Keep yourself safe this summer

Take a look at our tips to help you keep your home and belongings safe while you’re making the most of the summer weather.

Stay safe around barbecues and fires

During the summer months, we often see an increase in fire claims. So, while you’re enjoying a barbecue or fire pit with your loved ones, it’s important to take care to avoid fire related incidents.

Take note of the weather. Grass and other plants could easily catch fire if it’s been particularly hot with little or no rain. Windy conditions are also dangerous as they could cause a small fire to spread.
Think about your location. Staying away from fences, sheds, trees, and grass could reduce the risk of an incident.
Don’t leave your fire unattended. Things can get out of control quickly, so always have someone watching your barbecue or fire.
Have a bucket of water ready. If things start to get out of hand, you can be prepared to put the fire out.

Pay close attention to children and pets. It’s important to keep them away from the flames or cooking area, so no one gets injured.
Dispose of everything responsibly. Barbecues, coals and ashes can stay hot for a long time and a glowing ember or stray spark could easily catch bins, bags or grass on fire.
Be aware of carbon monoxide. After the flames have gone out, your barbecue or fire can still give off fumes. That’s why you should never bring them inside or into an enclosed space.

Keep your home safe from burglars

We’ve put together some tips to help you keep your home secure, while you’re away from home this summer.

Invest in an alarm and make sure it’s working. A quality burglar alarm could act as a deterrent and stop anyone from thinking your home is an easy target.
Don’t leave valuables on display. Having your valuables on show, such as money, jewellery and electrical items, could encourage a burglar to enter your home.
Lock your sheds and keep your ladders out of sight. Cluttered gardens and accessible tools could give burglars an easy way to break into your house.

Check your doors and windows. Before you set off, make sure they’re shut and locked with any keys kept out of sight.
Don’t let people know your house is empty. Posting holiday pictures can let people know you’re not home. That’s why it’s best to wait until you get back to share them.

Protect your belongings while travelling

Usually, we take a lot of important things with us when we go on holiday. Here’s some tips to help you keep them safe and secure.

Find out about the area. Researching your destination, along with any common tourist scams, could help you stay safe while you’re away from home.
Padlock your luggage. Did you know that thieves usually go for the easiest target? Having a padlock on your luggage could be a great deterrent.
Don’t carry your valuables all in the same place. To minimise the impact if something gets stolen, why not divide your belongings between members of your party? If you’re on your own, try keeping them in different places, such as multiple pockets as well as your bag.

Don’t forget to use the safe. If your room has a safe, you can use it to keep your passport, valuables and important documents in.
Stay safe at the beach or pool. Think twice about bringing your valuables with you if you’re taking a dip in the water. Leaving them unattended could make it easy for someone to steal them.
Back up anything you don’t want to lose. By creating copies of your holiday photos and travel documents, you won’t lose them if your phone gets stolen.

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