Making Everyday a little Brighter

• Dog bite liability 
• Grilling safety 
• Home security 
• Lawnmower safety 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are approximately 4.7 million dog bites per year. These bites cost over $1 billion, with the property/casualty insurance industry paying roughly $310 million in 1999, about 20% of total homeowners insurance liability payouts.

Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability. The following tips can help reduce the chances of your dog biting someone:

Have your dog spayed or neutered. These procedures will greatly reduce the likelihood that the dog will bite.

Socialize your dog so that it knows how to act with other people and animals.

Play non-aggressive games with your dog such as "go fetch." Playing aggressive games like "tug-of-war" can encourage inappropriate behavior.

Avoid exposing your dog to situations in which you are unsure what the dog’s response will be. Insurers may charge more for certain breeds of dogs. The following purebreds have been responsible for the greatest number of dog bite-related fatalities over the 20 year period, 1979 to 1998, according to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC - http://www.cdc.gov ). The breeds are listed in declining order of fatalities:

"Pit Bull"
Rottweiler
German Shepherd Dog
"Husky"
Malamute
Doberman Pinscher
Chow Chow
Great Dane
Saint Bernard

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Americans enjoy more than three billion barbecues each year. But barbecuing can be dangerous or even deadly if you are not careful. The following tips can make your grilling experience safer: 

1. When ready to barbecue, protect yourself by wearing a heavy apron and an oven mitt that fits high up over your forearm. 
2. With gas grills, make sure the gas cylinder is always stored outside and away from your house. Make sure the valves are turned off when you are not using them. Check regularly for leaks in the connections using a soap and water mix that will show bubbles where gas escapes. 
3. Barbecue grills should be kept on a level surface away from the house, garage, landscaping, and most of all, children.
4.  For charcoal grills, only use starter fluids designed for those grills. Never use gasoline and use a limited amount of starter fluid. If the fire is too slow, rekindle with dry kindling and add more charcoal if necessary. Never add more liquid fuel or you could end up with a flash fire. 
5. Be sure to soak the coals with water before you put them in the trash. 
6. Always remember that grills remain hot long after you are through barbecuing. 

In case of an emergency 
If you get burned, run cool water over the injury for 10 – 15 minutes. Never put butter or salve on burns because they will seal in the heat and cause further blistering. If you receive a serious burn the sooner you get medical attention the better.

Burglars won't find your home an "easy mark" if they are forced to work in the light, if they have to take a lot of time breaking in, or if they can't break in without making a lot of noise. 

Research shows that if it takes more than four or five minutes to break into a home, the burglar will go elsewhere.

 Most insurance companies provide 2% to 15% discounts for devices that make a home safer -- dead-bolt locks, window grates, bars and smoke/fire/burglar alarms. 

When improving the security of your home, don't exchange security for personal safety. Don't make your home such a fortress that you are unable to escape in case of a fire or other emergency.

 Check your home for weaknesses and correct them

1.  Take the time to "case" your house or apartment, just as a burglar would. Where is the easiest entry? How can you make it more burglar-resistant? 
2. Trim trees and shrubs near doors and windows, and think carefully before installing a high, wooden fence around your back yard. High fences and shrubbery can add to your privacy, but privacy is a burglar's asset. Consider trading a little extra privacy for a bit of added security. 
3. Force any would-be burglar to confront a real enemy -- light. Exterior lights and motion detectors, mounted out of easy reach, can reduce the darkness a burglar finds comforting. 
4. Simple security devices -- nails, screws, padlocks, door and window locks, grates, bars and bolts -- can increase the amount of time it takes to break into your home
5. Invest in a burglar alarm. The most effective ones also ring at an outside service. 
6. Are any of your valuables -- paintings, a silver collection or a computer -- easy to see from outside? Rearranging your furnishings might be advisable if it makes your home less inviting to criminals.

