It is an unfortunate reality that there continues to be people in our own city who will break into your home or business and steal your stuff.
Crime statistics
• A residential break-in happens every 90 seconds in Canada.
• More than 80% of break-ins occur during daylight hours.
• Most illegal entries are made by amateur burglars without the use of sophisticated tools.
• Most burglars enter through a basement or ground-floor door or window.
• Most burglars rely on concealment, speed and force to gain entry to a building.
Crime prevention tips
To best protect your home, look at it from a burglar’s perspective. What are the vulnerable parts? Burglary is almost always a crime of opportunity. Reduce your odds by taking some preventative steps.
Securing your premises
• Keep your shrubbery cut back so it doesn’t block windows and doors.
• Illuminate as much of your property as possible.
• Exterior doors should be solid, not hollow. Metal doors provide the best protection against forced entry.
• Use a fencing style that won’t conceal a burglar’s activities. Remember, if you can’t see out, others can’t see in.
• Secure any glass that is less than 100 cm or 40 inches from a door lock. Either coat exterior glass with an acrylic or polycarbonate to strengthen, or replace it with laminated or tempered glass.
• Install deadbolt locks.
• Place hinged security bars over windows.
• Pin sliding patio doors together when closed.
• Ensure that a burglar cannot access the roof from high trees or a ladder left outside.
There is no perfect deterrent, but, statistics show the chance of being broken into is significantly reduced if you have a 24-hour monitored alarm system. Alarm systems can also monitor smoke, fire, carbon monoxide and water leaks, getting help there sooner, minimizing damage and danger.
What not to do
• Don’t install a nameplate outside of your home with your full name. A burglar can use this information to find your number in the phone book and call to see if you are home.
• At home, especially after Christmas, the empty boxes on the curb reveal what wonderful new toys you have. .
• Do not post on social media that you are away on holiday, wait till you are back to post those beautiful holiday snaps.
• Don’t leave a note on the door or in the mailbox telling a family member that you aren’t home.
• Don’t leave spare keys in an obvious place such as the mailbox or under a door mat.
• Don’t leave cash and handbags in plain sight.
• Don’t leave any doors unlocked when you are at the other end of your home or in your yard.
Give us a call to review your Home Insurance to be sure you and your family are fully protected.
WORKPLACE ANXIETY & STRESS...
DID YOU KNOW...
One out of every 3 Canadians
describes themself as feeling anxiety or stressed out about work.
Many workers feel that their jobs are the
number one cause of anxiety and/or stress in their lives.
Studies show that work-related stress has a higher relation to health issues than family and financial problems.
Here are some early warning signs that signify red flags, alerting you to anxiety and stress on the job:
• Insomnia or fatigue • Feeling anxious or irritable • Muscle tensions or headaches • Upset stomach • Extremely sore back
• Apathy, loss of interest in work • Trouble concentrating • Social withdrawal • Using alcohol or drugs to cope
As early symptoms emerge, they can develop into more serious health complications such as depression and heart conditions.
Working in the cold!
To prevent injuries and illness as a result of winter weather, it’s important for employees to learn about the causes, symptoms and safety considerations to take so they are prepared to handle winter’s worst.
Causes of Cold Weather Injuries
Factors such as low temperatures, wind speed and wetness contribute to cold-induced injuries and illness.
• Exposed skin freezes in one minute at -29° C when the wind speed is eight kilometres per hour (km/h), and will freeze at 10° C if the wind speed is 32 km/h.
• When skin or clothing is wet, injury or illness can occur in temperatures above freezing (0° C).
• When the body is unable to warm itself, hypothermia and frostbite can set in, resulting in permanent tissue damage and even death.
Signs of Injury and Illness
If an employee has any of the following symptoms, they should get indoors and alert their supervisor or call for medical attention if the symptoms do not subside:
• Uncontrollable shivering
• Slurred speech
• Clumsy movements
• Fatigue
• Confused behaviour
• White or greyish-yellow area(s) of the skin
• Skin that feels “waxy”
• Numbness
It’s important to note that many people suffering from frostbite do not notice because the tissue is numb.
Safety Considerations
To reduce the risk of cold-induced injuries for employees, share this tips with them:
• Layer clothing to keep warm enough to be safe, but cool enough to avoid perspiring excessively.
It should also contain the following:
- Inner layer – a synthetic weave to keep perspiration away from the body
- Middle layer – wool or synthetic fabric to absorb sweat and retain body heat.
- Outer layer – material designed to stop the wind and allow ventilation, such as GORE-TEX®.
• Wear a hat. Almost 40 per cent of your body heat escapes from your head. If you wear a hard hat, add a winter liner that covers your neck.
• Place heat packets in gloves, vests, boots and hats to add heat to the body.
• Watch out for the effects of cold temperatures on common body functions, such as:
- Reduced dexterity and hand usage
- Cold tool handles reducing your grip force
- The skin’s reduced ability to feel pain in cold temperatures
- Reduced muscle power and faster exhaustion.
Talking to Teens About Drugs and Alcohol
Although it can be a difficult topic to broach, it’s important to talk to your teenager about drug and alcohol use. By establishing open communication in your household, you can help your child make wise decisions when confronted with these temptations.
Consider the following tips for talking to your teen about drugs and alcohol:
• Ensure open communication in your home. Your teen may be more willing to discuss uncomfortable topics if you have already established an environment of open communication.
• Listen when talking with your child. Show your child that you are interested in what they are saying and want to learn about their life.
• Create moments to talk one on one. Make a point to schedule time for you and your teen to talk, such as going for a walk, shopping or eating dinner together.
• Conduct family meetings on a regular basis. Hold regular meetings where family members can discuss what is on their minds and talk about any pressure that kids are facing at school.
• Act out example scenarios. To prepare your teen for potential peer pressure situations, act out various scenarios in your home.
• Encourage your teen. Throughout every aspect of their life, encourage your teen to be the best version of themselves and not let others influence their decisions.
• Be a helpful resource. Teens gather a lot of information about drug and alcohol usage from their peers. However, you can still be a beneficial resource for them by explaining why these activities are detrimental to their health and well-being.
For more information on how to keep your teen alcohol- and drug-free, visit www.drugfreekidscanada.org.