Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Mr. T in DC via Flickr

Men treasure their smartphone more than family photographs - survey

A new poll found that if the house was burning down, most men would grab their mobile before the family album. But what else was on the list?

IRISH MEN WOULD be more likely to save their mobile phone from a house fire than an album of family photographs, a survey has found.

The poll carried out by AA Home Insurance asked more than 12,000 people which one item they would grab if their home was burning down. Just over 18 per cent of males would hang on to their ‘portable electronic device’ – such as a smartphone, laptop or tablet computer. Only 8.7 per cent would reach for a personal photograph, family album or home movie.

Women were much less bothered about their personal gadgets, with 17.5 per cent picking the family album against just 10.4 per cent for the mobile phone.

Overall, private paperwork topped the survey, with 35.7 per cent saying birth certificates and other legal documents would be their first priority. Some 22.6 per cent went for their wallet or handbag. Just over five per cent of women said they would grab an item of jewellery, while the figure for men was just 1.6 per cent.

In Donegal, 11 per cent of people said they would reach for cash stashed in the house before anything else. The equivalent figure in Dublin was just 5.1 per cent.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
6 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin
    Favourite Kevin
    Report
    Jul 24th 2011, 2:59 PM

    So the money is in Donegal.

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cpm
    Favourite Cpm
    Report
    Jul 24th 2011, 3:06 PM

    Most of my photos are digital and in the cloud so there would be no album to grab.

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute dannymcgee
    Favourite dannymcgee
    Report
    Jul 24th 2011, 4:24 PM

    woah, a family album, you are so old skool journal :P

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane Bresnan
    Favourite Jane Bresnan
    Report
    Jul 24th 2011, 7:57 PM

    Most of my family photos are on a device, or online. Plus, how will i call the fire brigade without the phone? Anyone seen a callbox these days? Silly poll.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lydia Morgan
    Favourite Lydia Morgan
    Report
    Jul 24th 2011, 11:50 PM

    I wouldn’t know where to find my birth cert in a fire, it would be the last thing I would think of, grab the phone and run !

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Christine Klein
    Favourite Christine Klein
    Report
    Jul 25th 2011, 5:18 PM

    i would take my daughter, 5, first of course! and then…..my macbook i guess…… ;-)

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.