House passes major Flood Insurance legislation: most coastal flood rates to increase, broader coverage options coming!

Image via Wikipedia

On July 12, 2011 the House of Representatives passed a bill (HR 1309) that will fundamentally change the National Flood Insurance Program, the public’s main outlet for flood insurance.  The bill passed by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 402 to 22.  An amendment to close the whole program was roundly defeated.  Senate passage is expected, though when is uncertain.

The existing program was in trouble.  Congress missed four reauthorization deadlines last year, meaning the program lapsed four times for several days at a time, creating havoc in the real estate and insurance markets.  In addition, a lingering debt of $18 billion remains on the books from 2005 (mostly Hurricane Katrina); a hurricane in any metropolitan area in Florida or the Gulf could double that loss in a weekend.  The 112th Congress is less inclined to accept these kinds of unpredictable expenses, and the bill seems to reflect this change in attitude.

The National Flood insurance program has been around for decades and today is the primary vehicle for providing insurance for about 5.5 million property owners around the country.  Locally, many homes from Quincy to Plymouth and hundreds more on the Cape have been rebuilt with NFIP insurance.

Conceptually the National Flood Insurance Program makes sense: private insurers are reluctant to insure against losses that are geographically concentrated because of an insurance concept known as ‘spread of risk’.  A single company can’t accept such concentrated risk without putting its own balance sheet on the line.  The national government can spread risk better: they collect premiums for spring river overflows in the Midwest, winter nor’easters in New England, and fall hurricanes in the Gulf.  The problem is that the current rates are not developed with the same detail as private insurers need when trying to make a profit.  To wit, in 2006, the year after over $17 billion in losses, NFIP rates actually went down.  This pricing failure leads to a problem known as ‘adverse selection’: flood insurance is a great deal if you’re really near the water; it’s not a great deal if you’re only mildly exposed to flood waters.  Thus, the people at the greatest risk get the best (most subsidized) deal.  This is not a formula for long term survival, or even a break-even program.  Consider the findings of a 2006 Congressional Research Service study: the program operated at a loss for 19 of the previous 34 years.  This spring’s midwestern floods likely contributed to pressure for overhaul.  In its existing form, it is truly another disaster waiting to happen.

The program has also been criticized for promoting development in environmentally sensitive coastal areas.  While coastal development was seen as a positive thing 40-50 years ago, today many voters prefer to see remaining undeveloped coastal land and wetlands set aside for conservation.

In the bill passed by the House, rates will be transitioned gradually to risk based premiums.  Many properties with multiple claims will see lower subsidies, and in some cases, insurance may be refused altogether.  During the transition phase, annual premium increases, previously limited to 10% per year, will be capped at 20% per year.  Other features include minimum $2,000 deductibles on subsidized rate properties, and $1,000 deductibles on risk rated properties.  The bill also established a ‘Technical Mapping Advisory Council’ to develop new mapping standards.  In short, the NFIP is transitioning in a direction toward the way for-profit companies measure and charge for risk.

Because of the transition to risk based pricing, some new options will become available: annual increases indexed to inflation, and additional living expenses common with homeowners insurance.  Business income loss will be offered for business properties.  Importantly, the bill reauthorizes the program through 2016, which will provide a measure of certainty severely lacking in previous years.

The bill’s author, U.S. Representative Judy Biggert, R-Ill., said after the vote, this “eliminates barriers to the development of a private flood insurance market, and helps take taxpayers out of the risk business. The NFIP is too important to let lapse, and too in debt to continue without reform. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to speed this legislation to the President’s desk.”  Locally, Congressman Bill Keating of the 10^th Congressional district and Stephen Lynch of the 9^th, both voted for the bill.  More detailed summaries of the bill are available at thomas.gov site linked here.

For most homeowners along the coast, this will mean higher flood insurance costs beginning this fall.  There are still steps homeowners can take to reduce costs, and to control what kind of insurance you need to buy. Those steps include:

• Know what zone you are in; if you buy insurance before your local flood map changes, you should be grandfathered to the existing zone. View FEMA’s map pages here
• If you are in a n A, B, or X zone, getting an Elevation Certificate from a qualified engineer may help you especially if you are on or near the border of a lower rated zone (Your home might be in a better place than the map says).
• For more about coastal insurance for your home, visit www.agordon.com/home.
  Consider mitigation practices such as those recommended by FEMA and other construction experts.

