As you prepare for Thanksgiving this year, be sure to consider these tips and lower your chances of dealing with expensive thanksgiving mishaps.
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) reports that the leading cause of all residential Thanksgiving Day fires in the U.S. is cooking, especially with deep fat turkey fryers. These are high-risk appliances that can easily overheat, tip over, or spill hot oil. Safe cooking practices are essential when preparing Thanksgiving dinner, no matter what appliances you may use.
It’s extremely important to test your smoke detectors and fire alarms. In the event of a fire, these devices will provide essential protection. Check the manufacturer’s instructions on proper testing protocols and always replace batteries on a recommended schedule.
Never leave the kitchen appliances, such as outdoor cookers or crockpots, left unattended. Keep children and pets away from hot cooking surfaces that may splash or splatter hot food and liquid. All flammable items such as oven mitts, towels, and long sleeves should be kept far away from your stovetop and other heat-enabled appliances.
Lastly, be sure to have a functional fire extinguisher that is close by in case a fire starts. Remember that water should never be used to extinguish a grease fire because it can make it worse — or spread more quickly.
Homeowners insurance will cover damage from fires. A standard policy will pay for fire damage to your house and belongings. If you have extensive fire damage and can’t live at home, don’t forget your policy’s “additional living expenses” coverage, also known as loss of use. This will pay for your extra costs while the home is being repaired, such as hotel bills.
Home insurance can also come to the rescue if there are Thanksgiving incidents involving guests in your home. The personal liability portion of a homeowners insurance policy pays if guests are injured on your property. It also usually pays for damage or injuries that your pets cause to others.
Your liability coverage can pay out for accidents like these:
An accident related to alcohol that you’re serving
A visitor being injured in a slip, trip or fall
A guest being bitten by your dog
In addition, homeowners policies include a small amount of medical payments coverage, such as $1,000. This covers less-expensive guest injuries, it could be used, for example, for a guest who goes to the hospital for food poisoning.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 528 people lost their lives in car crashes during Thanksgiving weekend alone in 2017. To reduce your risk of causing or falling victim to a devastating accident, it’s important to take some safety precautions.
Always travel at a safe speed — especially in inclement weather during the colder months. Avoid driving under the influence of recreational substances to prevent unnecessary accidents, injuries, and deaths, and encourage friends and family members to do the same. If you’re planning on drinking on Thanksgiving (or any day), arrange for a designated driver or call a cab, Uber or another service to get you safely from place to place. Wearing a seat belt increases your chances of surviving an accident — in fact, the NHTSA has stated that 47% of passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in 2017 were not wearing a seatbelt.
Unfortunately, the holiday season can see an uptick in home robberies. Thieves know homes are often empty for days at a time and take advantage of this. Here are a few measures to take to keep your home safe while you’re away:
· Put your lights on a timer and use motion detectors for outdoor lights.
· Get a safe for small valuables such as jewelry and family heirlooms.
· Ask a neighbor or friend to keep an eye on your home and pick up any mail so it doesn’t pile up and tip off burglars.
· Arrange for yard service to clear away snow and ice while you’re away so it appears someone is hone.
· As an added precaution, invest in an outdoor security camera that you can monitor from anywhere.
At Majdas Touch Insurance we are so incredibly thankful for all our customers and clients. We hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
