Monday, September 27, 2010

SC Homeowners Insurance - Fire Prevention

By John Heid
Oct. 3-9, 2010 is National Fire Prevention Week
Fire Safety Tips from Allstate:
Don't Forget to Check Smoke Detectors, Plan Escape Route

In conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week, Allstate is trying to get the word about fire safety tips so that consumers need to make sure they are prepared in case a fire breaks out.
 
Fire safety is an important issue for everybody to think about, By following the tips below, hopefully the only things that consumers lose in a fire are their possessions.
~ Scott, Your Myrtle Beach Allstate Agent
  • Check the batteries in your smoke detectors often. Keep extra batteries on hand and replace them every six months.
  • Check your smoke detectors monthly. Replace any that are 10 years or older. Make sure     everyone knows that the piercing sound means danger, and they should escape quickly.
  • Position detectors smartly. Place one on every level of your home and near areas where you and your family sleep.
  • Keep detectors away from heating and cooling ducts and at least six inches from where walls and ceilings meet.
  • Keep fire extinguishers handy. Make sure there’s at least one on each floor – especially near the kitchen, garage, laundry room and workshop.
  • Talk with your family and make sure everyone knows what to do in case a fire breaks out. Make sure you have two ways out of your house.
  • Create a fire safety plan, with a designated meeting place.
The following tips are for residents of high-rise buildings in the event of a fire.

Go down the window fire escape if your building has one.
If your building does not have a window fire escape, take the following actions:
  1. Feel the door to the hall with the back of your hand. If it is hot, put a wet towel along the floor crack to keep smoke out. Go to the window and wave a colorful cloth to catch the attention of firefighters.
  2. If the door to the hall does not feel hot, leave the apartment and go down the nearest stairs. In the event of a fire, never try to take an elevator. If the power in the burning building fails, you could be trapped.
  3. If the hall is filled with smoke, get down close to the floor and crawl to the nearest stairs.  You will breathe in less smoke if you stay low.
For more information on fire safety topics, contact us at Todd Insurance Agency
(843) 249-6317.
Get an online quote on SC Homeowners Insurance or on SC Car Insurance from our website!
###



 

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Child Car Seats: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Your Child Deserves To Be Safe

No parent would intentionally compromise the safety of his or her child. Unfortunately, when it comes to passenger safety, an innocent error can lead to tragedy. In addition, many parents don’t realize that children need the protection of a booster seat until they are at least eight years old.

With the National Highway Traffic Safety Authority’s Child Passenger Safety Week being held Sept. 19-25, 2010, now is the perfect time to think about having your child safety seat inspected. As part of Child Passenger Safety Week, the NHTSA is culminating the week with National Seat Check Saturday on Sept. 25, 2010.

Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death and injury among children under eight in the United Sates. Despite very high levels of safety seat ownership and virtually universal access to safety belts, adults still take chances with children and do not use these safety systems on every ride. Such inconsistency has led to tragic outcomes, with adults confessing,
“I didn’t think it could happen to my child.”

As a SC car insurance agent, I urge parents not to let it be said too late.  You are always better safe than sorry. Children belong in safety seats until they are eight years old.

Many parents believe that by complying with child passenger safety laws they are providing adequate protection for their children. Those laws, however, do not specify the type of safety restraints needed for the child and how to use it properly. In fact, most laws do not require child safety restraints at all for children between the ages of four and eight, even though kids in that age group are not yet ready for adult restraints.

Allstate Insurance Company and SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. offer the following information to parents:

  • After determining the kind of car seat you want to purchase, consult your vehicle owner’s manual to verify if your car type is compatible with your initial car seat determination.
  • Parents should read their car seat manual before attempting to secure the seat.
  • Babies should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least one year old and weigh 20 pounds.
  • Children at least one year old and 20 pounds may face forward in car seats
  • Convertible seats can be used in both the rear and forward facing positions.
  • Children age 12 and younger should always ride in the back seat of the car
  • Experts say the center position of the vehicle back seat is the safest place for a car seat. In a van, the center row of seats is preferred
  • Never place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a car unless the passenger air bag can be turned off. The force of the air bag deploying could cause serious injury or death.
  • A car seat should be firmly secured in the back seat of the vehicle. In most vehicles, the safety belt system is used to hold the car seat in place.
  • To secure a safety seat, the belts must be locked.
  • When used for a newborn, a rear-facing infant seat should be positioned at a 45 degree, semi-reclined angle to prevent his head from flopping forward. If necessary, a rolled towel may be placed under the car seat below the baby’s feet to help achieve the 45-degree angle.
  • A front-facing car seat should be positioned fully upright.


About the Allstate Corporation

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

**Reminder: Hurricane Season is in full swing! Be sure your SC Homeowners Insurance is up to date and you have Wind and Hail coverage!

  © Blogger template 'Isolation' by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP