Safety

It’s a great feeling to hang out with friends and family around a blazing fire — unless, of course, that fire blazes a little too much.

While a fire pit can be a wonderful addition to your home, all fires are potentially dangerous. So before you sit down with some marshmallows to roast, we gathered some tips to help you keep that fire in the pit (and away from everything else).

Are you legal?

• Before building or buying a fire pit, check the regulations in your area to learn about restrictions.
• Your fire pit may be legal, but a fire might not always be. Monitor and follow community burn bans.
• Be respectful. Nothing can extinguish the good vibes of a nice fire more quickly than police complaints from smoked-out neighbors.

What kind of pit do you want?

• You can buy a fire pit or build one. If you choose the latter, there are plenty of resources online to help you design it. Don’t dig a hole just anywhere and throw some rocks down. Put some thought into it and you’ll have a better — and safer — spot to enjoy.
• If you want convenience, a propane model might be right for you. They produce less smoke and have an adjustable flame.

Ready to build your fire?

Actually, you probably aren’t ready yet.

• First, ensure the area under and around the fire pit is clear of flammable materials. Keep the pit itself at least 10 feet from any structures.
• Before you start the fire, have a fire extinguisher or a garden hose handy.

Okay, now are you ready to build your fire?

• Choose hard, seasoned woods. Sparks from softer woods like cedar can increase the danger of igniting something nearby.
• Don’t use liquid fuels, even lighter fluid, to get your fire going. And don’t burn paper, cardboard, leaves, garbage, etc.
• If you have a metal fire pit, don’t overload it and always use the included safety screen.

Is the fire out?

• When you’re done, spread out the ashes and let them cool off for a bit. Then gently pour water or sand over them. Stick around for a little while to watch for flare-ups.

We want you to have plenty of nice, warm nights — without getting burned. Here’s to making memories around the fire!

For most of us, the Fourth of July is a time to enjoy the pyrotechnics that mark the holiday. But for our pets, fireworks are another story. Many pets can be traumatized by the noisy rockets and firecrackers so many of us enjoy.

At O’Connor Insurance, we hope your holiday is happy and safe for you and your pets. So along with our other story about fireworks safety, here are some tips to help you protect your pets on the Fourth.

Protecting your pets

Many pets are very frightened by the loud noises caused by fireworks. If you can’t take them away from the noise, here are some pointers from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that will help them have a more peaceful holiday.

• Don’t take your pet to a public fireworks display. In addition to the noise, they may be spooked by the crowds.
• If possible, leave your pet inside in a safe, secure room. Do not leave them outside, even if your yard is fenced. They may try to flee, and they may succeed; July 5 is a busy year at many animal shelters, as dogs and cats are frequently found miles from their homes. Taking your pet on a walk early in the day can help tire them out.
• Give your pets a comfortable place to rest, as well as plenty of food and water. You might even leave a TV or stereo on to drown out the fireworks. Provide soothing music, if possible. A favorite toy (or their favorite owner!) can help comfort them, too.
• Make sure your pets have an ID tag or microchip, in case they get scared and escape.
• Check with your veterinarian before giving your pet any medication intended to calm them. They may be able to provide you with a prescription or suggest alternatives. Additionally, Thunder Jackets can be purchased at any pet store, which give your pet the feeling of being held and secure.
• And, of course, keep your pet away from used and unused fireworks.

With some common sense and planning, the Fourth of July can be both safe and enjoyable for everyone – and less scary for your pets. Whether you’re staying at home or heading to somewhere a little more exotic, we hope you have a wonderful time celebrating our independence!

For most of us, the Fourth of July is a time to enjoy the company of family and friends, having fun and creating memories – whether at home or on summer vacation. But for some families, the holiday is a nightmare. Homes each year in Missouri are damaged by wayward fireworks, and thousands of people are injured in accidents. We want your holiday to be happy, but also safe. So here are some tips to help you protect yourself and your property on the Fourth.

Protecting yourself (and others)

• To minimize the risk of injury, don’t use consumer fireworks. Attend a public display conducted by professionals in your neighborhood or elsewhere.
• If using consumer fireworks, always follow instructions. Do not attempt to re-light “duds” or create homemade fireworks.
• Never let children handle or light fireworks. Even sparklers, which burn at more than 1,000 degrees, can cause third-degree burns. Kids under the age of 15 account for approximately 40% of fireworks injuries, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
• A responsible adult should always be present when children – even teenagers – are around fireworks. More than half of fireworks injuries happen to those younger than 20 years old.

