Top Vacation Safety Tips

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Ready for your vacation? Whether you plan to adventure in Tibet or laze about at the cottage, you’ll fully enjoy your time away if you know that you, your loved ones, and your home are safe. Here are our best safety tips for before and during your trip, so you can rest easy during your vacation. 

Secure your home before you leave

• Ask someone you trust to visit your home a few times while you’re gone. Give this person your contact information in case of emergency. If you have a smart lock, you can give them a temporary code so they can enter your home. 
• Set a timer to turn lights on and off at certain times to make it seem like someone’s home. Use a battery-powered timer, which retains its settings in the event of a power outage. You could also install smart light bulbs that you can control remotely using an app like Google Assistant or Helix Fi. 
• Don’t post your trip on social media, even if you really want to. Post your vacation photos when you come back! 

• Turn off water and gas, if applicable. 
• Unplug electronic devices to reduce the risk of power surges in the event of a power outage (and save money by reducing phantom power). 
• Ask someone to mow the lawn if you leave for an extended period of time—a neglected yard signals prolonged absence. 
• Close and lock all windows and use a stick to block easily accessible windows and patio doors. To become a “Master of Security,” unscrew cranks from the windows. 
• Keep an eye on Wi-Fi activity. Are your teens staying home during your vacation? You can see which devices are connected to your Wi-Fi network using the Helix Fi app. An unexpected number of simultaneously connected devices could indicate an impromptu party—you never know… 

Plan your trip like a pro

• Make sure your mobile device will work at your destination. In the United States, for example, 3G is no longer supported. Your device must have the VoLTE feature. 
• See Government of Canada travel advice for the risk level of a given country and what precautions to take, if any. 

• Get a portable first aid kit that you can take to the beach, the cottage, or on a hike. 
• Keep a list of the medications you take regularly. Your pharmacy can print one for you. Healthcare professionals will find it useful in an emergency. 

Encourage safety while on vacation

• Place address labels inside your luggage, not outside. Ill-intentioned individuals may see these labels and assume you won’t be home. 
• Prevent the loss or theft of your mobile device by following this helpful advice. 
• Follow safety rules at all times, even (and most importantly) when you feel completely secure! This includes doing things like wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle or ATV, wearing a floater vest when participating in water sports, and following road and water safety instructions. 
• Wear light clothing that covers the entire body to prevent insect bites. This advice is essential not only abroad, but also in Québec, since Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks that are widespread in the southern part of the province. 
• Avoid drinking tap water in areas where filtration systems are different from ours. If you stay at a cottage, water from an artesian or surface well could also cause you discomfort. Drink bottled water or, as an environmentally friendly alternative, buy a filter bottle. 

Make it safe and fun

Use these tips and you’ll be ready for anything. We want you to come back from vacation smiling, not stressed! Have fun!