The bill had broad support from insurance companies and agency groups for improving the predictability and sustainability of the program’s future.   For more about what you can do to contain the cost of insuring property along the coast, visit www.agordon.com/home for more.

Geoff Gordon

Related articles

• House acts to overhaul flood insurance program (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

The top 10 cheapest and most expensive 2011 cars to insure

Image via Wikipedia

A new year means many things for car buyers; new safety ratings, new models, and new costs. Another aspect of a car search to consider is the cost of Auto insurance; preferably before Royce rolls his brand new auto from the lot.

Fortunately, Insure.com has done the world a great service by ranking the most expensive and least expensive cars to insure. Most of the cars on these lists will come as no surprise to you, but nonetheless good information to have before you adventurously strike out to haggle with the peddlers of the automobile world.

Least Expensive (2011)(Cheapest first) Chrysler Town and Country LX Toyota Sienna Toyota Sienna LE Honda Odyssey LX Nissan Murano Jeep Wrangler Honda Odyssey EX Toyota Sienna Ford Escape Toyota Highlander

Most Expensive (2011)(Most expensive first) Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG BMW 750i BMW 750Li Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG Aston Martin DB9 Mercedes-Benz CL600 Porsche 911 Carrera S Aston Martin DB9 Volante Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG

It’s important to note that the car you drive is NOT the only factor that affects your auto insurance rates. Several other factors, including age, gender, area of residence, and annual mileage also play a part in determining the number at the bottom of your car insurance bill. We’ve also written about how each of these affects your insurance, if you’re interested.

As for the car itself, there are reasons that some cost more to insure than others. This is due to safety ratings, top speed, anti-theft devices, and cost. It makes sense that a fast, poorly protected car will be the apple of a thief’s eye and therefore cost more to insure.

Performance: what can this baby do on the highway?

If your car’s engine could power a third world village, your insurance is going to be higher. Insurance companies have to assume that high performance cars are bought for just that reason: to drive fast and practice risky driving behaviors. If you want to keep your insurance low, stay away from performance vehicles.

Foreign Cars:

If your dream car has parts from obscure companies and/or locations, beware. Should you get into an accident (even a minor fender bender), the replacement parts will be much more costly than high supply auto parts. That factors into your insurance cost; in fact, it may factor in even more in the future if gas (and thus shipping) prices continue to rise.

Bigger is not always better:

First and foremost: YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY SAFER IN A BIGGER CAR. There are many large trucks and SUVs that have inherent safety flaws.  Consult crash test reviews and data before you commit to a larger car. However, even if safer, SUVs are not necessarily the best way to obtain low car insurance. Big cars tend to have a higher liability coverage rate because they do more damage to other cars in accidents.

Consider a ‘family car’:

Remember the ‘high performance, high insurance’ paragraph? Well the converse is also true. Cars associated with ‘routine, safe’ driving behavior are going to cost you less. These are the cars that many think of as ‘family vehicles’: minivans, station wagons, and family sedans. This is due to the fact that ‘family vehicles’ are statistically involved in fewer crashes than other types of cars; therefore, they will cost you less to insure.

 Remember:  insurance companies play a game of numbers; if your car is going to cost more to replace, then you’re going to pay more for it.  With that in mind, go forth and buy the right car for you and your insurer.

And, of course, if you find yourself in an auto insurance pinch, look to Gordon Insurance: we provide both a wealth of information on our website and would be happy to place you with the right insurance agency for you.

Memories

Image via Wikipedia

Remember when:

• It took 2 minutes for the TV to warm up
• Your dad made all the decisions
• Your windshield was cleaned, radiator & oil checked and gas served, without asking, all for free, each & every time
•  Car keys were always ‘stored’ in the ignition
• Hula hoops, Jacks & Pick up sticks
• Penny candy that cost a penny
• Home milk delivery in glass bottles
• 33’s & 45’s played on Hi Fi record players
• Adding machines, mimeograph machines &  typewriters
• Water balloon fights
• A neighbor’s new car was the talk of the neighborhood
• Chinese food was an occasional treat
• Suits, ties, hats, dresses & gloves were worn to church and on airplanes
• Bundle boys carried your groceries to your car
• Sen Sen
• Brill Cream-  “ A little dab will do ya”
• Scooter pies
• Kerosene smudge pots used as highway flares
• Car tires had inner tubes
• Wallpaper was hung with wheat paste and every room was wallpapered.
• All barbeque grills used briquettes
• Stores and malls were closed on Sundays
• You had to manually defrost your freezer
• Polaroid instant cameras
• The Ivory Soap twins
• “Winston tastes good, like a cigarette should”
• Pepsi Cola hits the spot, 10 full ounces, that’s a lot!Remember the slogan, “Your Independent Insurance Agent serves you first”? At A. Gordon Insurance, times haven’t changed. Our friendly staff at A. Gordon Insurance continues to put you first!

