Doors & Windows: All doors and windows must be properly shut and locked. For sliding doors, use specially designed bars or locks to prevent doors from being lifted out of their tracks. Consider installing security bars on basement windows especially on windows that may be shielded from view or in the back of the house.
•    Timers: Use for lights and the TV or radio.
•    Water Supply: Turn it off and drain water lines and toilet tanks.
•    Check the Water Pipes: Have someone enter your home and check on things daily to ensure the pipes have not frozen. This is a requirement of most insurance policies during the winter months.
•    Make Your Home Look Lived In: Ask a neighbour to shovel snow around your driveway and sidewalks. Encourage neighbours or friends to use your driveway so it looks like someone is coming and going on a regular basis. Leave blinds or curtains in normal position – don’t close them completely. If you notice signs of forced entry when you return home, do not go inside. Call the police from a neighbour’s home or use your mobile device, from a safe distance.
•    Garage Door: Close and lock the door and keep your vehicle locked, especially if it has an electric garage door opener.
•    Home Insurance Advice: Make sure your home insurance is up to date and that it will provide coverage for your belongings. Advise your insurance broker of any changes required for major purchases or renovations. CAA Insurance has a Property Checklist that can be used to create a list of personal belongings along with their replacement value. In the event of a claim, the checklist provides valuable information when settling your claim with an adjustor.

Jetting Away for the Holidays Safety Advice:
•    Booked Flights: Check these frequently as flight cancellations and delays are likely during peak periods. Before driving to the airport, check the flight status to avoid airport waiting periods.
•    Know Your Airline’s Cancellation Policy: Some airlines may be waiving fees and issuing changes due to possible rebooking policies.
•    Monitor Weather Conditions: For the departure and destination cities.
•    Travel Insurance: If you’re leaving the province or country, purchase travel medical insurance to stay safe on your vacation.
•    Got ID: Make sure that you have proper photo identification and that your passport is up to date and is valid for the time required by the country or countries visited. Make photocopies of your passport, credit cards, etc. and leave a copy at home with family or friends and keep a photocopy with you along with the originals stored in a separate location.
•    Medications: Pack any medications in their original containers and store in your carry-on bags.
•    Weigh Your Packed Luggage: To avoid additional airline charges.
•    Travel With Someone You Trust: Book with CAA Travel and stay connected with your local CAA Travel consultant for their knowledgeable assistance and expertise.
•    Know Your Air Passenger Rights: CAA has long been an advocate for your rights as a traveller and we have your back. Learn more at caask.ca/airpassengerrights.

Road Trip Holiday Safety Advice:
•    Check Weather and Road Conditions: Before you travel, drive according to the current conditions. Be prepared to reduce your speed. Allow extra time to reach your destination safely.
•    Get Information On Highway Conditions: Including road closures, constructions zones, ferries and border crossings on the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline. Download the new app.
•    Slow to 60 km/h on Saskatchewan Highways: For emergency or first responders including tow truck operators, law enforcement, and paramedics. Slow down move over if possible.
•    See and Be Seen: Before sunrise, after sunset and in harsh weather, you get what are known as phantom vehicles. These are cars that are virtually invisible from behind because their rear lights aren’t on. For cars lacking an automatic option, keep your headlights on when driving.
•    Watch For Snow Plows: The blue lights are on whenever the plow is engaged in winter activity. This can include surveying, sanding, salting, plowing, etc. Learn how to drive near snow plows.
•    Check Your Vehicle’s Battery and Block Heater: Extreme weather weakens the battery and may require charging. Make sure the block heater cord is not frayed. Always plug in at minus 15 degrees Celsius.
•    Pack a Roadside Safety Kit: Including extra outdoor clothing, footwear, a mobile phone with charger for emergency use only or for CAA Roadside Assistance, non-perishable food, drinking water, a shovel, window ice scraper and brush, plus booster cables. Roadside safety kits are available at all CAA Stores. If you become stranded, please stay in your vehicle as it provides temporary shelter until help arrives.
•    Keep a Full Tank or At Minimum a Half Tank: This helps reduce moisture in the gas tank plus it adds weight to your vehicle.
•    Winter Tires: CAA recommends a good set of winter tires as the rubber compound in winter tires allows for better traction and control.
 
For further information or media interviews, contact:
Christine Niemczyk
Director of Communications
CAA Saskatchewan 
306.791.4327
christine.niemczyk@caask.ca