Simple security steps 

1. Doors 
   Make sure you have strong doors. Outside doors should be metal or solid hardwood, and at least 1 3/4 inches thick. Frames must be made of equally strong material, and each door must fit its frame securely. Even the most efficient lock, if it is placed in a weak door, will not keep out a determined burglar. A peephole or a wide-angle viewer in the door is safer for identifying visitors than a door chain.
2. Sliding glass doors present a special problem because they are easy to open, but there are locks designed for them. A broomstick in the door channel can help, but cannot be depended on. 
   
3. Locks
   Deadbolt locks are best. They usually are locked with a key from the outside and a thumb turn on the inside. The cylinder (where the key is inserted) should be pick-resistant. Ask your hardware dealer for a reputable brand or buy your locks from a locksmith.
   
4. Windows 
   Key locks are available for all types of windows. Double-hung windows can be secured simply by "pinning" the upper and lower frames together with a nail, which can be removed from the inside. For windows at street level or on fire escapes, consider installing metal accordion gates. 

Home security habits 

1. Establish a routine to make certain that doors and windows are locked and alarm systems are turned on. 
2. Avoid giving information to unidentified telephone callers and announcing your personal plans in want ads or public notices (such as giving your address when advertising items for sale).
3. Notify the police if you see suspicious strangers in your area. 
4. Don't carry house keys on a key ring bearing your home address or leave house keys with your car in a commercial parking lot or with an attendant. 
5. Don't hide your keys in "secret" places outside your home -- burglars usually know where to look. 

Vacation tips

1. Leave blinds open in their usual position. 
2. Have mail and packages picked up, forwarded or held by the post office. 
3. Lower the sound of your telephone ringer and answering machine so they can't be heard outside.
4. Arrange to have your lawn mowed in summer and your walk and driveway shoveled in winter. 
5. Stop newspaper deliveries.
6. Ask a friend to pick-up "throw-away" newspapers and circulars.
7. Use automatic timers to turn lights on and off in various parts of the house at appropriate times. Consider connecting a radio to a timer.
8. Tell police and dependable neighbors when you plan to be away and join with your neighbors to keep a close watch on what's happening in your area -- working closely with them is a good way to prevent crime.

Each year, approximately 75,000 people are injured seriously enough by lawnmowers to require emergency room medical treatment. Only a small percentage of the injuries are caused by mechanical failure. Most are the result of human error.

Here are some tips to follow before and while mowing your lawn:

1. Become familiar with your mower.
   Read the owner’s manual before using the mower for the first time. Note all safety and operating instructions. Learn the controls well enough to act instantly in an emergency and to stop the machine quickly.
   
2. Proper clothing is essential to protect your body from harm.
   Always wear non-slip shoes instead of tennis shoes or sandals. Steel-toe safety footwear offers the most protection against the blade. Long pants help protect your legs from objects that may be thrown from under the mower. Use ear plugs to prevent hearing loss caused by exposure to the high noise levels.
   
3. Never leave a mower running unattended..
   A mower left running unattended can be fascinating to a child. If the mower has an electric start, the key should never be left in the ignition.
   
4. Always start the mower outdoors.
   Never operate a mower where carbon monoxide can collect, such as in a closed garage, storage shed or basement.
   
5. Police the area.
   Be sure the lawn is free of tree limbs, rocks, wires and other debris, which can get caught up in the blades.
   
6. The main source of danger is the blade.
   To perform its task efficiently, the blade must be sharp and travel at a high speed. It can cause serious injury if a hand or foot is allowed to get under the mower while the engine is running. Never attempt to unclog or work on a lawnmower while the engine is running.
   
7. Disconnect the sparkplug wire.
   Any time it is necessary to reach under the mower, disconnect the spark plug wire to insure that the engine cannot start. It takes a little extra time, but not as long as it does to recover from a serious injury.
   
8. Check for frayed or cut wiring.
   If using an electric lawnmower, wires can easily get cut by the blade. Keep an eye on the wiring as you move the mower and check for frayed or cut wiring every time you mow.