Risk in Perspective: Insight and Humor in the Age of Risk Management

Related articles

• Insurance 101 for Generation X (agordonins.wordpress.com)

How is the Cost of my Car Insurance Policy Determined?

Courtesy of Google Images

Have you ever wondered how your car insurance rates are calculated?  What affects that number on the bottom of the page? Here’s the answer:

1. What type of car you drive- some cars cost more to insure than others do. Your rate can be affected by how likely your car is to be stolen, its age, the cost of any future repairs, and how safe it is (or isn’t).
2. Your driving record- your driving record largely determines how well you drive (at least in the eyes of your insurance provider). The fewer incidents you’ve been involved in, the lower your premium will be. If you have a slew of accidents and driving violations on your road resume, expect to pay significantly more than if you have a clean record.
3. Where you live- Outside of your own driving ability, some areas are simply safer to drive in than others, both in terms of crime and accident statistics. Your rate can vary depending upon where you garage your car as well.
4. The number of miles you drive each year- Statistics says by the law of large numbers that the probability of an accident increases with the amount that you drive. Therefore expect a higher rate if you put hefty mileage onto your vehicle each year.
5. Your age- Young drivers (especially males) will have to pay augmented rates. Generally insurance providers divide the “steps” into drivers who have been on the road for under three years, three to six years, and more than six years.
6. Your credit- for many insurance providers, your credit score can have an impact on your insurance rates.
7. Coverage- like any other insurance rate, the price is partially determined by the coverage you already have. Make sure you shop around and get the best possible price for the coverage you need.

The good news: There are a variety of auto insurance discounts available to insureds. Here’s a video made by our agency that explains the various discounts you may be eligible for:

Corbin Foucart
Andrew G. Gordon Insurance

MA Accident Coverage

Image courtesy of thecarconnection.com

When the inevitable happens……

If you are on the roads driving at all, it is usually only a matter of time until you get in one – an accident, fender bender, crash, whatever you call it, it never happens at the “right” time.  Well, it happened to me a couple of weeks ago and although it was minor, it still does seem to shake you up.

I have been in the insurance business for about 25 years but still had to think about what information I would need to collect at the scene.  What I did use was the Accident Reporting Form that we include in the plastic registration holders that we have in the office.  (Please call (781-659-2262), stop by (680 Main St, Norwell), mail (PO Box 299, 02061) or email us here if you would like one.)  You will have all necessary information in order to call in the accident if you complete this form. 

You can visit our website to find the phone numbers of the company here so that you can call the claim in directly to the company.  They do like to hear from the drivers directly and they can set up an appointment with you to look at your car.  If you need to complete a Crash Report you can download one from our website and mail to us; we will be more than happy to make copies and forward them as necessary. 

Although it is never a pleasant experience, we are here to help you through  the process.

In the meantime…drive carefully!!

 Sue Renfrew  
Andrew G. Gordon, Inc.

Related Articles

• Car Crashes: a word to the wise from the not-so-wise (agordonins.wordpress.com)

Appealing a Surcharge

 

Before you start the process of appealing a surcharge, it is important to first understand how the Merit Rating Board and Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) work.

 The Merit Rating Board:

All Massachusetts auto insurance companies are required to report at-fault accidents and out-of-state driving records to the Merit Rating Board (MRB). The MRB is the state agency that maintains driving records.
The MRB driving record consists of surchargeable incidents. A surchargeable incident is any event in which you are:

1. Convicted of, or pay a fine for, a motor vehicle violation
2. Assigned to an alcohol education program or controlled substance treatment or rehabilitation program
3. Found to be more than 50 percent at fault for an accident, and your insurance company makes a claim payment above a certain threshold

If you decide not to pursue an appeal, the surcharge can increase your premium and SDIP step.
In addition, each surchargeable incident counts toward possible license suspension.

