The Best Defense Against a Boat Claim

July 29, 2015 at 9:14 AM | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The best defense against a boat claim is prevention.  It is important to follow the rules of the waterways.  Colliding with another boat, hitting another boat’s wake, collision with a foreign object, rock or land are some of the biggest causes of claims which are preventable accidents if safety protocol is followed. Below are some tips about what NOT to do while boating:

  • Lacking familiarity of your surroundings – get to know the area and how to navigate safely. Not being familiar with the waterway can cause damage to your boat and get you into a sticky situation.
  • Speeding
  • Showing off/exhibition
  • Not obeying the rules – take a US Coast Guard class to ensure you know all the regulations and rules of the water.
  • Failure to have proper safety equipment – Life jackets and a life ring. Not wearing appropriate life jackets and/or not ensuring you are carrying one per passenger aboard puts your passengers at risk. Encourage each person to wear a life jacket on the boat at all times. Accidents can happen that won’t allow a chance to put a life jacket on in time.
  • Proper lights and markings on the boat so others can see you.

An ounce of prevention goes a long way to avoiding the headache of a claim.  Call us at 888-850-9400 to make sure you have the proper coverage in place to protect your boat and your loved ones.

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Grilling Safety Tips

April 29, 2015 at 2:18 PM | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The warm weather season is underway, tempting many to spend more time outside. Cooking on a grill has become a year-round option for some! Whether you grill all year long or only during the spring and summer months, you can avoid potential dangers when extra precaution is taken. The following grilling tips may help keep you and your family safe:

  • Visibly check grill hoses regularly for cracking, brittleness, holes, and leaks.
  • Replace scratched connectors, which can eventually leak gas.
  • Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose – a leak will release bubbles. If you discover a leak, turn off the tank and grill.  If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak does not stop, call the fire department.
  • If you smell gas while cooking, get away from the grill and call the fire department.
  • Move gas hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and hot grease.  Install a heat shield if necessary.
  • Check the tubes that lead into the burner for any blockages.
  • Do not attempt to repair the tank valve or appliance yourself.
  • Never use a grill indoors.
  • Make sure you keep the grill at least 10 feet away from your house and don’t use it under any structure that can catch fire.
  • Never leave a filled LP gas container in a hot car or trunk.  Heat will cause the gas pressure to increase, causing the relief valve to open and allow gas to escape.
  • Charcoal produces carbon monoxide — never store a grill or hibachi inside with freshly used coals.
  • Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to the fire.
  • Never leave a lit grill unattended.
  • Always keep children and pets at a safe distance when using a grill.

Everyone loves a cook-out! Grilling fires are one of the leading causes of home fires each year, with June and July the peak months for grill fires. Keep your family and friends safe all year long and make grilling safety your top priority!

 

Daylight Savings Time!

March 4, 2015 at 9:00 AM | Posted in Home, Insurance Policy, Reminders, Safety Tips, Seasonal, Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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This Sunday, March 8th at 2:00A.M., Daylight Savings Time will begin, so before you turn in – make sure that you “spring ahead” one hour on all of your clocks! Daylight Savings Time is a great opportunity to prepare for the coming of spring with a “seasonal safety check”. Besides adjusting your clocks, here is a suggested safety checklist of other items to check up on around the house at this time:

  1. Safety experts recommend replacing smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries twice a year; DST is a great way to remember to do this bi-annual update, as well as change any battery operated clocks. As you go around the house adjusting times, change out batteries as well!
  1. Fire extinguishers can become useless over time. Use DST as an opportunity to test your extinguisher and replace if needed. If you don’t own a fire extinguisher in your home, it’s recommended that you purchase one.
  1. Check your first-aid kit and replace any missing supplies.
  1. Check under sinks, toilets, in the basement, behind your washer, shower/tub, and other household plumbing to make sure you don’t have even a small leak.
  1. Review your family’s emergency plan, or create one for the first time. Set a plan in place for yourself or you and your family in case of emergency. Update phone numbers, addresses and contact information, and post an emergency information page near the phone. You can find information that you may need to know in case of disaster or emergency by visiting redcross.org, www.FEMA.org, and www.ready.gov.
  1. Review your homeowner’s insurance policy to ensure you have all the coverage you need to protect you, your family, and your belongings. To begin, it is important to know what your policies do and don’t cover. For a review of your homeowner’s insurance policy, call us at 888.850.9400

The Marsh & McLennan Agency wishes everyone a safe and happy transition into SPRING 2015!

