Make Sure Your Holiday Decorations Are Safe To Use

Make Sure Your Holiday Decorations Are Safe To Use

Each year, holiday season fires in the United States claim the lives of more than 400 people, injure 2,600 more, and cause more than $990 million in damage. According to the United States Fire Administration, there are simple lifesaving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday. By following some of these precautionary tips, you can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty.

Christmas trees: When buying a live tree, make sure the needles are green. The needles should not break if the tree is freshly cut. If you bounce the tree on the ground and needles fall off, the tree is too dry and should not be used. When you put the tree up in your home, be sure to keep it away from heat sources. Don’t put it up too early, and don’t leave it up for more than 2 weeks. Always be sure that it has plenty of water. When you take the tree down, do not burn it in the fireplace. Recycle it or have it hauled away by a community pickup service.

Holiday lights: Before using your lights, inspect them for bare spots or frayed wires, and use only lights that a testing lab has approved. Be sure not to overload your circuits; the best way to do this is to avoid stringing together more than three strands of lights. And never leave your holiday lights unattended.

Holiday decorations: All such decorations should be flame resistant. Be sure to place them away from heat sources. You should not burn wrapping paper in your fireplace. Such a fire may throw off sparks or produce a chemical buildup that could cause an explosion.

Candles: Always place candles in steady holders where they can’t be easily knocked over, and do not go out of the house with candles burning. If you do use candles during the holidays, be sure to have a fire extinguisher nearby.

Smoke alarms: Each year at Christmas is an excellent time to change the batteries in your smoke alarm. If your smoke alarm is hardwired into the home’s electrical system, be sure that it is working.

Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI.

Copyright 2011
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.

The Weather Outside Is Frightful – So Is The Driving!

Cars may be safer than they were decades ago, and weather forecasting may be more accurate, but winter is still one of the most dangerous seasons for drivers on the road. “Most people don’t realize that the leading cause of death during winter storms is vehicular accidents,” notes EMC Senior Engineer Chris Murphy.

“Despite the technological advances, safe winter driving is still the same old story,” advises Murphy. “Prepare your vehicle for winter, take time to slow down, pack a survival kit and know what to do if you get stranded.”

Prepare Your Vehicle For Winter

Installing snow tires can have a significant impact on your vehicle’s ability to handle winter driving conditions. All-weather radials can be used effectively in areas that do not receive large amounts of snow or ice. Whether you have snow or all-weather radials, now’s the time to make sure they have adequate tread. While you have a mechanic check the tires, be sure he/she also checks other aspects of the vehicle, including your battery, antifreeze, brakes, wipers, defroster and lights.

Take Time To Slow Down

The rule of thumb is to allow a two-second following distance between the front of your car and the rear of the vehicle in front of you. In bad weather, add one additional second for every hazardous condition encountered.

Pack A Survival Kit

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends a safety kit be kept in each vehicle. FEMA suggests the kit contain a flashlight with extra batteries, a first-aid kit, several blankets, extra newspaper for insulation, a small shovel, bottled water, matches and booster cables.

Stay In Your Vehicle

If you become trapped in your vehicle during a blizzard, FEMA recommends you stay inside. Display a trouble sign by hanging a brightly colored cloth on the radio antenna and raising the hood. To keep warm, run the engine and heater occasionally, about 10 minutes each hour. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

“These are the basics,” says Murphy. For additional information on safe winter driving, he encourages policyholders to visit the following online resources:

•On The Job With Chris Murphy
•Winter Driving tech sheet
•More driving tips
•www.fema.gov
•www.cartalk.com
•www.nsc.org
•www.redcross.org

Cell Phones While Driving

Shun Those Cell Phones While Driving

More than 20 percent of injury crashes in the United States involve reports of distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of those killed in distracted-driving related accidents, 18 percent involved the usage of a cell phone. Another study indicates that using a cell phone while driving, whether it is a hand-held or hands-free device, delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent.

Cell phones, and particularly smart phones, are considered one of the leading driver distractions. As a result, more and more communities are placing restrictions on drivers’ use of cell phones. The following tips are offered to motorists with regard to cell phone use in vehicles.

You should wait until the car trip is complete before placing a call. Your cell phone’s voicemail feature should answer a call while you are driving.

Absolutely essential calls should only be performed while stopped. However, it is not wise to pull over on the side of the road where a rear-end collision is possible. Instead, you should pull into a parking lot to perform this task.