You are considered to be more than 50 percent at fault in an accident if your insurance company:

1. Finds you at fault according to one of the 19 At-Fault Standards  and
2. Has paid a claim of more than $500 for Collision, Limited Collision, Damage to Someone Else’s Property, or Bodily Injury to Others.

Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP)
The Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP) is mandated by state law to establish classifications of risks to fairly reflect the driving records of insureds and adjust premiums based in part on at-fault accidents. The Plan encourages safe driving by rewarding drivers who do not cause accidents or incur traffic law violations with a credit to their automobile insurance premiums, and discourages unsafe driving by requiring high-risk drivers to pay a greater share of insurance costs. Massachusetts, unlike many comparable jurisdictions that afford no or limited due process rights, provides the right to a hearing before an impartial hearing officer of the Board.

If you believe that you are not more than 50% at-fault for an accident in which you received a surcharge, you may appeal the motor vehicle accident surcharge to the Division of Insurance Board of Appeal.

Your insurance company will mail you a Notice of Surcharge.

1. If any of the information listed on the Surcharge Notice is incorrect (name, driver’s license number or date of accident), contact the issuing insurance company to make the corrections before appealing.
2. If you do not receive a Surcharge Notice or misplace it:
3. Contact your insurance agent for a copy of the Surcharge Notice     OR
4. Request a late appeal from the Merit Rating Board.
5. Complete the Surcharge Appeal Form located on the reverse side of the Notice of Surcharge.

• The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the surcharge date.
• If you did not submit your appeal within 30 days because you never received a Surcharge Notice, you must obtain a Late Appeal from the Merit Rating Board. The Board of Appeal must receive the Late Appeal within 30 days of your policy renewal.

1. Submit a $50.00 check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts/Board of Appeal.

• The fee is non-refundable.

1. Mail your appeal to the post office box designated on the application. Late appeals must be sent directly to the Division of Insurance, Board of Appeal.
2. Upon receipt of your surcharge application, the Board will mail you a postcard to acknowledge your appeal. Your cancelled check will serve as an additional receipt of your filing.
3. The Board will mail you a Notice of Hearing approximately 3 weeks prior to your hearing date.
4. Appeal hearings are scheduled in Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Peabody, Plymouth, Somerville, Springfield, Waltham, or Worcester. Carefully note the location of your hearing listed on the Notice. Directions are included at the bottom of the Hearing Notice.
5. Upon receipt of the Hearing Notice, you have three options for which to pursue the appeal:
1. Appear in Person.
   Bring your Hearing Notice to the scheduled location.
   Bring copies of all relevant information, any documents/photographs etc. that you want the Hearing Officer to consider when making the decision.
2. Submit a Written Statement in lieu of your appearance.
   The Board must receive your written or typed statement via mail or facsimile at least 5 days priorto your hearing. The statement must include:
• copies of all relevant information, any documents/photographs etc. that you want the Hearing Officer to consider in making the decision
• your signature on the Hearing Notice that identifies you are waiving a personal appearance in favor of your written statement & affirms that your statement is truthful.
3. Select a representative to appear on your behalf.
   If you elect to submit a written statement via a representative, instead of appearing in person, it must include:
   • Copies of all relevant information, any documents/photographs etc. that you want the Hearing Officer to consider in making the decision
   • your signature on the Hearing Notice that identifies you are waiving a personal appearance in favor of your written statement & affirms that your written statement is truthful.

The hearing is informal and public, lasting approximately 20 – 30 minutes. The Hearing Officer will make an audio tape recording of the hearing. You and your insurance company representative will be given an opportunity to present all pertinent information. You may also bring a witness or a witness statement to the hearing. The Hearing Officer may ask you or the representative questions to clarify the information presented or the circumstances of the accident.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Hearing Officer will take your appeal under advisement. The facts and circumstances presented will be reviewed in accordance with the governing laws and regulations.

The Memorandum of Finding and Order, the Board’s decision, will be mailed to you within 2-4 weeks. The Board will also contact the Commonwealth’s Merit Rating Board and your insurance company so that your driving history record will be properly updated.

• If the decision is marked VACATE, the Board has found that you were not more than 50% at-fault for the accident. Any points that you received on your driving record as a result of the accident will be removed.
• If the decision is marked UPHELD, the Board has found that you were more than 50% at-fault for the accident. The surcharge points will remain on your driving record.