Preparing Your Home For Your Winter Get-A-Way

February 4, 2015 at 9:35 AM | Posted in Event Planning, Home, Personal Property, Seasonal, Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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After all these snowstorms, how many of you are ready to take that winter vacation? Whether it’s to the mountains or to the seashores, taking the time to prepare your home for your absence can prevent a potential disaster from happening while you are away.

Here is a checklist to help you prepare your home:

  • Arrange for someone to plow or shovel so that your home appears occupied
  • Turn the thermostat down to 60 and leave interior doors open to circulate air
  • Put your lights on automatic timers and consider an outdoor motion detector
  • Make sure that all windows and doors are locked
  • Have a trusted neighbor or friend pick up your mail and newspapers every day, or suspend delivery
  • Purge the refrigerator of perishables and take out your trash and secure it
  • Run a computer backup and then turn it off
  • Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to keep an eye on your place and leave a key with them
  • Conduct a home inventory and make sure your homeowner insurance policy is up-to-date

These simple preparations will give you peace of mind while you are enjoying your winter get-a-way. For a review of your Homeowners insurance, please feel free to contact us at 888-850-9400.

Preventing Puff-backs

January 21, 2015 at 9:44 AM | Posted in Personal Insurance, Personal Property, Regulations, Safety Tips, Seasonal, Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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A “puff back” is an explosion in the burner chamber of a furnace or boiler. They are usually small and confined to the burner chamber, however, they can do considerable damage to the heating system. In addition, a puff back can send soot and smoke throughout the house, covering walls, ceilings, carpets, furniture, etc. The cleanup of such damage must be done by a professional cleaning company.

The cause of a puff back can always be traced back to a lack of maintenance or repairs to the heating system. Here are some tips to help prevent this dangerous and extremely messy event from happening in your home.

  • Have all of your oil-fired heating appliances serviced annually by a licensed technician.
  • Stay alert for noises, odors, or soot, and watch for oil leaks or air leaks in the oil piping system and at the oil burner. If you notice any of these, contact a licensed technician for an inspection, diagnosis, and repair if necessary.

Keeping up with regular maintenance, and being alert for symptoms, will help prevent the risk of having to cover the cost of cleanup and the disruption in your life that a puff back would create. Fortunately, your homeowner policy will usually cover damage to your home and contents caused by a puff back.

If a puff back occurs, we recommend that you do not attempt to clean it yourself. Using standard cleaning products could cause further damage and may not get rid of the oil residue and odors. The cost of hiring a professional cleaning company would be covered as part of the claim.

If you have any questions on puff backs or the coverage your policy offers, call us at 888-850-9400. It is always recommended to have your furnace cleaned and boiler checked before the winter cold sets in to avoid the chances of a puff back in your home.

Sun Safety

July 2, 2014 at 10:08 AM | Posted in Safety Tips, Seasonal, Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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Finding your fun in the sun with added protection is easy!   No one can afford not to be extra cautious in the sun with skin cancer rates on the rise. Anyone who spends time in the sun needs to follow these skin-saving tips:

  • Limit the amount of time you spend in direct sun, especially during the sun’s strongest rays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Wear protective clothing when you’re out in the sun, including long sleeves, sunglasses, and a hat that shades your face, neck, and ears.
  • Apply sunscreen with broad spectrum protection and an SPF of 30 or higher on all skin that isn’t covered.
  • Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours while in the sun.
  • Check the expiration date of you sunscreen.
  • Protect your skin on cool or cloudy days – You may not feel or see the sun but it can see you!
  • Be aware that covering up doesn’t block out all of the UV rays – When you can see light through fabric then UV rays can get to your skin.

When you plan to spend time outdoors, you may want to check the UV Index for your area. You can get this information from the weather channel, smart phone apps, and off of the internet by visiting www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html.

If you are unsure how strong the sun’s rays are, use the shadow test: While standing in the sun, when your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun’s rays are at their strongest.

For more information visit: www.cancer.org/healthy/besafeinthesun.

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