The phone should be placed where it is easy to see and reach.

You should take advantage of speed-dialing capabilities.

You should never drive and talk on the cell phone during stressful, emotional, or complex discussions since the risk of an accident is heightened.

You should consider using a hands-free cellular phone since some studies indicated that these are safer to use.

You should never text message while driving.

Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI.

Copyright 2011
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.

Hurricane Tips

Hurricane Tips
Loss control A Valuable Technical Information Page from Harford Mutual
21-2011
Hazards come in many forms when dealing with hurricanes. These include wind, heavy rain, storm surges and even tornadoes. It is important that your business plans ahead for the possibility of these hazards.
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane’s sustained wind. The scale estimates potential property damage. Category 1 and 2 storms are still dangerous and require preventive measures while “CAT” 3 and higher are major hurricanes with the potential for significant loss of life and property damage. The scale is as follows:
Category 1 Winds 74-95 MPH Very dangerous winds will produce some damage
Category 2 Winds 96-11 MPH Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage
Category 3 Winds 111-130 MPH Devastating damage will occur
Category 4 Winds 131-155 MPH Catastrophic damage will occur
Category 5 Winds > 155 MPH Catastrophic damage will occur
Here are a few items to help minimize damage to life and property. You can’t stop a hurricane but you can protect your business by following a few simple steps:
• Create a written emergency action plan in advance for your business!
• Create a communication plan with your employees. Make sure contact information is current.
• Contact your insurance agent to review coverages. Update emergency contact information with your agent.
• Photograph or videotape your business inside and outside before a hurricane. Maintain these records off premises.
• Maintain a list of vendors to help you in the recovery process.
• Assume the power will be off for an extended period of time. Consider installing a generator. NEVER use a generator inside of a building.
• Make multiple back-ups of computer fi les and data and store these off premises.
• Move all outside lawn furniture and trash cans inside when possible to prevent these from becoming fl ying objects in high wind which will cause property damage.
• Record a special voice mail if possible alerting customers on how they can reach your business.
• Be sure pagers, cell phones, and laptop computers and other electronics have new or fully charged batteries.
• For restaurants, consider turning refrigerators and freezers to their highest setting ahead of time.
• Put important documents in waterproof containers.
These are just a few general tips to help your business survive during a storm. You may think of more specific ones that relate to your own situation and location. But remember, it is best to have a plan in place before a storm arrives.
Hurricane Tips
• If located in a coastal location pre-determine safe evacuation routes.
• Buy food that will keep and store drinking water.
• Trim trees and shrubs so branches do not come in contact with your business.
• Move valuable equipment such as computers and furniture away from window areas.
• Lock all drawers and fi le cabinets.
• Unplug all electrical equipment in case of a power surge.
• If damage does occur to your business, limit access until the structures stability and general safety is known.
• Park company vehicles in safe, protected areas such as covered parking garages.

• Record a special voice mail if possible alerting customers on how they can reach your business.

• Be sure pagers, cell phones, and laptop computers and other electronics have new or fully charged batteries.

• For restaurants, consider turning refrigerators and freezers to their highest setting ahead of time.

• Put important documents in waterproof containers.

These are just a few general tips to help your business survive during a storm. You may think of more specific ones that relate to your own situation and location. But remember, it is best to have a plan in place before a storm arrives.

Tips to Avoid Stolen Vehicles

This Month’s Tip

Don’t Become an Auto Theft Victim

Every 30 seconds, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States. Using Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that annual property losses from these thefts are approximately $5 billion. Although technology and aggressive law enforcement actions have lowered the auto theft rate in recent years, you should still be cognizant of this loss exposure. The following tips may prove helpful in reducing the chances that your vehicle or property in it may be stolen.

• When temporarily leaving your vehicle, never leave it running or with the keys in the ignition.
• Always lock your car and roll up the windows, even if it is in your driveway. If you have a garage, park your car in it, and close and lock the garage door.
• Park in busy, well-lit areas.
• When purchasing auto stereo equipment, choose items that can be removed and locked in the trunk.
• When using valet parking or taking your car in for repairs, leave only the ignition key with the attendant.
• Turn your wheels sharply toward the curb when parking since this makes it extra difficult for thieves to tow the vehicle. Always use your emergency brake, and leave the transmission in park or in gear.
• Look into various antitheft devices for your auto. Ask about auto insurance discounts for antitheft devices, including alarms and window etchings.

Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI.

Copyright 2011
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.

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