What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide detector

Carbon monoxide, or “CO,” is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill you.

Where is CO found?

CO is found in fumes produced any time you burn fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces. CO can build up indoors and poison people and animals who breathe it.

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. CO symptoms are often described as “flu-like.” If you breathe in a lot of CO it can make you pass out or kill you. People who are sleeping or drunk can die from CO poisoning before they have symptoms.

Who is at risk for CO poisoning?

Everyone is at risk for CO poisoning. Infants, the elderly, people with chronic heart disease, anemia, or breathing problems are more likely to get sick from CO. Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized.

Read more about CO poisoning and how to prevent it here: http://ow.ly/Jc6BW

Information provided by Merchants On-Demand

Winter Weather Causes Ice Dams

As we endure a particularly tough New England winter, Hunter Insurance wants to make sure that you, your family and your property are fully protected.

The tremendous amounts of snowfall have pummeled neighborhoods and have created a silent danger lurking on the roofs of many homes. You may have noticed the glistening icicles hanging from your gutters, but may be unaware of the significant damage they could cause. The appearance of icicles is typically the first warning sign of possible ice dams.

Ice dams are essentially a wall of ice that forms along the roof of your home, usually near the gutters. As they form, water backs up behind the ice dam and creates a pool of water that can leak into your home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation and other areas. With the extensive snowfall totals so far, coupled with freezing temperatures, homes are being hit hard.

The best way to avoid ice dam formation is to make certain your attic is properly ventilated and insulated. Even if the temperatures are freezing outside, poor insulation will cause snow to melt too fast on your roof. When the accumulated snow on your roof starts melting down to the “colder” sections (such as the gutters) it begins to refreeze thus forming an ice dam.

While ice dams can cause home damage, it is important to exercise caution when removing them. Only trained professionals with the proper equipment and roofing experience should be consulted. Never step out onto a snow covered roof, as there is severe risk of personal injury. 

Hacking away at ice dams with a hammer, chisel, or shovel is bad for your roofing—and dangerous for you. And throwing salt on them will do more to harm to your plantings than to the ice.

To help avoid damage, pull off snow with a long-handled aluminum roof rake while you stand safely on the ground. A rake with wheels will instantly change the exterior temperature of your roof without damaging shingles.

At Hunter Insurance, we are committed to helping individuals and families protect what matters most. If you would like additional information on keeping your home safe this winter, please contact us at 769-9500.

NICB Issues Warning on Stolen Vehicle Cloning

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is warning consumers to be careful when purchasing a used vehicle to avoid becoming a victim of vehicle cloning.

For many years, vehicle identification numbers (VINs) have served as proof of an automobile's identity; however, scam artist have begun "cloning" VINs in an effort to pass off stolen vehicles as legitimate ones. The NICB is warning consumers about used cars priced well below fair market value. Use NICB's free VINCheck service below before buying a used car.

Check the status of your vehicle here: https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck

Do I Need Earthquake Insurance?

The recent earthquakes in our area have raised questions about the need for earthquake coverage.  Hunter Insurance wants to make certain that our policyholders are fully informed.

As a homeowner, it is important to know that damages caused by earthquakes are not covered under the standard homeowners policy.  For an additional premium (approximately $125), earthquake coverage can be endorsed to your policy.  It is important to note that there is a separate and higher deductible for this coverage.  A home insured for $300,000 of coverage would have a $15,000 deductible.  The largest earthquake to strike Rhode Island was in 1976 with a magnitude 3.50.  It resulted in a little more than a dish rattle.  

We highly recommend that you consult us to review the specifics regarding earthquake coverage.  To learn more, please call us at (401) 769-9500.

New Year’s Eve Safety

New Year's Eve is the one night a year when anything can happen. Though it is meant to be an evening of celebration and entertainment, it is important to keep in mind the safety of yourself and others around you. No matter what your plans are, we at Hunter Insurance want to make sure you have all the necessary safety tips for an evening of fun.

1. Know Your Limits. Before you indulge in the evening’s festivities, make a mental note of how many drinks you should allow yourself. New Year's Eve is never fun for anyone when their friends have had too much to drink. 

2. Travel in Numbers. Whatever your plans are, traveling in numbers will help ensure the safety of you and your friends. Always stick together, even when going to the restroom, to avoid anyone wandering off. 

3. Charge Your Phone Before You Leave. It helps to have a peace of mind knowing that if you or any of your friends separate you can contact them or call a cab, no matter the time of night. 

4. Always Be Cautious of Your Drink. If you take your eyes off of it for even a minute, throw it away. It’s better to eat the cost and buy a new beverage than risk drinking something that was tampered with.

5. Have a Designated Driver. If you're planning on leaving your home and drinking while out, it is essential that you plan ahead for a safe ride home. Drinking and driving puts you, your friends, your family, and other drivers at risk. Utilize the generosity of friends or keep phone numbers for local taxis at-hand.

