Holiday Hazard- out of town guests

Host Out of Town Guests Safely

  Ok- you said "Yes" to hosting Christmas this year. Eeeek!
Now take a breath and make a plan. There is a lot to consider when you have out of town guests. Menus, activities and SAFETY! You want to make sure this special time with the aunts, uncles and grandparents isn't messed up by having to rush someone to the hospital.
   Before your guests arrive, look around your house from their point of view. Look for potential hazards ahead of time.  If young children are coming, is your home child proofed? Make sure lighters, matches and any chemicals are out of reach. How about medication? You may to change where you keep your meds. Or if you have children and your guests bring in medication, you need to give them a safe place to keep their things out of your children's reach. Is there a medicine cabinet for medication? a dresser to keep purses on?
   If older Grandparents are coming, where are they sleeping? Can they walk the stairs - or do they need a downstairs bedroom? Hallway night lights are inexpensive and can help insure a safe walk to the bathroom or kitchen in the middle of the night.  Bathtubs and Showers can be dangerous for anyone. Consider putting in non-slip mats in the guest bathrooms.
   Have emergency numbers handy in case of an accident. Make sure your guests know where to find them in case you are the one injured. We keep ours on the side of the refrigerator.
Hopefully you enjoy your time with out of town guests. If not, consider suggesting a near by hotel...
Either way, a little bit of pre-planning can insure everyone's safety during this Holiday Season! 



 

Holiday Hazards-Decorating Safely

Decorating without Burning the House Down

Each year, fires occurring during the holiday season claim the lives of more than 400 Americans, injure 1,650 more, and cause more than $990 million in damage.
   Candle-related fires are one of the most common holiday home hazards, averaging more than 12,000 each year. So make sure you keep those Advent and Chanukah  candles away from flammable items and blow them out when you leave the room.
   Another  indoor fire hazards this time of year is the Christmas Tree. You want to place the tree at least three feet from any heat source, such as the fire place, a radiator or candles. If you have a an artificial tree, make sure the box is labeled or certified by the manufacturer as Fire-retardant. If you have a real tree, remember a moist tree is less likely to catch fire than a dry one. When selecting your tree, check to see if the needles fall off when touched- this indicates a dry tree. To keep it moist, keep water in the tree stand and check it daily. 
   One of the biggest fire hazards is the fire place. Everyone loves a roaring fire when it is cold out. But it can cause horrible damage if proper care is not taken. Be careful that you hang those stockings with care! Make sure your damper is open and cover your fireplace with a screen or grate. Again- curb that temptation to put the tree next to the fire place. It will make a lovely picture, but the consequences can be deadly. On Christmas morning, grab a garbage bag to throw the wrapping paper in. Tossing it into your fireplace can create enough sparks and embers to start a fire outside the fireplace. 
Decorations help us feel festive during this wonderful time of year. But let's decorate with safety in mind!

   If you do have a fire, get your family out of the house and call 911. Call you insurance company once everyone is safe.

If you have questions about your Homeowner's Insurance, 
please contact us at  The Brockman Agency  or call toll free 877-987-8683

Holiday Hazards- kids and decorating

Holiday Decorations can be 

Hazardous to Your Kids!

We all know kids are attracted to shiny baubles. And Holiday Decorations are full of shiny baubles.
Let's start with the Christmas Tree. If you have toddlers in the home, try to keep the lights and ornaments up higher. They love to grab at things and the tree poses a tipping- over risk. And they love to put things in their mouth. Smaller ornaments low on the tree are a choking hazard  for little ones.
Decorations can pose all types of hazards. Hanukkah and Christmas candles need to be kept out of reach. Tablecloths are a temptation for little hands who like to pull on things. Broken glass/plates, falling hot food and candles are a few of the posibilites. Keep greenery out of reach as well. While Poinsettias are not poisonous, as many believe, Mistletoe berries ARE.
Those wrapped presents are very pretty, but they are choking hazards. Also it is fun to play in those styrofoam peanuts, but they are also just small enough for little ones to put in their mouth.
If you have children under feet in the kitchen, take extra care when moving hot pans, opening the oven or cooking over burners. Our little ones do not know the dangers, but we do.
Keep those babies safe this Holiday Season!

Read a great article to learn more at parenting.com 

Holiday Hazards- dogs vs Chocolate

Dogs and Chocolate is a Dangerous Combination!

Theobromine, a compound present in chocolate that is toxic to dogs but not humans, could cause a range of symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea, seizures, coma, or even death. Potential toxic doses vary by breed size and weight, but unsweetened cocoa and baking chocolate pose the highest risk, while milk chocolate is least threatening. If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic amount of chocolate, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Centerat 888-426-4435.

Thanks to  This Old House  for this great tip!

Safeguard ALL of your loved ones this season!

Researching Neighborhoods

Research the Neighborhood 

Before You Buy That New Home.

