Insurance Tips for Home Safety
Our home is our sanctuary, the place where we should always feel safe.
However, there are hazards that we need to address in order to make our homes
safer. The following is a list of safety tips. It is by no means complete, but
if these items are addressed, your home is safer than it was before you
addressed them.
Be sure we have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level, and near our bedrooms. Change those batteries every time we change our clocks. Then test them to be sure they are in working order.
Have an all purpose fire extinguisher in key locations in your home-
the kitchen, bedroom, basement, and garage. Be sure to check the expiration
dates and know how to use them. But do call 911 when a fire does occur.
Create a safe exit and set up a plan with your family. Have a safe
designated meeting place in the event of a need to exit the home. Consider am
escape ladder for upper levels. Just be careful to protect youngsters from
unauthorized use.
Protect your family from falling items. Large items such as a TV on a
dresser or bookcase should be anchored, along with the bookcase itself. Even
small items can tip and cause severe injuries to young children.
Be careful of overloading extension chords. An overloaded or frayed
chord can start a fire. Be sure chords are not under rugs or furniture. And
make sure your appliances are grounded. Install GFI outlets where applicable
and test them regularly.
Position rugs carefully to avoid tripping hazards, especially around
stairs. Make sure you have non slip backing to keep the rugs in place.
Inspect nursery furniture for paint chips or areas where infants can
get trapped. Those manufactured after 1978 have safer requirements regarding
lead based paint.
Protect medications and household cleaners. Don’t leave medications in
your purse, pockets or drawers that are accessible to children.
Setting your hot water heater to 120 or below can avoid potential burns
and save you energy costs.
When out of town, use timers on lights to give your home that lived in
look, and ask a trustworthy neighbor to check in on the house. Cancel papers
and mail delivery, and leave the Air Conditioning or Heat on, just adjust to a
setting appropriate for the season. A home where the air conditioning is not
running is a bad signal to send, plus excessive heat or cold can cause damage.
Look for the UL label on products. This shows they have been tested,
verified, and inspected for safety.
Finally, make sure your Homeowners Insurance policy is up to date.
Notify your agent of any additions, improvements to your home, and new
purchases such as jewelry, collectibles, etc.
