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Safe
& Sound
Slip
Sliding Away
Old Man Winter
is on his way, along with the season's first snowfall. Keeping your
walks clear of ice and snow is important in preventing injuries
to visitors and passersby, but don't hurt yourself in the process.
Here's a refresher course on shoveling safety, courtesy of the American
Red Cross:
- Go slow.
Yes, it's cold and you want to get inside. But by lifting only
small amounts of snow at a time, you'll reduce the risk of straining
your back. Always lift from your knees and hips-never from your
waist.
- Stop immediately
if you feel pain or are short of breath.
- Wear a
hat. What your mother told you is true: Fifty percent of your
body's heat is lost through your head.
- Start
early. The sooner you shovel after a snowfall, the less chance
the snow has to become packed down and turn to ice.
- If you
don't exercise regularly, are obese or have a history of heart
problems, ask a neighbor to shovel your walks, hire a service
or invest in a snowblower. Shoveling is hard work, and the added
strain from the cold could cause a heart attack.
Get
the Advantage with Metlife Auto & Home:
Snow, slip, sue?
A stranger slips on the ice covering your home's sidewalk, claims
to be injured, and sues you. What happens now? Your homeowners policy
generally provides protection if you're found legally liable for
injuries that occur on your property. Your policy also covers the
costs of defending such lawsuits, including lawyers' fees. Remember,
though, that the judgment may exceed the limits of your policy.
To protect your assets, consider increasing the limits of liability
on your homeowners policy or purchasing a personal excess liability
policy, also known as an umbrella policy. Contact your agent or
representative or click
here for more information.
At
Your Fingertips
Almost 800,000 children are reported missing each year, according
to a U.S. Department of Justice study. Are you prepared in case
of such an unimaginable event? Load the kids in the car and head
to a free MetLife Auto & Home-sponsored fingerprint ID clinic. (Snoopy
may even show up!) Partnering with local police and community organizations,
MetLife Auto & Home agents will help you record a complete set of
your child's fingerprints in a book entitled All About Me. The book
includes safety tips and space for vital information, such as your
child's blood type, height, identifying birthmarks and current photograph.
When seconds count, you can give the book to police to help them
focus their search. For more information about protecting your child,
click
here.
To
Grandmother's House We Go
Arrive safe and sound (and with all your gifts) with these smart
tips for holiday car travel:
- Keep beautifully
wrapped presents out of sight by stashing them in the trunk or
under a blanket. Be particularly vigilant at rest stops; thieves
typically target rental and out-of-state cars.
- Always lock
your vehicle's doors, even if you're just running into a shop
to pay for gas. It only takes seconds for a thief to steal your
valuables.
- Pack a well-stocked
emergency bag that includes items such as nonperishable foods,
a first-aid kit, blankets, a flashlight, bottled water and a bright
cloth to signal that you need help.
- Program an
ICE (in case of emergency) entry into your cell phone. Many local
emergency responders have begun to search for an ICE contact listing
as a way of reaching someone in the event you are incapacitated
and unable to respond.
- Check out
more
smart winter driving tips.
What
If Your Gifts Are Stolen?
Your homeowners or renters policy may cover personal property-including
holiday gifts-stolen from your car or hotel room. But MetLife Auto
& Home customer Kim Coffey of New Windsor, New York, wanted to know
about high-priced items. "I have jewelry, electronics and photo
equipment that could well be beyond the limit allowed under my current
policy," says Kim. "How can I check?" That's a great question. Our
standard policies do list a dollar-loss limit for items such as
jewelry, furs and computer equipment, but you can increase those
limits with Scheduled Personal Property Coverage, which will cover
you when traveling worldwide. For more information, contact your
agent or representative or link to more online information on Scheduled
Personal Property Coverage.
Home
Work: Fall/Winter 05
- Check indoor
and outdoor holiday lights before decorating. If you find broken
sockets or frayed wires, buy new lights.
- Why schedule
an annual furnace checkup? It will help prevent "puff back," which
occurs when the furnace malfunctions and shoots soot into your
rooms.
- Install and
test carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. CO poisoning is a leading
cause of home injuries and deaths.
- Clear gutters
of debris to prevent ice dams. Ice dams -- the buildup of ice
near the edge of your roof -- prevent water from flowing down
into gutters and downspouts. Water may then back up under the
shingles and leak into the house.
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