5 Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

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Danger Carbon Monoxide sign

Every year, unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (not linked to fires) sends 20,000 people to the emergency room and causes more than 4,000 hospitalizations. And, you might consider them the fortunate ones. CO also is responsible for more than 400 deaths in America each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The truly frightening thing? Most of those victims likely had no idea they were in danger.

CO often is called “the invisible killer” because it’s odorless and colorless, and, when it builds up in an enclosed space, it’s deadly. Everyone is at risk, too, because CO is produced by a number of things we use every day, such as cars and trucks, stoves, grills, gas ranges, furnaces, and more.

So, how do you protect yourself? Especially in winter, when it’s cold outside and you’re using heat sources inside your home?

Here are some basic actions you can take to help limit your exposure:

  1. Install — and test — CO detectors
    Most states (37 in all) now have some sort of requirement regarding the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in private homes. These should be placed outside of each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Because you won’t smell or otherwise notice CO building up, having detectors that will sound an alarm is crucial. Don’t forget to test them once a month.
  2. Don’t create additional risk in your home
    You should never use devices that generate large amounts of CO inside your home. Never operate a gas or charcoal grill inside (even in a garage), and make sure generators are used in a well-ventilated outside location away from windows, doors, and vents. Make sure to have your furnace and chimney checked annually, too.
  3. Be careful in your car
    Carbon monoxide can build up quickly when a vehicle is running, so, if you need to warm up your car, move it out of the garage after you start it.
  4. Watch out for snow — at home and on your vehicle
    Snow and ice can block vents for your dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace. They also can obstruct the exhaust of your car. Either can be very dangerous. In fact, according to news reports, several people died in the recent East Coast snowstorm when CO backed up into their cars because the exhaust pipe was blocked.
  5. Know the symptoms of CO poisoning
    People can be harmed by a small amount of carbon monoxide over a long period, or a large amount over a short period. Because you might not be able to identify when you’re in a dangerous situation, it pays to know what symptoms to look for:

    • Low to moderate CO poisoning: headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness.
    • High-level CO poisoning: mental confusion, vomiting, loss of coordination, loss of consciousness.

    If you suspect CO poisoning, move the person (and yourself) outside immediately and call 911.

Remember, the important thing to know about carbon monoxide is this: Without CO detectors (and other common-sense measures), you won’t know when you’re at risk. So, take steps to protect yourself and your family today.

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance®.

Top image by Flickr user SmartSign used under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The Trick to Having a Safe Halloween

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Boo! Halloween is almost here – Are you ready for a safe, fun holiday? Follow these safety tips for an enjoyable night of tricks and treats.

Girl with pumpkin cutout mask during Halloween

Halloween is approaching quickly! This night of tricks and fun is a fantastic opportunity to decorate your home, have fun with the kids, and enjoy a few spooks on the side.

Over half of Americans celebrate Halloween, and the average person spends more than $100 on the holiday. Of course, the fun ends when someone gets hurt or when property damage results. In fact, Halloween house fires account for more than $11 million in property damage every Halloween, and pedestrian fatalities are 43 percent higher on this day than on other days. All fun is lost for those who are unfortunate victims of Halloween accidents.

There are ways to avoid these types of incidents. Below are some best practices for having a safe and enjoyable Halloween.

Maintain a Safe Lawn

Poorly placed Halloween lawn decorations can be a hazard for trick-or-treaters and their parents. Prioritizing safe placement for Halloween lawn decorations can prevent injuries and other damages.

Keep decorations away from walkways. Give trick-or-treaters a safe path to your front door by keeping decorations and electrical cords off walkways. If you must drape an extension cord over your sidewalk, tape it down or use an extension cord cover to prevent trips and falls.

Keep your lawn well-lit. Use bright twinkle lights and garden lighting to ensure that visitors to your property can see where they’re going. Make a particular point of lighting the path to your front door.

Inspect your lawn before the big night. Inspect your outdoor decorations before Halloween night to ensure your property is safe.

