Ways to Prevent a Cooking Fire

Thanksgiving Day is right around the corner and that means cooking in the kitchen for most families.  According to NFIRS and NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of all Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings.  The following tips from the U.S. Fire Administration are ways you can prevent cooking fires in your home not only on Thanksgiving Day, but throughout the year:

  • Stand by your pan: If you leave the kitchen, turn the burner off.
  • Watch what you are cooking: Fires start when the heat is too high.  If you see any smoke or the grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.
  • Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove: Then no one can bump them or pull them over.
  • Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby: Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire.  This will put out the fire.
  • Wear short sleeves or roll your sleeves up.

We hope you stay safe in the kitchen and prevent a devastating cooking fire.

Preventing Wind or Hail Damage to Your Home this Fall

Fall is here and the temperatures are beginning to cool.  However, some days in the fall months can still be quite warm and that means severe weather is still possible.  Storms are not limited to the spring and summer months, so now is a good time to protect your home against wind or hail damage that can come with storms.

Here are some tips that may help protect your home from wind or hail damage:

  • Invest in top-quality roofing and a stronger grade of shingles to fortify your roof. This will help better protect the interior of your home, its contents and you!  And, take the initiative to replace your roof when it has outlived its useful life.  If you are unsure how to measure the life of the roof, contact a local and trusted roofer to give you an idea of when the roof should be replaced.
  • Tie down items such as sheds, trampolines, patio tables etc. and secure chairs.While your home may be able to withstand high winds, these items can act as projectiles and can damage the exterior of your home during high wind events.
  • Consider double pane higher quality windows.
  • If you are considering building a home, there are numerous ways to improve the integrity of your home for very little additional cost. You can find ways to improve the storm worthiness of your new home at https://disastersafety.org

Do you have questions about protecting your home against wind or hail damage?  Has it been a while (over a year) since you updated your home insurance policy? Contact your MAX Agent today and he/she would be happy to assist you with your policy.

Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day

by Karen Morrone, Marketing and Communications Manager

September 13 is Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day.  I think kids taking over the kitchen in my house occurs on a weekly basis as they are teenagers who like to cook and bake for themselves.  In honor of this unique holiday and since this is an insurance blog, I thought it best to share some kitchen safety tips that I use with my children:

  • Review how to properly use a knife. Chopping slowly is perfectly fine and always cut downward and away from the body.  I would like to avoid a trip to the ER.
  • Set a timer. And then remember to turn the oven or stove burner off.  I am still working on that second part with my kids.  Taking your masterpiece out of the oven or off the burner is wonderful, but leaving the oven on or having a pan on the stovetop with nothing in it is not wise.  Fire prevention is key.
  • Be alert. Pay attention at all times when cooking or baking.  Burning yourself is anothe reason I hope to avoid the emergency room.
  • Don’t use oil if you are home alone. I do not allow my children to cook with oil if my husband or I are not home.  According to the NFPA, frying is the greatest risk of a cooking fire and unattended cooking is a leading factor in home cooking fires.  Kids can easily get distracted when cooking (hello cellphone), so take away that risk and save the oil for when an adult is home.

I think I’ll celebrate Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day and have my children make my husband and I a terrific dinner.  Perhaps you too can enjoy some time in the kitchen with your family.  And always remember to be safe while doing so.

HeadshotKaren Morrone

Karen is the Marketing & Communications Manager for MAX where she manages content marketing and social media.  When she’s not at the office, Karen can be found transporting her children to soccer and other after-school activities.  In her “spare time”, you can find her volunteering at scouts, tending to her garden, or baking treats.

Photo by Joelk75

Winter Storm Preparation Tips

We value our Members who choose MAX for their homeowners and farmowners insurance and offer the following actions to protect you and your family, as well as minimize any property damage that might occur from a winter storm:

  • Follow directions from local officials.
  • Build a basic emergency supplies kit with nonperishable food, water and first aid supplies.
  • Charge cell phones, find flashlights, and check batteries.  Do not use candles for emergency lighting.
  • If you have plumbing on outside walls, open your cabinet doors or insulate your pipes to prevent freezing.
  • If pipes do burst due to freezing, turn the water off.  Now is a good time to locate your main water valve shut-off.
  • If the power goes out:
    • Turn off and unplug appliances and electronics to avoid damage from a power surge when it comes back on.
    • Do not use a generator unless it has been properly installed and ventilated to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
    • Learn more about when you can save or throw out food due to power outages by clicking here.
  • If you are using a wood stove, fireplace or space heater, make sure you monitor it and keep all flammable materials away.
  • Do not climb on roofs to remove snow but use a quality snow removal tool instead.
  • When clearing sidewalks, do not overload the shovel and take breaks to prevent injuries.

Above all, we at MAX want you and your family to remain safe through any weather event.  Our Claims Department is standing by at 877-971-6300 dial 5, and is prepared to help and assist with any type of loss coming from a winter storm.  Be safe.

Photo by Gattou – Lucie Provencher

Christmas Tree Safety Tips

by Cher’ Brown, Administrative Coordinator

The first week of December has come and gone.  Perhaps you have a real tree for the Christmas season.  Fire Prevention is crucial when having a real or artificial Christmas tree.  Check out these safety tips for Christmas trees:

  • When choosing a real tree make sure it is freshly cut with flexible needles that don’t break.
  • Artificial trees should be labeled as fire-retardant.
  • Place your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces, candles, heat vents, and radiators.
  • Keep the base filled with water to avoid the real tree from drying out.
  • Turn the lights on the tree off when you go to bed or leaving home.
  • Don’t use any damaged or frayed cords.
  • Use lights rated for indoor use such as LED lights.

source:  http://www.christmastreeassociation.org/Article%20Pages/Fire_safety_tips_for_your_Christmas_tree

Photo by Birdies100