Playing with fire - more than half of Canadian homeowners lack a fire escape plan
RBC Insurance and Fire Prevention Canada team up for Fire Prevention Week
TORONTO, October 1, 2008 — While virtually all
insured Canadian homeowners have smoke alarms, only 56 per
cent of insured Canadian homeowners have a fire escape plan.
This is according to a recent RBC Insurance/Ipsos Reid poll
which also found that more than half (51 per cent) of those
with a fire escape plan have never practiced it.
"It's great that Canadians are recognizing the need
for smoke alarms in their homes, but it's troubling that so
many homeowners don't have a plan in place if a fire erupts,"
said Francois Boulanger, president & CEO of RBC General
Insurance Company. "Outlining and practicing a fire escape
plan with your entire family is a simple and easy way to protect
their well-being and reduce the fear associated with a house
fire."
The RBC Insurance survey confirms that eight in ten homeowners
list fire as their primary reason for obtaining home insurance.
Additionally, almost one-third of Canadian homeowners (29
per cent) do not have a fire extinguisher in their home.
Fire Prevention Canada statistics reveal that 78 per cent
of deaths from fire occur in the home, with most fatalities
taking place while occupants are asleep. "Our schools,
hospitals and other public buildings have detailed escape
plans and rehearse them regularly. But we need to get into
the same mindset in our homes," added Boulanger.
RBC Insurance and Fire Prevention Canada have also announced
a joint partnership to kick off Fire Prevention Week with
a $15,000 donation to assist with fire education and safety
activities.
"We thank RBC Insurance for their contribution and support,"
said David Hodgins, president of Fire Prevention Canada. "The
results of the survey confirm the need for our awareness programs
and solidify our resolve of disseminating the fire prevention
message to every Canadian. Fire spreads very quickly. Without
a proper fire escape plan, precious time will be lost in attempting
to escape. It will cost lives."
Fire Prevention Canada and RBC Insurance will launch Fire
Prevention Week with a special event celebration at the Barney
Dawson Theatre in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa on Thursday
October 2, 2008 at 10 a.m. Fire Prevention Week runs from
October 5 through to October 11.
To highlight Fire Prevention Week and assist in fire safety,
RBC Insurance will be providing free smoke alarms, without
purchase, at its retail insurance branches. Customers can
visit their local RBC Insurance branches to receive a free
smoke alarm along with personal insurance advice on how to
safeguard their property and valuables with a home insurance
policy.
For more information on fire safety tips and how insurance
can protect your home in the event of a fire, visit www.rbcinsurance.com/firesafety.
About this survey
These are the findings of an RBC Insurance/Ipsos Reid survey
conducted between August 5 and August 8, 2008. The poll was
based on a randomly selected sample of 2,000 adult Canadians
who were interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size,
the results are considered accurate to within ±2.19
percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would
have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled.
The margin of error will be larger within regions and for
other sub-groupings of the survey population. The data was
statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and
age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population
according to the 2001 Census data.
About RBC Insurance
RBC Insurance, the largest Canadian bank owned insurance group
of companies, through its legal operating entities, RBC General
Insurance Company, provides a wide range of life, health,
travel, home, auto and reinsurance products as well as creditor
insurance services to more than five million North American
customers. Its fast growing home and auto insurance business
offers Canadians a comprehensive range of personal home and
auto insurance products through direct sales channels, including
over the phone, the Internet and retail insurance branches,
as well as through group insurance plans. RBC Insurance also
offers a premier claims service, available 24/7 to help clients
when they need it most. For more information, please visit
www.rbcinsurance.com.
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Media contacts:
Kerry Gaetano, (905) 816-5583, kerry.gaetano@rbc.com
Margie McNeil, (905) 606-1425, margie.mcneil@rbc.com
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