How to be safe, not sorry this festive season
Make sure your Christmas is a merry one by following this sound advice.
AT this time of year when thoughts turn to Christmas trees, festive feasts and pretty pressies, it is easy to lose sight of important safety precautions.
Leigh Myburg, personal lines manager at GIS Insurance Brokers cc, has this helpful advice to offer:
Security
Security systems in most homes rely on electricity for power. In the absence of an electrical supply, electric fences become totally ineffective and alarm systems default to battery backup.
The problem is that even fully charged and functional batteries have a limited lifespan and in the event of lengthy outages end up providing no protection.
Of course, most batteries are operating at less than full capacity and may fail earlier than expected. We thus urge everyone with alarms to check their batteries regularly.
In addition, you should also make sure that your home is secured by physical means. Security gates, windows and unprotected doors should be closed so that the building is secure (while ensuring that there is adequate ventilation!)
Power Surges
When power is restored following an outage, there may be a surge that can damage appliances and electronic goods.
This can result in great cost and inconvenience. Here, we urge everyone to install proper surge protection on their distribution boards.
These are inexpensive, typically costing a few hundred rand. They should be installed by a qualified electrician.
If you don’t have surge protection, unplug all your appliances and devices to protect them from the possible surge when the power comes back on.
Fire Hazard
Power outages can indirectly also increase the level of fire hazard in the home. These could arise from numerous sources, such as using candles, petrol and generators, paraffin or gas for illumination and cooking.
We suggest that battery powered illumination be the first choice. Gas for cooking is the best choice as long as all manufacturer directions are followed.
If you have a generator it should be professionally installed and fuel managed according to instructions. Importantly, if your generator is simply back-supplying into your distribution board via a socket, you will be breaching municipal by-laws and this could create issues in the event of a claim. It is also important that a fire extinguisher be at hand at all times.
