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Tips on Barbecue Safety and How To Save Your Eyebrows
May 20, 2013 By
Pardon the pun, but I only mentioned because it happened to me. Yep. I’ve burnt the eyebrows and the hairs off my arms all in one shot. Or flaming inferno, that is. Had to order Chinese takeout that day for no one wanted to eat the burgers. Even now they still check to see if my eyebrows are intact before they eat anything I grill. So! That is what gave me the idea to blog about barbecue safety and what you shouldn’t do. Besides not following in my flip flops, here’s the deal on barbecue safety.
So, whether you are hot and fast grilling or doing a low and sloooww barbecue, there are a few things you should know to make sure that nothing goes wrong. When you are combining an explosive fuel with hot metals and open flame, it can be a recipe for disaster. So, here are some key pointers.
- Fire is one of the most destructive forces in the universe and every year grills and smokers cause thousands of fires, and hundreds of injuries. You need to know how to control your fire and have a fire extinguisher nearby. Someone should always be in charge of the fire at all times and know how to cut the fuel supply in the event it gets out of control.
- Instruction manual. This is the key! Know your grill before you light up. Don’t assume that your new grill works just like your last one. Some have higher ignition flames than others. I found that one out the hard way.
- Smoke. You need to be careful for smoke contains carbon monoxide, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and other dangerous substances. The PAH is formed when grease burns and it is best not to inhale it in. Enjoy the smell of your grilling from a distance.
- Location of your grill. This is a huge factor to consider for hundreds of people every year cause fires to their homes, garages, patios and apartment buildings. The grill’s instruction manual (yeah, that again) will tell you the minimum distance around your unit that must be kept clear. My suggestion is to take a look at your grill and imagine the worse fire you can. What do you think will catch with it? Also, make sure your location isn’t in the way that people will have to walk by the grill’s hot surfaces. Avoid children’s play areas as well.
- Gas Safety. Take the time to make sure that bugs or critters haven’t obstructed the gas flow. At the first sign of a problem, make sure you turn off your control valves, turn off the fuel tank and disconnect everything.
- If you don’t have gas, you have charcoal. Well, these cause more fires than a gas grill does. The number one problem is lighting the charcoal. Lighter fluid really creates most of the havoc. This is because it turns to a heavy gas at a relatively low temperature and when it burns and evaporates, it explodes. Follow the instructions to the tee of lighting charcoal.
- Grease. These are from the food itself that creates flare-ups in your grill. They can be lethal and when grease collects in your grill and builds up. That is why you need to keep your grill clean at all times.
- Believe it or not, there is another thing that causes cancer. Overcooking your foods at high temperatures, particularly red meat and chicken and causing it to char, forms a cancer causing substance Heterocyclic Amines (HCA). So, to minimize the risk, use marinades, don’t overcook anything, keep grilling at temperature below 600 and use thinner or smaller cuts of meat in kebabs. (Why it isn’t spelled kabobs like it sounds is beyond me.)
- Skip the alcohol when grilling. That’s a no brainer. When you are playing with fire, quite literally, you should keep a clear head. Enjoy the cold one when you are enjoying the food.
So! That is my lesson on Barbecue 101. Take the time to enjoy the rewards of summer with the sun on your back, the metal flipper in your hand, with the smell of the barbecue blowing in the air and lastly, keep your head out of the grill like me, so eyebrows stay intact.
Here at Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Agency our goal is to try to help our viewers by suggesting solutions for all insurance needs. By no means can we address each reader’s specific concerns in every incident. So, we strongly advise to check with an insurance representative to address your specific needs. However, you can also contact us for any questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you. We are able to offer a complete line of personal & commercial insurance products for all of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at www.facebook.com/donmedeiros.
Buying A New Boat? Consider Taking A Boating Course.
May 6, 2013 By
Every year, the U.S. Coast Guard compiles a list of statistics from all fifty states and five U.S. territories of reported recreational boating accidents. The numbers on these reports from year to year are staggering. As of 2011, there was approximately $52 million dollars of property damage as a result of recreational boating accidents and the number one contributing factor towards these accidents was due to the operators’ inattention. [Read more...]
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
April 8, 2013 By
E
very April, the National Safety Council has promoted Distracted Awareness Month and its’ message is to encourage the public to start driving without the use of a cell phone. This year’s theme “What were you thinking?” focuses on educating the public on the distraction to the brain from a cell phone conversation while driving, whether it is a handheld or hands-free device.
It is estimated that one in four crashes are caused by distracted driving of cell phone use and for new teen drivers, it’s the most common and dangerous distraction for them while behind the wheel. According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a third of teens self-reported texting or emailing while driving and the statistics of fatal crashes for this same age group shows that 19 percent were in fact distracted by the use of cell phones.
Text messaging is especially dangerous while driving and creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted. Texting takes a driver’s attention away from the road for approximately 4.6 seconds and at 55MPH that is like driving an entire length of a football field blindfolded. Watch the following YouTube video that shows just how easy it is to be distracted by a text message. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnw_7xI5klM&feature=youtu.be
Since Distracting Driving has been such a rising concern, state laws have been put in place to strongly discourage the use of cell phones while driving. As of March 2013, 10 states have instituted a hand-held cell phone ban for all drivers, with all but two making it a primary offense. No state bans all cell phone use for all drivers, but 34 states ban all cell phone use by novice drivers. Texting while driving is banned in 39 states with all but four making it a primary offense. An additional six states prohibit text messaging by novice drivers. To view the cell phone use laws for your state, visit this link.
