{"id":759,"date":"2018-12-14T15:47:13","date_gmt":"2018-12-14T21:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insuringky.com\/blog\/?p=759"},"modified":"2018-12-14T15:47:16","modified_gmt":"2018-12-14T21:47:16","slug":"tis-the-season-for-insurance-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insuringky.com\/blog\/tis-the-season-for-insurance-claims\/","title":{"rendered":"Tis the season for insurance claims"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The holiday season has arrived<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What are your least favorite things about the holidays? Don\u2019t get me wrong, the period between Thanksgiving and New Year\u2019s Day is a wonderful time of year. For many of us in Kentucky, the holiday period ranks right up there with Selection Sunday and the Final Four. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the magic of the holiday season, there is often more Christmas Hassle than there is Cheer! My list of holiday hang-ups is pretty long:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shopping Risk<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Shopping
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Too much Traffic
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Shopping Malls
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 More Distractions
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Parking to Shop
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 There is never enough time and\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0even less during the holidays
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Shoppers that jaywalk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s no wonder that auto accidents increase during the holidays. The last-minute rush for gifts doesn\u2019t mix well with the office parties serving too much holiday cheer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Drive Defensively
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Avoid extra frustration
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Manage stress
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Stay on top changes in the weather
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 And don\u2019t drink and drive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The holidays are also a bad time for home insurance claims. Recent statistics from the National Fire Protection Association show that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 there are 800 home fires each year due to holiday decorations
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 23 home candle fires each day
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 o Over half of all home decoration fires are started by candles
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 o The three worst days for candle fires:
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\uf0a7 Christmas
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\uf0a7 New Year\u2019s Day
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\uf0a7 New Year\u2019s Eve
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 There are 471 home fires each day as a result of cooking.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 o The leading cause, almost 1\/3rd of all cooking-related fires are a\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 result of unattended cooking
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 o Electric ranges have a higher risk than gas
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Fireworks: Ten% of all fireworks-related fires occur during the days just before and after New Years
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2022 Christmas trees can be blamed for 170 home fires each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

33% of all Christmas tree fires occur in January. How many days are you people leaving your Christmas trees up? There aren\u2019t a lot of hard and fast New Year\u2019s Day traditions at our house. Some years we have cooked cabbage, other years we had black-eyed peas. Cornbread, greens, pork and various other foods have made their way to our New Year\u2019s Day table, all in hopes of good luck for the coming year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there is one tradition that we have observed every year that we have been married. The Christmas tree and other decorations come down. No discussion. I\u2019ve seen others that suggest that January 5th or 6th is the proper day to take your tree down as that is the 12th day or the end of the celebration of the birth of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if trees are coming down on the 5th or 6th of January how can 33% of all Christmas tree fires occur in January. I am sure that some of you are procrastinating, but I think that the high number of January fires is due to dry trees. Below are my thoughts on how to eliminate homeowner\u2019s insurance claims related to Christmas trees:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
  1. Obviously how long you leave your tree up impacts the risk of having a fire. But studies have indicated that you can significantly extend the fresh life of your tree by watering regularly. Daily versus weekly watering may double, triple, even quadruple the moisture content of a tree cut for two months. WATER, WATER, WATER, the more you WATER he longer your tree will remain fresh and safe.<\/li>
  2. The most important advice to maintain a new Christmas tree is WATER. Water your tree daily my personal opinion is to avoid additives. Just Water. Tap water is fine. And never use the spay on tree fresheners.<\/li>
  3. When you get home with your tree, cut an inch of the bottom to improve the tree\u2019s ability to take up water.<\/li>
  4. WATER your tree daily. One quart of water per inch your trees stem diameter <\/li>
  5. Do not place your tree near a heat source.<\/li>
  6. It is IMPORTANT TO WATER YOUR TREE DAILY<\/li>
  7. Do not put your tree in an area that will expose the tree to changes in temperatures. Placing your tree to close to a door that is used regularly will lead to premature dring.<\/li>
  8. Daily WATERING improves the trees moisture content which will increase the time your tree will be fresh and reduce fire risk.<\/li>
  9. Turn lights off when you leave the room.<\/li>
  10. BUT WATER the tree before you leave the room <\/li>
  11. Keep the tree away from all open flames. Candles, fireplace, kitchen and other equipment that could increase the fire hazard.<\/li>
  12. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WATERING YOUR TREE REGULARLY. WHEN I SAY REGULARLY, I AM STRONGLY SUGGESTING THAT YOU WATER YOUR TREE DAILY.<\/li>
  13. Don\u2019t remove the bark even to get the tree to fit in your stand. Buy a bigger stand.<\/li>
  14. You don\u2019t need a hole in the bottom of your tree to improve water absorption.<\/li>
  15. Use low heat lights<\/li>
  16. Don\u2019t overload your circuits. <\/li>
  17. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Great insurance is just the starting point for sound risk management. Taking the extra step to avoid risky situation further reduces your exposure to a financial loss. By reducing the number of car insurance claims and home insurance claims you should also be rewarded with more competitive insurance premiums in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"

    From all of us at TruePoint Insurance,
    We wish you a safe and Merry Christmas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Festive holidays can quickly become nightmares. Here are a few tips that might help you enjoy a safer Christmas this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[811,813,812,819,809,810,808,814,818,27,816,815,817],"class_list":["post-759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-insurance","tag-christmas-insurance-claims","tag-christmas-shopping-accidents","tag-christmas-tree-fire","tag-christmas-tree-safety","tag-holiday-exposures","tag-holiday-insurance-claims","tag-holiday-risk","tag-holidays","tag-how-long-can-i-keep-my-christmas-tree-up","tag-insurance","tag-keeping-christmas-tree-form-getting-dry","tag-keeping-christmas-tree-safe","tag-when-should-i-take-my-christmas-tree-down"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t