  You have found your dream home. It has a wrap around porch, a lake view and a large open kitchen with windows spanning the entire back of the house. Ok- that is MY dream house. Yours may be different. But either way, you found it. Now comes the decisions. Will it fit your budget? How much will the insurance be? Is it close to family or your job?
But another consideration is the neighborhood the home is in.
Why does that matter? Many factors can cause you to love or hate your neighborhood.
Who lives there? Are there kids in the neighborhood? While this would be a positive factor for some, it would be negative for others. What is the commuting distance for you? Is there shopping, exercise and leisure amenities near? Are these even important to you?
The quality of the neighborhood is important because it will impact your home's appreciation or resale value. Is there a Diverse economy? Communities depending almost entirely on one industry or factory for jobs is a risky neighborhood, economically speaking.
Neighborhood statistics are a good resource. Take a look at Crime, school district ratings, employment data, median income and education levels.
There are many ways to research a neighborhood. The internet is the most convenient way. You can also check out the local library, chamber of commerce and the local newspaper. Visit the neighborhood. Talk to the residents. No one knows a neighborhood better than the people who live there. Ask them about the schools, amenities, crime and local government.
Buying that dream house is a big decision. Do the research. Make sure it is a decision you are happy to live with for years to come.

Questions about your Home or Auto Insurance?
Visit The Brockman Agency or call us toll free 877-987-8683

Home Renovation

Avoid the Risks of Do It Yourself Renovations.

    With today’s economy, many people are going the Do It Yourself route on home renovations.  These people, often trying to save money, are taking on projects and risks they are not able to handle competently. Risky projects involving electrical wiring or complicated plumbing, should definitely be handled by certified contractors. Yes, they will cost more money in the short term, but could literally save your family’s life in the long run.

   What about just sprucing up that paint or putting up new wallpaper? That can’t be too hard, right?     If you have a good eye and a steady hand, you can probably paint and wall paper easily enough.

But there can be issues with hazardous materials in the DIY project. Lead can be an issue with older homes. While it is no longer used, lead based paint was common as recently as 1978. Before we knew how harmful it could be, lead was used in paint, gas, water pipes and other products.  You can be exposed to harmful effects if lead based paint isn’t removed properly. Scraping, sanding or burning of lead based paint can harm you and your loved ones. Learn how to safely remove lead based paint.

     Approximately 25% of household fires occur during renovation and repair projects. Water damage can be caused by vibrations from construction work. Poor workmanship can cause water pipes to leak or burst, costing you even more.  If you insist on doing this project yourself, please follow these Safeguards from the EPA. If you are not doing it yourself, make sure you find a Certified Renovations/lead dust technician in your area.   

    Be careful when hiring a contractor. Home Improvement contractor fraud is the #1 complaint to the BBB, according to the National Federation of America’s 2011 Consumer Complaint Survey.  If a contractor/company seeks you out, research them before you let them pull a single nail. Ask to see their Certificate of Insurance. This give you proof of their limits of coverage. Make this a must, regardless of how great of a deal they are giving you. Just remember- if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If your renovations increase the value of your home, make sure to call your insurance agent and have them increase your dwelling amount. Homeowners insurance is there to help you rebuild your home to the same level it was before a claim. If you have increased the value, your coverage should be increased to reflect the change in value.
   Renovating your home can be exciting.  But not if it is deadly or breaks your bank account!

Questions about your Home or Auto Insurance?
Contact us at  The Brockman Agency   or call toll free 877-987-8683

Texting while Driving

How Distracted Are We and Can We Stop It?

   Each day, more than 15 people are killed and 1,200 people are injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. I'd say we are highly distracted these days. Cell phones are the main culprit, but not the only one.
How many times have you tried to input information into your GPS while driving? How about setting up that DVD to entertain your kids?
There are three main types of distraction:
Visual - taking your eyes off of the road.
Manual - taking your hands off the steering wheel
Cognitive - taking your mind off what you are doing.
Texting is the most dangerous of distractions because it involves all three.
    Studies show 11% of drivers are talking on their phones at any given time, according to the New York Times. A Harvard study shows drivers using cell phones cause 2,600 traffic deaths and 570,000 accidents each year.  A CBS/NYT poll shows Americans believe texting while driving should be punished at least as harshly as driving while under the influence.
   Here in Texas we have laws in place to ban Cell phone use and texting by Bus drivers, novice drivers (under 18) and by anyone in a school zone. This is a National issue and not every state has these types of laws in place. Teen drivers are the largest groups of texters. It good to see young stars, like Gabby Douglas and Victoria Justice, promoting the prevention of Texting and Driving. While it is a huge risk for teen drivers, they are not the only ones to worry about. Your experience, or lack of it, will not matter if your eyes and mind are not on the road in front of you.
   There are apps to deter texting while driving. Textecution  is available on most carriers for iPhone and Android. This kills texting functions while driving. If the system recognizes the phone is traveling more than 10 mph, the texting function is disabled. It was designed with parents of teen drivers in mind.MobiLocPlus is a disabling app for Android phones. It works the same way as Textecution, and is free. But who will make the decision to use these apps? Most people think they are great drivers, who can handle the road. Many think they can text and keep control. Until the Unthinkable happens. What if it is you behind the wheel? or your Child?  How in control will you be then?
Don't text and drive. It truly is a matter of Life and Death.

Questions about your Auto or Home Insurance?
Call or click and let us take care of you!  The Brockman Agency
or call Toll free 1-877-987-8683