If you disagree with the determination of the Board, you may appeal the decision to your county’s Superior Court or in Boston Suffolk County Court. You must file this appeal within 30 days of your receipt of the decision.
A surcharge incurred due to a traffic violation or a non-moving violation are not appealable to the Board…

Bill Cordaro
Commercial Accounts
Andrew G. Gordon, Inc.

Related Articles

• What is an insurance surcharge (wiki.answers.com)

Accident Prevention: Defensive Driving Course

Image courtesy of the Patriot Ledger

A recent Facebook posting by a friend shows a picture of the family car on its side with the passenger side crushed.  Luckily no one was hurt in this accident which happened when their teenage son was driving to school on a snowy “spring” day that was surprisingly slick and dangerous.  Unfortunately, on the way to school accidents are quite common as new and newish drivers are on their own for the first time in conditions that as “permit” drivers they might not have encountered.

Unanticipated conditions are often met with panic and reactions that aggravate rather than help.  Here on the South Shore there is a driving school that is dedicated to helping drivers cope with realistic, emergency situations.   Unlike pre-licensed driving and class courses, this school, which is run by professional race car drivers, puts the driver into “controlled” situations like spin-outs, mock accidents, slick driving conditions and shows the driver how to deal with such encounters.

My own family members have taken advantage of this course and felt that it was invaluable as well as a lot of fun.  You can link to a 10% discount for this course from our website www.agordon.com/auto or go straight to the discounted sign-up page here: http://driveincontrol.com/agordoninsurance/

 

Kay Gordon
Andrew G. Gordon, Inc.

.

Insurance in the Courtroom: Are You Covered?

Image via geneticsandsociety.org

Many people feel that we now live in a litiginous society.  We hear about lawsuits being filed for injuries resulting from seemingly minor auto accidents or slip and fall injuries at residences.  With this trend in filing lawsuits, we strongly recommend that our insureds consider purchasing an excess liability, or umbrella, policy to protect their assets.  These would include any homes or properties owned, vehicles, boats, retirement income, etc.  Coverage can be purchased starting at $1M in coverage for a relatively low premium and can often be endorsed onto the existing homeowner policy.

One might think that only well-established people would need this coverage but we have learned that even the young who may not yet own any property or have older vehicles of insignificant value should also consider this coverage.  In the event of an at fault auto accident which may have caused injuries to others, a law suit may be filed against the young operator with no assets and a judgment may be assessed to garnish future wages for many years.  A $1M umbrella would certainly help in such a situation as not only would the settlement amount be paid for under the umbrella but also the defense costs are built into this coverage.

It is extremely important that one protects the assets that could be made available to someone who has been successful in obtaining a judgment against you.

Another factor to consider in protecting yourself is not only to purchase this excess liability coverage but also to try to eliminate the potential risks for injury.  When driving an auto, avoid alcohol, cell phone usage, and other distractions while observing the rules of the road and maintaining safe speed limits.  At residences, paths should be kept clear of ice and snow in the winter and smoke & carbon monoxide detectors  should be maintained in proper working order.  Power tools, weapons, and alcohol should be kept under lock and key and toys and gardening tools should not be left where visitors could trip or fall.  If there is a swimming pool or pets, verify that you are complying with town ordinance requirements for the pool’s fencing and gates as well as pet restraints. 

It is not our intent to alarm anyone but rather to educate people by making them aware of their ability to keep themselves and their assets protected.

For additional information on other insurance coverages or to read some of our other informative blogs, please visit our website at www.agordon.com.

Donna Bellavance
Andrew G. Gordon, Inc.

Car Crashes: a word to the wise from the not-so-wise

Image via Wikipedia

Let it be stated for the record that I, Corbin Foucart, am henceforth a TERRIBLE driver. This shall be reflected in both my crushed ego and in my insurance premium. However, until 6:57 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, April 1st 2011, I considered myself a good driver. Why the transformation? Because that morning I took my cherished 1994 Honda CR-V and slammed it into a tree.

Now some explanation. I don’t have the right to make excuses; I was ENTIRELY at fault, BUT…

1. The roads were slippery. It was snowing on April 1st!!
2. The roads on which I drove were untouched by plows.
3. Another student totaled her car on the same road that morning. Misery loves company.
4. I was going around a curve
5. I was going very slowly (Less than 20 mph). The airbags didn’t go off, and there was barely an impact.