Make repairs as indicated below:

  • Remove any decorations that may have fallen over walkways.
  • Replace broken strands of lights to maintain a well-lit pathway.
  • Walk through your property after dark to ensure trick-or-treaters can see well enough when coming to your front door. If you can’t see well enough, they can’t either.

Lock Up Once the Fun is Finished

Lock up your home and garage once trick-or-treating is finished. Pull your car off the street and park it in your driveway or garage. Lock your front and back gates to keep stray tricksters off your property.

Be Fire Safe

Use battery-powered candles in your jack-o-lanterns and decorations. If using real candles for any reason, keep flames away from flammable objects. Never leave lit candles unattended. Replace batteries in smoke detectors as needed.

When Out of the House, Keep Your Property Safe

Whether you’re leaving the house to go trick-or-treating or leaving for the night, these tips can help keep your property safe from tricksters and intruders.

  • Leave lights in your house on even if you’re not home. If you’re out of town, put your lights on timers, so they’ll turn on in the evening and turn back off when it’s daylight.
  • Don’t tell many people if you’re leaving town. Don’t announce on social media that you’ll be going out of town, and only tell people who you trust when you’ll be away.
  • Maintain contact with trusted neighbors. If you trust your neighbors and know they’ll maintain a watch over the neighborhood, stay in touch with your neighbors while you’re out. Have them keep you in the loop about the goings-on and suspicious behavior.

Trick-Or-Treat Safely

Avoid trick-or-treating hazards like slips and falls.

  • Maintain clear vision. Have the kids try on their costumes in advance to ensure they can see through their masks.
  • Wear safe costumes. Brightly colored costumes are best. If your kids have darker-colored costumes, attach reflectors to the exterior to ensure your kids are visible. Buy costumes that fit, and avoid costumes that hang down below the ankles or drag on the ground.
  • Light the path. Bring bright flashlights while trick-or-treating, and take a route with established sidewalks.

Check Your Homeowner’s Coverage

Protect yourself this Halloween with proper homeowner’s insurance coverage. Contact your insurance agent to check your policy and coverage.

Insurance Coverage for Your New Car

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Man smiling from the window of his new car

Congratulations! After weeks of research, comparing makes and models, and taking test drives you finally bought that brand-new car you wanted. But before you take that well-deserved road trip, check one more item off your list: the right car insurance.

While some auto coverage options are essential whatever the age of your car, new vehicles may carry some additional risks you should know about. So before leaving the lot, give us a quick call to discuss the possible coverage options: 

New vehicle replacement. Here’s how this coverage works: If you’re the original owner of a new car that is totaled or stolen within one year of purchase, you’ll be paid the full value of the car you lost or a comparable model. Without this policy, you may have to settle for something less than new. Please note that this coverage is included with certain Safeco auto policies.

Loan and lease coverage. Consider what could happen if you financed your new car and then it was totaled or stolen soon after buying it. Not only would you lose your new ride, but you’d also still be on the hook for your entire loan balance — which would be more than the car was worth. With loan and lease coverage, you’d get a check to cover the gap between what’s left on your loan and the depreciated value of your car.

Audio-visual and custom equipment coverage. If you’re an avid music fan who enjoys a custom sound system or DVD player, this coverage protects you for the full value of any A/V equipment not installed at the factory or dealership. It also covers such modifications as roll bars, certain custom engine parts, lift kits, special wheels, artwork, decals, and other personal touches.

OEM parts replacement. OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts are often preferable to other aftermarket parts because they are made specifically for your make and model of vehicle. So if you want your Honda repaired with Honda parts, or your Mercedes to only have official Mercedes parts, this coverage is for you. When you buy this optional coverage, it’s added to your existing Comprehensive and Collision coverage so that all repairs or replacements made to your damaged car will include new OEM parts where available.

You invested in a new car. So be sure your investment extends to the right auto policy as well. To learn more about protecting your new vehicle, give us a call today!

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance®.

Top image by Flickr user OakleyOriginals used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.