The video "23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?" offers a quick and compelling suggestion for a New Year's resolution. Invest 10 minutes in watching the clip - it might be the best thing you do for yourself all year.
This short video clip will walk you through ergonomic best practices for cell phone use. And for safety rule #1: Only hands-free use while driving - and even that, only where allowed.
Check out State Cell Phone & Texting Laws.
With any luck and proper planning, you won't find Thanksgiving as perilous as the turkeys in our video clip do, but be aware that Thanksgving is the leading day for residential fires (PDF), averaging about 2,000 for the day, double or more the number that would occur on an ordinary day.
See our tips for preventing kitchen fires and our past post on the dangers of deep fried turkeys.
What should you do if a fire breaks out? According to the National Fire Protection Association:
We'd add a final step if damage occurs: File a report with your insurer or your local insurance agent.
Be safe and enjoy the holiday!
No matter what your coverage needs, if you live or work in New England, there's an indpendent Renaissance Alliance insurance agency that can help!
It's amazing what you can learn from commercials. Recently we learned about a cheesy new form of insurance coverage: Macsurance! Are you covered?
(Hat tip to InsureBlog for the pointer!)
This new national public service announcement from the NAIC (the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) uses humor to encourage consumers to make sure their insurance policies fit their specific needs. Hint: your local independent agent can help - if you live in New England, find a Renaissance Alliance agent near you.
June 19 to June 25 is Lightning Safety Week. It's good timing because we are approaching the heaviest lightning season. Hopefully, we've already had our fill of extreme weather this year, but there are no guarantees. In an average year, there are 57 fatal lightning strikes, most occurring in June, July and August. There have been 4 lightning fatalities so far this year - three of them occurring during agricultural work and one related to tornado search-and-rescue. The National Weather Service keeps track of lightning fatalities for the current year, as well as for prior years going back to 1959. Last year, there were 29 fatalities, a remarkably low year. The top 5 states for lightning fatalities over the past 10 years are Florida (62), Colorado (26), Texas (24), Georgia (19), and North Carolina (18).
Not everyone who is struck by lightning is killed - many survive to tell the tale. You can read some harowing stories of lightning strike survivors - there's even a support group: Lightning Strike & Electric Shock Survivors.
Your odds of being hit by lightning are about 1 in 700,000 - but experts all agree that you should take care not to make yourself a target. For a little motivation, you might visit Human Voltage, a page that NASA compiled to document what happens when people and lightning converge.
The National Weather Service has 5 simple words of safety advice: When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!. We're reprinting Here is their safety advice:
"There is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area. If you hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance of the storm. Just remember, When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors! Too many people wait far too long to get to a safe place when thunderstorms approach. Unfortunately, these delayed actions lead to many of the lightning deaths and injuries in the U.S.
The best way to protect yourself from lightning is to avoid the threat. You simply don't want to be caught outside in a storm. Have a lightning safety plan, and cancel or postpone activities early if thunderstorms are expected. Monitor weather conditions and get to a safe place before the weather becomes threatening. Substantial buildings and hard-topped vehicles are safe options. Rain shelters, small sheds, and open vehicles are not safe.
When inside, do not touch anything that is plugged into an electrical outlet, plumbing, and corded phones. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe. Also, keep away from outside doors and windows and do not lie on a garage floor.
Lightning Victims: If someone is struck by lightning, they may need immediate medical attention. Lightning victims do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to touch. Call 911 and monitor the victim. Start CPR or use an Automated External Defibrillator if needed."
Additional resources:
Indoor Safety
Outdoor Safety
Lightning Safety on the Job
Lightning truths and myths
In this short video clip, the Insurance Information Institute's Crash Test Dummies offer advice on how to choose a good insurance company.
Also check out III's article Five Insurance Mistakes to Avoid... And Still Save Money. We've summarized the five mistakes below, but you can check out the article for a more detailed explanation and ideas for better ways to save money while minimizing your risk of loss.
Many healthcare reform provisions are scheduled to kick in sometime in 2011 - some went into effect on January 1. Here are a few resources that outline changes scheduled to take effect in 2011 and what the changes mean to you and your family.
The Kaiser Family Foundation has produced an excellent single-source guide to Health Care Reform and health insurance reform. They've also produced a 9 minute animated video that summarizes and explains Health Reform in simple terms.
If you're in spring cleaning mode and emptying out that attic or cellar, you may be thinking of holding a garage sale or a yard sale. If so, you can get some excellent planning pointers from Best Garage Sale Tips, a comprehensive how-to guide that helps you think through all the details, including a task time line to guide you right up to sale day.
One really important item on your checklist should be to review your homeowners, condo or rental insurance policy to be sure you have liability coverage in case someone is injured while on your property. The general rule of thumb is that your homeowners policy would likely be enough coverage if your yard sale is a one-time event, but if you plan to make a business out of yard sales, you'd better talk that over with your agent. It's a good idea to check in advance of your sale, regardless!
Check out this video on garage sales & insurance from the Insurance Information Institute.
