Sweaters Aren't the Only Things That Can Get Ugly During the Holidays

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Dec. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Holiday "ugly" sweaters have grown in popularity in California and will likely make an appearance with the 83 percent of Americans who plan to party this season. A new Allstate poll indicates 54 percent of Americans will host holiday parties in their homes, and the large majority who attend parties say they take place at someone else's home. While Californians celebrate, Allstate provides reminders of historical holiday home hazards such as kitchen fires, decorative fires and theft, and helpful hints for customers and consumers who host parties this season.

"If there's one thing Californians like to do, it's celebrate holidays with friends and family," said Julio Gudino, an Allstate agency owner in Orange County. "Staying aware of potential hazards before the next 'ugly sweater' or other holiday party will help protect family and friends from costly home damages."      

Allstate reminds Californians to use extra caution, especially for claims that prevail here. In California, the top three most common holiday-related claims are:

1. Home Burglary
2. Theft from Locked Auto
3. Theft from Unlocked Auto

Allstate's Holiday Home Hazards poll found the vast majority (91 percent) of Americans agree they can reduce risks associated to fires, accidents or theft during the holiday season through their own attention and action. In California, fire claims increase by nearly five percent and theft claims increase by more than 12 percent during the holiday season[i]. Most Americans believe both fire and theft risks increase during the holidays, but a majority (63 percent or more) say aren't paying any more attention to these risks which could result in trouble during a busy time of cooking, decorating and hosting a holiday gathering.

Hosting Hazards:
Hosts should be aware that the likelihood of theft can increase over the holidays. It's wise to protect against unfortunate disappearances of valuables.

• Just one in five (22 percent) say they put away valuables before hosting a party.
• Nearly half (48 percent) say they have left a door unlocked for a friend or family member.
• Forty-six percent say they have hidden a key to their home for a friend or family member, a behavior that leaves the home too easily accessible for burglaries
• Nearly half (48 percent) say they've hidden valuables such as gifts in their car. Leaving valuables in a car can create an enticing opportunity for thieves to break-in.
• Seventeen percent of Americans say they've experienced a stolen or missing valuable when attending a holiday party

Protecting valuables is especially important during the holiday season given some of the most common precious items are also small in size and could go unnoticed:

Hasty Hors d'oeuvres: 
Food is the centerpiece of many holiday gatherings as hosts prepare decadent spreads for their guests, but remaining diligent in the kitchen will help prevent mishaps.

• Eighty-seven percent of holiday party hosts plan to do "lots of cooking" to prepare for their gatherings.
• Nearly half (44 percent) of survey respondents have left a stove or oven unattended during the holiday season. Unattended cooking could become dangerous without the host knowing.
• Another 44 percent of Americans don't keep fire extinguishers in their home to put out a fire when it erupts.

Allstate claims data shows hasty cooking during the holiday season is among factors that could lead to unfortunate outcomes for homeowners, condo owners, and renters:

Deck the Halls:
Hosting a holiday party often comes with festive home touches. Make sure to take proper safety precautions to avoid potentially costly and dangerous outcomes.

• In fact, about one-third (31 percent) of Americans light candles and one in five will light a fire in their fireplace (21 percent) during a holiday party hosted at their home.
• More than half (53 percent) say they haven't checked or changed their smoke detectors recently. Unchecked smoke detectors can cause people to miss important alarms when fire breaks out in a home.
• Forty-four percent of Americans with gas fireplaces haven't had it inspected within the last three years. Faulty gas lines and fireplace build-up can cause dangerous outcomes.
• Forty-three percent of Americans admit to plugging in too many lights into one outlet. This can lead to electrical malfunctions and even fires.
• About one-third (34 percent) have left candles and 17 percent have left fires unattended.

Allstate data indicates fires due to candles, fireplace and electrical mishaps are often significant losses:

See how holiday hazards can hit close to home and get more tips by visiting Allstate's Holiday Decorator, at www.allstate.com/holidaydecorator.

Survey Methodology
The survey of 1,036 American adults age 18+ was conducted November 2-5, 2014 via an online survey using a sample reflective of the American population. The survey was conducted by FTI Consulting, Inc. (FTI) for Allstate.

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation ALL is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In 2013, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $29 million to support local communities. Allstate employees and agency owners donated 200,000 hours of service across the country.

[i] Percentage increase in claims during the holiday season versus non-holiday season over a three-year period, November 15 through January 15, 2011-2014.

[ii] Based on Allstate claims data that was analyzed over the same three-year period, November 15 through January 15, 2011-2014.

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SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company