Community Grant to Foothills Animal Rescue 9-2016

I am proud to volunteer with Foothills Animal Rescue Inc. of Scottsdale. It's an important way I give back to our community. I am pleased to announce The Allstate Foundation supported Foothills Animal Rescue Inc. with a $1000 grant in honor of my volunteer efforts in our community. Volunteering is an extension of what I do every day - protecting people and preparing them for the future

Must haves for any home, condo or apartment

Take it from a retired volunteer firefighter, there are five things everyone should remember about the place where they live.

1) have at least 2 fire extinguishers in your residence. You should have an ABC or BC rated fire extinguisher in your kitchen, close to the stove but not next to it. You should also have an ABC rated fire extinguisher in your bedroom and here is why. If you are woken up in the middle of the night with your smoke detector going off, you want to grab the fire extinguisher by your bed . This way, if you need to use the fire extinguisher to help exit your home, it's right there. You can get a two pack at Home Depot for less than $30.00.

2) smoke detectors outside every bedroom and in the kitchen. There are three different types, Ionization, Photoelectric and Duel Sensor. I prefer the dual sensor type (ionization and photoelectric). Ionization type smoke detectors can quickly detect fast flaming fires with small amounts of smoke (great for kitchens). Photoelectric type respond faster to a fire in its early smoldering stage (great for outside bedrooms). Which ever type you have or buy, the key thing is to remember to replace the batteries once a year.

3) have LED flashlights through-out your residence. I prefer LED because the light is brighter and lasts longer. You can find multi pack LED flashlights at most hardware stores or places like Costco.

4) have a carbon monoxide detector in your home. As many people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning as they do from actual fires. Carbon monoxide is colorless and tasteless and is in every home that uses gas, has a fireplace or a garage. I prefer the kind of tester that just plugs into an electrical outlet in your home. They can be purchased at almost any hardware store.

5) create a fire escape plan and practice it. Make sure that you have two ways out of every room (door and window) and identify a meeting place outside your home for everyone meet there in case of a fire.

Holiday Cooking Tips

Thanksgiving is the holiday that brings people together with the family dinner being the highlight of the day. The United States Fire Administration estimates more than 2,000 residential fires are reported each Thanksgiving, with cooking (69%) the leading cause. Use these tips to help keep your holiday safe.

•  Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking. Most fires in the kitchen occur because food is left unattended.

•  Keep the cooking range free of clutter. Even though you have myriad dishes to prepare, don't overload a cook top with too many pots and pans. Trying to cook all your dishes at once could cause grease to accidentally spill onto a range top and cause a fire.

•  Always keep a potholder, oven mitt and lid handy while cooking. If a small fire starts in a pan on the stove, put on a flame-resistant oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner. Don't remove the lid until the food has cooled.

•  When removing lids on hot pans, tilt them away from you to protect your face and hands from steam. If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you or your clothing.

•  Never wear loose fitting clothing when cooking. Long, open sleeves could ignite and catch fire from a gas flame or a hot burner. Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking. If you have long hair, be sure to tie it back.

•  Keep smoke alarms connected while cooking. Smoke alarms can save lives. Make sure smoke alarms are installed and working.

•  Unplug small appliances that aren't in use. Not only will you save the energy, but you will also avoid the potential dangers if they were to be turned on accidentally.

•  Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it. Make sure the fire extinguisher is UL listed and rated for grease and electrical fires.

•  Avoid using a turkey fryer. Because turkey fryers pose a number of distinct safety concerns, including burn and fire hazards. If you still choose to fry your turkey, follow these safety guidelines recommended by Consumer Safety Product Commission:

1. Keep fryer in FULL VIEW while burner is on
2. Place fryer in an open area AWAY from all walls, fences, or other structures
3. Never use IN, ON, or UNDER a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or any structure  that can catch fire
4. Raise and lower food SLOWLY to reduce splatter and avoid burns
5. COVER bare skin when adding or removing food
6. Check the oil temperature frequently
7.  If oil begins to smoke, immediately turn gas supply OFF
8.  If a fire occurs, immediately call 911. DO NOT attempt to extinguish fire with water

•  Above all, just apply your own common sense around safety in the kitchen. If in doubt about something, always err on the side of caution.

Sources: United States Fire Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission, UL

Visit Allstate Be Aware and Prepare and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety for more, helpful information.

Wishing you and your family a happy and safe holiday season.

What you should always tell your insurance agent

Believe it or not, these are actually some of the things our clients have either forgot to tell us or assumed about their policies in the last year. Please remember, as your agent, we are here to help you but you must communicate with us.

• Oh, I sold my house months ago

• I traded my old car months ago and bought a new one

• I changed my email address, didn't you know?

• I changed my phone number, didn't you know?

• I got married/divorced 

• I have not lived there in months

• I thought "full coverage" included rental reimbursement and towing/labor

• My 16 year old got their drivers license months ago

• I made significant improvements to my home/condo this year

• I forgot to tell you, I refinanced my home last year, why hasn't my insurance been paid?

• I paid off my mortgage last year but haven't received a bill

• My air conditioner stopped working and I thought my home insurance covered that situation

• I changed checking accounts, didn't my bank tell you?

• My credit card expired, didn't my bank give you the new card number?

