Winter Holiday Safety Tips

Whether you’re planning to stay home, travel by car, or hit the road in your RV, implementing some safety practices beforehand will ensure you have the best winter holiday possible!

Here are some safety reminders to help keep things merry and bright this holiday season:

If you’re staying at home this season

• • • Know how to prepare for winter weather events.
    • Check that your carbon monoxide detectors, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and first aid kit are in good working order.
    • If you live in an apartment or condo, refresh your memory about where the fire alarms and emergency exits are located. Review and, if needed, update your emergency evacuation plan.
    • Reduce tripping hazards and ensure that wires or extension cords don’t run under carpets or furniture.
    • Position your tree away from high-traffic areas, doorways, heating sources, stoves, fireplaces, and burning candles. Check that your lights are certified by CSA, ULC, or C-UL for indoor use. If using a natural Christmas tree, keep it moist by feeding it up to 4 litres of water daily.
    • Keep breakable or sharp tree ornaments, as well as candles, matches, and lighters, out of the reach of children and pets.
    • Ensure that batteries are correctly handled and disposed of safely. Do not mix different brands of batteries (even if they are listed as having the same voltage), old batteries with fresh ones, or rechargeable batteries with non-rechargeable ones. Keep batteries away from metal (such as coins or keys) and pockets, purses, or bags.
    • If entertaining at home over the holidays:
    • Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party wraps up.
    • Be prepared to pay (in cash) to send your guests home by taxi if needed. Have the taxi contact information readily available.
    • Turn off all holiday lights and extinguish any candles before going to bed or leaving home.

For additional ideas on security, food safety, and emergency planning, check out these recommendations from the RCMP, Health Canada, and the Canadian Red Cross.

If you’re travelling by car

• • • Use winter tires; if necessary, be prepared to use tire chains.
    • Pack a winter emergency car kit that includes blankets, road flares, a candle (and lighter/waterproof matches), a small fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, a flashlight, snowbrush and scraper, a small shovel, jumper cables, seatbelt cutter, and sand or kitty litter. Comprehensive winter emergency road kits can be readily purchased from box stores and online.
    • Keep extra food and water (in non-glass containers to prevent breakage if the water freezes), warm clothing, and a fully charged backup battery for mobile phones. A portable wind-up emergency weather radio will help inform you about weather and traffic conditions.
    • Avoid using cruise control in icy, wet, and snowy road conditions.
    • Transport Canada has some helpful advice for driving safely in winter.
    • Ensure you have emergency roadside assistance insurance and the contact information is readily accessible. Explorer RV Club members have exclusive access to purchasing RV Emergency Roadside Service, which provides 24/7 roadside assistance for RVs and other vehicles in Canada, the USA, and Mexico. Ensure your automobile is also registered for coverage (in addition to your RV).
    • If you plan to travel outside your home province this season, remember that medical expenses incurred out of province may not be covered by your provincial medical plan. Do your homework on the types of coverage available, especially if you or your family members have any pre-existing medical conditions or are over age 65. Many Explorer RV Club members have benefited from tapping into emergency medical insurance provided by TuGo.

If you’re travelling in your RV in winter conditions
If you find yourself travelling in your RV en route to southern climes or experiencing RVing in the winter, key considerations include:

• • • To the extent possible, avoid travelling during a snowstorm – wait for the weather to clear.
    • Have a detailed itinerary, know your route, and have a backup plan if you need to stop for the weather to clear.
    • Ensure you have the proper tires and snow chains/socks (if required).
    • Drive safely – slow, smooth, and gentle – and you know how to navigate hills in snowy conditions.

Here are some additional tips from Harvest Host about driving your RV in winter. (Explorer Club RV members receive a discount for their Harvest Host memberships.)

Staying healthy over the holidays
Regardless of where you plan to spend the holidays, it’s also important to ensure everyone stays healthy and to have plans in place should illness or accidents occur.

• • • It’s flu season! Do what you can to protect yourself and others from getting the flu, including getting a flu shot. If you are ill, prevent spreading it to others.
    • COVID-19 is still with us, and updated vaccines are now available.
    • Increased numbers of cases of RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) have also been reported this year.
    • If you or your family members have special needs, this emergency preparedness guide may be valuable.

Pet safety during the holidays
It’s sometimes easy to forget to plan for the safety of our furry and feathered family members during the holiday season. Christmas decorations, people’s food, intoxicants, and decorative plants can cause serious injury or death to pets. Here’s a checklist of actions to keep your pets safe during the holidays.

Investing some time before your holidays to prepare for emergencies and unplanned events will provide an excellent payout for a hassle-free and relaxing festive season! Enjoy!