To make sure that you and all of your passengers arrive in time to get suited up for the puck drop, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada offers the following safe driving tips to avoid distractions while carpooling:

• Get lots of rest prior to tournaments or late games – being tired slows reaction times
• Be aware of road conditions and drive appropriately
• Program your GPS or bring directions, checking the map before you get in the car
• For long car rides, arrange to have activites for passengers to keep them occupied
• Be sure bulky equipement isn’t blocking your rear window or blind spots
• Make all vechicle adjustments such as the radio or climate controls before you leave the driveway
• Make sure all passengers are wearing their seatbelts properly
• Keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times
• Take rest stop breaks regularly to avoid last second requests or roadside stops

You should also check your insurance policy to be certain you have the appropriate coverage before offering to carpool.

For more information on distraction and safe driving tips or to arrange an interview with Saskia Matheson, Allstate’s official spokesperson, please contact:

Karen Nussbaum
Thornley Fallis Communications
(416) 515-7517, ext. 334 / (647) 294-3321
nussbaum@thornleyfallis.com

“Christmas can be a very risky time of year for break-ins. Thieves know there are more valuable items in the home and that the owners will be coming and going a lot. This makes it very important to secure your home properly during the holiday season – both before and after,” says Allstate spokesperson, Amy Woods.

Allstate Insurance Company of Canada wants to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season, and offers these security tips to help make sure the only one visiting your house is the big guy in the red suit. And he’ll be dropping off presents – not taking them.

• Avoid making your gifts visible through windows and exterior doors. Consider keeping blinds and curtains closed while you’re out.
• Don’t feed exterior extension cords through open windows or garage doors.
• Put away ladders and tools after installing decorations and lights. These items could be used to help thieves break into your home.
• If you’re heading out for the evening make it look like you are home by using a timer on your lights.
• If you’re going away over the holidays, your answering machine message shouldn’t tell people that you’re away from home – consider having a neighbour check the messages so your inbox doesn’t fill up.
• Arrange for a snowplow service to clear your walkways and driveway if you’re going away. Don’t let snow pile up outside your home – it signals that you’re not around.
• If you’re going on vacation, make sure you have someone pick up your mail and newspapers so they don’t pile up outside.
• Cut-up the boxes from your presents and put them in your recycling. Don’t advertise to thieves that you have a new stereo or TV in your home.
• Keep your home bright and deter thieves by installing security lights on the front and back of your house.

For more information or other suggestions for holiday security tips or to arrange an interview with an Allstate spokesperson, please contact:

Karen Nussbaum
Thornley Fallis Communications
(416) 515-7517, ext. 334 / (647) 294-3321
nussbaum@thornleyfallis.com

“There are simple steps you can take to ensure you and your family are safe and secure during the holidays,” says Tony Irwin, Allstate spokesperson. “By putting a few precautionary plans in place, people can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday casualty,” he adds.

Allstate wishes you and yours a safe and happy holiday season and offers the following safety tips to ensure a fire or other accident doesn’t spoil your holiday:

Picking your Christmas Tree…

• Select a tree that is fresh – this means all its needles are completely green.
• Test the needles – for spruce or pine, needles should bend, not break and be difficult to pull from the branches. For fir trees, needles should snap when bent. Also, look for a trunk sticky with sap.
• Make sure to cut off about two inches of the trunk – most tree farms or retailers will do this for you if you ask. This will help the tree absorb water.
• When you get the tree inside your home, make sure to use a sturdy tree stand and keep it regularly filled with water to maintain the tree’s freshness.
• Keep your tree away from any heat sources including fireplaces, radiators and baseboard heaters.

Decorating with Lights…

• Only use indoor lights inside and outdoor lights outside. They give off varying degrees of heat so it is very important to obey the directions.
• Go through each strand of lights and check for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections. Keep lights unplugged until you have changed the bulbs or made the necessary repairs.
• To avoid over-drawing power, plug no more than three light sets into one extension cord.
• Turn off all lights on trees and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Consider using a timer for outdoor lights.

Adding Tree Ornaments…

• Always use the proper step stool or ladder to reach high places.
• While pretty, DO NOT use lit candles on a tree or near any possibly flammable decorations.
• If you have small children or pets, place small or breakable ornaments on higher branches where little ones can’t reach them.
• Check that materials such as tinsel or garland are not resting on any tree lights as it could become a fire hazard.

For more information or other suggestions for holiday safety tips or to arrange an interview with Tony Irwin, Allstate’s official spokesperson, please contact:

Karen Nussbaum
Thornley Fallis Communications
(416) 515-7517, ext. 334 / (647) 294-3321
nussbaum@thornleyfallis.com