• Didn't my car salesman notify you I bought a new car

Coverage Outside the USA

I have been asked the question if automobile and/or liability coverage is extended outside of the US. Most insurance companies will extend coverage in Canada and limited coverage (75 miles into Mexico). If you are traveling abroad, you most likely need to obtain coverage through a travel agent or Google auto or liability insurance in the area of the world you will be traveling in.

Baby Car Seat Questions

New parents can have a lot on their minds. Faced with the new responsibilities and tasks that typically come with parenthood, some new parents can feel overwhelmed when it comes to important things like car seat selection, installation and proper usage.

But fear not; you’re not alone. Many new parents have similar concerns and ask the same questions when it comes to car seats. With that in mind, we asked car seat manufacturer Safety 1st for their answers to some questions commonly asked by new parents:

Where is the safest place to install a car seat?

Typically, the center rear seat is the safest place for a car seat, according to Safety 1st. Car seats should never be placed in the front seat. If possible, use the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system to attach your car seat. LATCH is intended to make it easier to install a child seat properly without using vehicle safety belts. If your car does not have a LATCH connector for the middle seat, you can use the middle seat belt to properly secure the base. When installing, press down firmly on the car seat base and tighten the belt to make sure the base of the car seat moves no more than an inch from side to side. 

How can I make sure my child’s car seat is installed correctly?

Before you hit the road, check in with a local Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) to help ensure your child’s seat is installed correctly. You can find a CPST by visiting either a local police station, fire station or Safe Kids Chapter for guidance. Or, simply go to Seatcheck.org to find a child passenger safety seat inspection location near you.

How can I be sure my child is secure?

It’s very important to keep the harness snug on your child when in the car. Safety 1st suggests to test the snugness with the “pinch test.” If you pinch the harness straps at the shoulder and can gather material, it is too loose. Make sure to cinch it down.

When will my child be ready for a forward-facing car seat?

Children remain rear-facing until they’re 2 years old. The best practice is to keep children rear-facing as long as possible, up until they reach the maximum height and weight for the seat. Children are five times safer if they are rear-facing to age 2.

My older child hates using a booster seat. Is it really necessary?

If you have an older child, boosters can be extremely important as they help ensure that the car’s lap and shoulder belts are positioned in a way that can properly restrain them in the event of an accident. Many states require a child to be in a booster until 8 years old as they have been shown to help reduce the risk of serious injury by 45 percent.

How long can I keep a car seat?

Car seats expire. Check the expiration date to confirm the seat is safe for your child. You can typically find the expiration date on the back or the side of the car seat.

My neighbor gave us a hand-me-down car seat. How do I know if it is safe for my child?

Used car seats should be avoided unless you have detailed knowledge and documentation of their prior use. Safercar.gov provides a simple checklist to help you determine if a used car seat is safe. Has it been in a crash? Has it been recalled? Is it expired? For this reason, a used car seat should be avoided unless you are absolutely sure of its history.

Is it safe to use a car seat after it has been in a crash?

As mentioned above, once a car seat has been in a crash it should be discarded. Plastic can warp and materials can be damaged or structurally compromised.

How should I dispose of an old or damaged car seat?

To dispose of a car seat, check with your local waste management facility to see if they recycle number 5 plastic. Most importantly, please make sure the car seat is not used by another child. Safekids.org suggests that parents discard an expired or damaged car seat by covering it with a dark trash bag so that it cannot be pulled from the trash and reused.

What should I do to make sure the inside of my car is safe for my child?

Just as important as safeguarding your home, don’t forget about the car. It’s important to help eliminate projectiles; anything in the car that is not secured can become a possible projectile. That could be a child’s toy, wet nap container, or a water bottle. In a crash, objects take on greater weight due to crash forces. Also, make sure four-legged family members are properly restrained.

If you have additional questions regarding car seats and your child, consult the seat’s owner’s manual or visit Seatcheck.org to find a child passenger safety seat inspection location near you.

Stranded Motorist Survival Tips

You’re driving, not a care in the world, when your car breaks down or you get stuck some other way. No matter the cause, it’s an unnerving experience, especially if it happens on a busy highway. Do you know what to do if you find yourself stranded? Read on for some general tips that can help you stay safe if your car breaks down.

• Slow down and pull off the road: If you notice something is wrong with your vehicle while driving, ease your foot off the gas pedal, signal and carefully steer your vehicle toward the right shoulder. Put the car in park, engage the emergency brake and turn the steering wheel away from the road. That way, your car can’t roll into oncoming traffic.

• Be visible: Make sure you can be seen by other drivers. Turn on your hazard lights and if it’s dark, turn on the interior dome light as well. Roll down the driver’s side window and hang out a white cloth or piece of paper and roll the window back up to secure it in place. This alerts drivers that your vehicle is disabled. If you can safely do so, open the hood, a universal sign of car trouble.

•  Call for help: If you have a roadside assistance provider, call them. 

• Stay in your vehicle: Getting out of your car can put you in danger of being hit by oncoming traffic. Sitting in an immobile vehicle with traffic all around you is unnerving, but attempting to cross a freeway or busy street on foot is extremely risky. Of course, if your engine’s smoking or you see flames, get out! If you must leave your vehicle, always exit on the side away from traffic. 

• Wait for help to arrive: Avoid the temptation to try to fix your car by yourself. Play it safe and wait for emergency personnel to arrive.

Every break down comes with its own unique set of circumstances. Just remember to stay calm and exercise caution.