…but I know that I should have been traveling even slower.

As I rounded the curve, the Honda began to slip off the road. Threshold braking did not help at all. Under different circumstances, I would have described the “crunch” sound as very satisfying. At the moment, it sounded like the lid of my own coffin closing. I tried shifting into reverse and backing out, but the Honda had grown attached to the tree and was holding it in a twisted metal embrace. So I called home. Uh oh.

My mom actually thought it was an April fool’s joke. I had to repeat myself several times before she understood that I wasn’t pulling her leg.

 I totaled the car; even though it wasn’t that bad of a crash, the undercarriage was bent.

What I find weird is that it wasn’t a stereotypical ‘bad morning’. I’d been accepted by Stanford, my dream school, the day before and that morning I was still running on a feeling of elation.  I was in no rush, and was looking forward to the day. Needless to say, the collision brought me crashing –no pun intended- back down to Earth. In the grand scheme of things, a totaled car is a small price to pay for my sister’s life and my own, but still frustrating nevertheless. The very sobering reality is that now I have no personal freedom to travel where I please. Doing things I took for granted with a car now has to be coordinated in advance.  

An interesting article by Insurance journal (which is worth having your teen read, by the way) states the a new study showed that the vast majority of teen crashes are caused by failing to scan for possible hazards, speeding, or becoming distracted. While I would argue that my personal case falls under the category of “poor weather or road conditions”, which they cite as rare, I know from the vast majority of accidents and fender-benders my peers are involved in that these three causes are legitimate. Another student I know totalled his car earlier in the year going to fast and driving into a rock wall. Another student did the exact same thing last month. Another student I know hit a tree while texting in the car. I’m sure as a reader you can think of countless similar anecdotal evidence to support the article’s conclusions.

The moral of the story to me is that accidents can happen WHENEVER you let your guard down.  Be safe, be vigilant, and as I’ve learned, BE SLOW!

The tree could not be reached for comment.

Spring Risks & Safety Tips

Picture from http://www.bambooandtikis.com

With spring right around the corner and outdoor activities on the rise, it is important that homeowners be aware of the potential for backyard accidents to occur.  Keeping in mind the millions of people that are injured annually in household mishaps, below is a list of recommendations pertaining to equipment utilized daily by all of us. Keep these tips in mind when enjoying the warmer weather:

1. Ladders:  Whether cleaning the gutters or doing some painting touch-ups, make sure the ladder base is not too close to the supporting object; the ladder’s stability will be compromised.  Most ladder injuries occur from overreaching or standing on a rung that’s too high, so if it’s out of reach, reposition the ladder and try again. 
2. Grills: Although it seems unlikely that anything unpleasant could come from a device that gives us hot dogs, remember that a grill is a fire hazard that should be kept at least 3 feet from the house. Smokey the Bear, a fire and woodland damage consultant for A. G. Gordon, would also suggest that you NEVER leave your grill unattended. 
3. Lawn Mowers:  Before you begin the time-honored battle of nature vs. machine known to most as “mowing the lawn”, take a walk around your yard and clear any debris. Lawn ornaments deep in the recesses of unkempt grass are a lot less cute when they are ejected from a lawnmower at dangerous speeds. Some other good practices include: shutting the lawnmower off when reaching down anywhere near the ground and keeping children away while mowing.
4. Playground Sets:  Monitor children at all times.  Make sure equipment is not too high for their ages.  The rule of thumb: no higher than 6 feet for ages under 5, 8 feet for school age children.
5.  Trampolines:  Do not let the trampoline become overcrowded. Trampolines have weight limits, and any activity where one has to avoid the flying bodies of others is generally a hazardous environment for kids. Somersaults and tricks should be discouraged, especially with other children on the trampoline. 

1. Pools:  If you have a gate, make sure it’s locked when the pool isn’t in use.  NEVER let young kids go in the pool unattended. 
2. Pets (not equipment, but still important):  Watch out for dangers from the pesticides and fertilizers used in yards and gardens as well as being poisoned by eating certain plants, such as oleander, azaleas, and lilies.

 

Enjoy the great weather and be safe!

Donna B.

G. Gordon, Inc.
Insurance & Risk Management

Related Articles

• Choosing The Right Type Of Mower For Your Lawn (allhome-improve.com)