The best way to end distracted driving is to educate everyone about the danger it poses. On this page, you can find facts and statistics that are powerfully persuasive. Please take a moment to learn more about Distracted Driving and its’ risks and share the information with your family and friends. Together, we can help save lives.
Here at Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Agency our goal is to try to help our viewers by suggesting solutions for all insurance needs. By no means can we address each reader’s specific concerns in every incident. So, we strongly advise you to check with an insurance representative to address your specific needs. However, you can also contact us for any questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you. We can offer a complete line of personal & commercial insurance products for all of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at http://www.facebook.com/donmedeiros.
What Is A Good Age To Start Considering Long-Term Insurance?
March 29, 2013 By
Ideally, between the ages of 50 and 65.
This age group begins to think realistically about retirement and is actively planning for that golden day. Usually, they will have the other financial requirements behind them at that point such as a mortgage, college tuition and the like. So, planning for the financial impact of retirement is the next logical choice. With that, it is prudent to take into consideration the likelihood of falling sick when you are retired. This is where Long-Term Care Insurance is a wise choice.
There are some misconceptions when it comes to Long-Term Care Insurance that we are going to cover. The main one is that it is too expensive; the second is that there is no option for At-Home Care and then lastly, that you are too young to purchase it. None of which is true.
Let’s talk about its’ cost. If you have a yearly premium of say $3,000, that amount could easily be absorbed in just a few short weeks in a long-term care facility. Imagine having to pay that expense out-of-pocket when you are retired? According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, the average annual premium for a 50-year old purchasing a typical policy will pay a daily $200 benefit for 3 years with a 3% compound inflation option is $2,235 annually, that’s right annually. The average annual cost for an Assisted Living Facility with a 1 bedroom in Massachusetts is $55,050! You can click on this link to view the average cost of Assisted Living for your state.
When it comes to Long-Term Care Insurance it is very customizable. The big benefit is that you can receive care in the comfort of your own home, which most would prefer. But, there are other choices and one is Assisted Living Care which has the added benefit that is close to the comfort of home because it allows for independent living and privacy with the additional services that are included such as housekeeping & meals. The least desirable but usually a necessary option, is a nursing facility where there is a medical staff onsite to take care of patients that are in need of extensive round the clock care.
Long-Term Care Insurance is another pot of money that consumers can use to help retire and age in the lifestyle that they desire. It can be applied towards the cost of care, however, there are some instances it may not cover all costs. So, the earlier you start to contribute, the larger the pot of money will be. The providers of Long-Term Care Insurance look at the risk, which is the likelihood of you falling sick, so the younger and healthier you are, the cheaper the insurance will be and the less you’ll pay in premiums. Premiums are fixed like Life Insurance so they cannot cancel or increase your rate, unless there is a general rate increase across the board.
There is quite a bit of information to think about when considering Long-Term Care Insurance. But, there one thing that is for sure, that we will all grow old. If you are able to stay healthy and live independently in your own home to the end of your days, you will be one of the very few who are very lucky to be able to do that.
Here at Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Agency our goal is to try to help our viewers by suggesting solutions for all insurance needs. By no means can we address each reader’s specific concerns in every incident. So, we strongly advise you to check with an insurance representative to address your specific needs. However, you can also contact us for any questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you. We can offer a complete line of personal & commercial insurance products for all of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at http://www.facebook.com/donmedeiros.
Homeowners Insurance Trivia: When A Neighbor’s Tree Hits Your House, Who Pays?
March 7, 2013 By
Believe it or not, you do. Or rather your homeowners insurance does.
Most tree-falling incidents are generally caused by “acts of God” such as ice, heavy winds, lighting, wind and snow, and are considered uncontrollable events which no one is held liable for the destruction that it creates. So, in that case, if your home is struck by a neighbor’s tree during a storm, your homeowner insurance will cover the damage done to your house, as well as any contents that are affected. So, as a general rule, the person whose insured structure (house, shed, garage, pool, etc) that is damaged should be the one to file the claim with his or her own insurer. Besides covering the structure, the home insurance policy may also pay up to $1,000 for tree removal as well. But please note that it won’t pay for its removal if the tree did not strike anything.
However, there is only one exception to this rule and that is if the tree was in poor condition and you have documented proof (a letter to your neighbor and photos of the tree) indicating your concern about its deteriorating condition. Therefore a question of negligence can be raised and you, the property owner, may seek to hold the tree owner liable. In either case, you should still notify your home insurance company and give them all the details about your claim. Your insurer may be able to collect from your neighbor’s policy on the grounds that he or she was negligent with proper care of the tree and you may be reimbursed for your deductible.
In another scenario, what if your car was damaged by a fallen tree? Here is where your auto insurance policy may provide coverage if you carry comprehensive coverage on your policy. Comprehensive coverage will pay for damages to your car body, windshields or mirrors. But, you will be responsible for paying whatever deductible your policy requires before coverage kicks in. However, if your car is damaged to the point that it costs too much to repair, your insurance company could declare the car totaled and you will be paid for its cash value.
Helpful hint: As a good measure, it is always smart sense to keep any large trees trimmed to keep them from getting too top heavy, especially pines whom greenery adds additional weight to the tree. You will find that this regular yearly maintenance will pay off in the long run, especially during some of the severe storms.
Here at Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Agency our goal is to try to help our viewers by suggesting solutions for all insurance needs. By no means can we address each reader’s specific concerns in every incident. So, we strongly advise to check with an insurance representative to address your specific needs. However, you can also contact us for any questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you. We are able to offer a complete line of personal & commercial insurance products for all of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at www.facebook.com/donmedeiros.
