MAKE SURE YOUR HOLIDAY DECORATIONS ARE SAFE TO USE

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Each year holiday season fires injure 2,600 individuals and cause over $930 million in damage. According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), there are simple life-saving 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 pick-up service.

Holiday lights--Before using your lights, inspect them for bare spots or frayed wires, and use only lights that have been approved by a testing lab. Be sure not to overload your circuits--the best way to do this is to avoid stringing together more than 3 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 build-up 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 hard-wired into the home's electrical system, be sure that it is working.

INSURANCE PURCHASING IDEAS FOR HOMEOWNERS

In some parts of the country, consumers have faced substantial increases in their homeowners insurance premiums, particularly in coastal areas subject to hurricanes and windstorms. Other consumers have experienced reduced coverage, moving from all risks coverage for their dwelling to named perils coverage. Still others have received nonrenewal notices due to minor losses, such as water damage claims. The following are some insurance purchasing tips that may help you save premium dollars and reduce losses on your homeowners policy.

1. Try to increase your deductible to the highest one you can afford, even if the premium savings do not appear to justify it. This will decrease your premium and increase the likelihood that your loss history will be excellent, since minor losses will be paid by you and not your insurance company. A loss-free record over time saves premium dollars. For example, if you currently have a $250 deductible on your homeowners policy, consider increasing it to $500 or $1,000.


2. Consider purchasing a monitored burglar alarm. Alarms have proven successful in reducing burglary rates. In addition, most insurers provide premium discounts to consumers with these alarms, some as high as 20 percent.


3. Maintain your home in optimum condition. If a repair is needed, perform it as soon as possible. For example, loose or missing roof shingles should be repaired or replaced immediately. A home in excellent condition is much less likely to experience a loss.


4. If you plan to buy a home, be aware that many insurance companies offer new home discounts. Some insurers offer the highest discounts, such as 20 percent, on brand-new homes and gradually lower discounts for several years as the home ages. Some insurance companies are now offering discounts for homeowners who are age 50 or older.


5. Request a copy of a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report on the home you are considering buying. This report provides a list of prior losses for a particular home. It is generated from a database of insurance losses compiled by a high percentage of insurance companies. You can normally contact your current homeowners agent to get this information on a prospective home. Be wary of purchasing a home with prior foundation, water, or mold losses.


6. Install and maintain smoke alarms throughout the house. It is best if the alarms are interconnected, so that if one goes off, they all go off. Test the smoke alarms once a month. These detectors should be approved by Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) or other recognized testing laboratories. Most insurance companies provide discounts for homes with operating smoke alarms.