6. Be Careful of Pets (Yours and Others). Nothing frightens them more than sudden loud noises and strangers. If you are hosting a party, pay extra attention to your pets so they do not run away. Scared, running pets can be hit by cars, cause accidents, become lost, or, if truly frightened, may bite people.

We want your celebration of the New Year to be pleasant and safe, so be sure to take extra caution that evening. But above all – have fun! From all of us at Hunter Insurance, we hope you have a wonderful New Year.

Information for this article provided by: New Year’s Eve Safety Tips

Preparing Your Home and Vehicle for Winter

For most New England residents, winter truly is the most wonderful time of the year. However, whether you enjoy the snow and cold, or would rather fly south for the season, it’s important to prepare your home and vehicle for the severe weather.

Preparing Your Home

Inspect Your Furnace: Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts. Also, consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable one. If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.

Properly Prepare Your Fireplace: Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds. If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote. Be sure to buy firewood early and store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.

Check Your Home’s Exterior, Doors and Windows: Inspect the exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them and use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows. Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.

Preparing Your Vehicle

Keep an emergency kit in your car. If you don't already have an emergency kit in your car, consider putting together a few basics and store them in the trunk. Naturally, you'll want to be sure your spare tire is in good shape with all the tools to change it out. Your kit should include:

• A flashlight and first aid kit
• A blanket, warm clothes and gloves
• A radio
• A bag of abrasive material like sand or kitty litter for when you get stuck
• Extra windshield washer fluid
• A brush or ice scraper
• Extra coolant

When you take the time to plan ahead, you can make winterizing your vehicle an easy, annual ritual that will keep you and your family safe.

Check the battery. A car battery can die without any notice. Extremely cold temperatures can reduce a car battery’s life by up to 50 percent. Before the cold weather sets in, have your battery tested by your local mechanic - especially if you have an older car. Also, make sure your battery connections are free from corrosion.

Check the tire pressure and consider snow tires. Tire pressure is especially important during the winter, as a properly inflated tire will help guarantee better traction in wet, snowy conditions. Make sure to read your owner's manual to find the correct tire pressures.

Inspect your windshield wiper blades and fluid. Visibility while driving during winter months is vital to your safety. Precipitation and salt buildup on the windshield can be hazardous while driving in winter weather. Make sure that you not only check the condition of your windshield wiper blades, but also consider changing your existing blades to versions that are made for the harsh winter weather.

Following these precautionary measures are a great way to get ahead of winter weather. However, no winter preparation is complete without the proper coverage, so be sure to call your Hunter Insurance agent today at 769-9500 to discuss the benefits of combining your home and auto policy today.

Halloween Safety Tips for Parents

Halloween is one of children's most loved holidays. It gives them the opportunity to dress up like their favorite superhero or princess and go door-to-door to collect an endless supply of candy. However as a parent, you know that these fun times always come with potential dangers, so we at Hunter Insurance are here to help prepare you for this extended night of trick-or-treating.

Below is a list of helpful tips to protect your children from any potential dangers on and after Halloween night:

Costumes:

• Choose brightly colored costumes, add reflective tape or have your children wear glow sticks so motorists can see them
• Replace masks with face paint to avoid obstructing their vision
• Attach your child’s name, address and phone number inside the costume
• Always choose comfortable shoes for walking to avoid being uncomfortable

Trick-or-Treating:

• If you aren’t going out with your children, plan out their route and remind them to stick to it
• Teach your children to never respond to any adult calling out to them they don’t know
• Remind your children not to eat any of the candy until they get home or until after you have inspected it
• To avoid them from eating candy on their route, cook a well-balanced meal prior to going out
• Tell them not to approach any stray animals
• Make sure your children have flashlights if they plan to stay out after dark
• Establish an appropriate curfew
• Teach your children proper traffic etiquette: stay on the sidewalks and be sure to look and listen before crossing the street
• Remind them to never go inside a stranger’s house

After Trick-or-Treating:

• Inspect your child’s candy for any wrappers that appear to have been tampered with - throw away any unwrapped, opened or suspicious items
• Try to limit the amount of candy they eat
• Encourage sharing and trading to develop good habits 

At Hunter Insurance, we know that providing a good time for your children on Halloween while keeping them safe is a top priority. Therefore, we suggest that you print and keep these tips on your fridge and review them with your child so they have a full understanding of how to keep themselves away from danger. Whether you are traveling with your scary little goblins or allowing your beautiful ballerinas to venture with friends, just remind them to have fun, be safe and stay aware.

From all of us at Hunter Insurance, Happy Halloween!

Information for this article provided by: Halloween Safety Information for Parents and Halloween Health & Safety Tips