Protecting your home

• According to the National Fire Protection Association, the best way to protect your home is to not use fireworks at home.
• Remember, fireworks can cause grass fires and other types of blazes as well. Make sure you light fireworks in a safe area, away from homes and buildings, as well as other combustible material. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergency.
• Look out for tree limbs or bushes that could catch fire. Trimming vegetation to keep it away from your home is a good idea anyway, but it could save you from a catastrophic fire on the Fourth of July.
• If your gutters have accumulated leaves, pine needles or other flammable material, clean them before using fireworks near your home.
• Finally, if you won’t be home on the holiday, ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your house if others in your neighborhood will be using fireworks.

With a little common sense and a healthy appreciation for how explosive fireworks can be, you can have a safe (but still fun) Fourth of July. Check in next week for an article about how to keep your pet feeling safe and secure during fireworks.

One of the best ways to enjoy boating and fishing in Missouri is to share the fun with others – especially your kids or grandkids. We are fortunate to have some of the best waterways right at our fingertips in St. Louis.

While expert anglers tend to know the ropes of both boating and fishing around the area, there are still many mishaps that can occur if the excursion is not well-planned and strategically executed. This is especially crucial when you have little ones along for the ride.

The next time you’re gearing up with your offspring to go after the ‘big one,’ make sure that it’s as enjoyable as you anticipate by considering the following guidelines:

Only if weather permits. Check the weather forecast in detail, using your favorite app, before you head out onto the water. In many climates, weather can change quickly and drastically, ushering in unexpected storms that could scare your children and put you all in harm’s way

Dress yourself – and your little ones – for the adventure. Though it may seem obvious, it can get slippery out on the boat or the dock! Ensure stable footing for all by making sure you and your kids are wearing shoes that grip boat floors and slick rocks and docks.

Make safety a game. It’s important to be equipped with everything you need for safety and protection – from flashlights and sunscreen to plenty of water and life preservers – but you can also make it fun for the kids. For example, make them the keepers of the radio or the person who makes sure everyone is wearing a hat or sunglasses for protection from the sun.

Be hyper-vigilant about dangerous items. The sport of fishing is accompanied by some sharp items – hooks and knives to name just two. Make sure you have these items in a locked tackle box to ensure no one accidentally gets hurt.

Follow boating rules. Make sure your boat is in good standing by adhering to all the laws of the lough. To find these, research the body of water you’re going to be fishing on before you head out.

We hope your family fishing outings become lifetime memories! Share a photo of your summer adventures to our Facebook page, and tell us how you are doing #SummerSafety.

The kids are itching to go someplace exciting this summer, and nothing fits the bill like an amusement park – a classic staple of American fun.

However, unless you take some safety precautions, an amusement park or water park can also be stressful or even dangerous. So, brush up on these safety tips before the thrills begin:

1. Follow the rules. Ignoring this tip is why most injuries occur in the first place. The rules are there for your safety, not to limit your fun, so be sure to observe and obey them. That includes any and all restrictions regarding age and height, as well as guidelines about physical conditions that may make it unsafe to participate. Listen to instructions from park employees, and keep arms, legs, feet and hands inside rides at all times. Finally, always use the provided safety restraints.
2. Educate your kids. Make sure they know how to behave safely, both on rides and in crowded public spaces.
3. If you’re at a water park, take special care. Children under 4 feet tall, and people who are weak swimmers, should wear life jackets. Know where lifeguards are, and signal them if you see anyone in trouble or struggling. Observe proper hygiene in and around the water. Use waterproof swim diapers, try not to get water in your mouth, shower before getting in any pool and so forth.
4. Have an emergency plan. Designate a meeting place in case anyone becomes separated from the rest of the group. Use a buddy system to ensure children are never alone.
5. Don’t overheat. Bring plenty of sunscreen (the waterproof kind if you’re at a water park) and drink lots of water during the day. Don’t forget to spend some time in the shade, too.
6. Know your limits. Be mindful of the health limitations of any people in your group, and check with the park ahead of time to see if they offer any special accommodations. Remember, kids can sometimes overdo it when they’re having fun, so build in time for regular breaks.

Plan ahead for safety, and you can help make sure the only roller coasters on your trip are the ones you ride. Have a great time!

This is the easiest insurance question I’ve ever had. The answer is simple: EVERYBODY needs an umbrella policy. Those with the greatest financial need are obviously those with the greatest assets and/or income to protect. However, even someone who currently has limited assets and income might someday have significant assets and income. If that person is hit with a multi-million-dollar liability claim, just because they currently have inadequate assets or income to meet their legal obligation doesn’t mean they’re off the hook. What if their wages are garnished for the next 20 years? What if they come into an inheritance or, over time, simply accumulate greater wealth? That now becomes the property of the person they have harmed.

Think about a premises exposure. If I’m a multi-millionaire and someone is killed on my premises due to my negligence, I’m in some measure of financial trouble if I don’t have ample insurance to protect my solvency. Contrast that with a real-life example of a tenant in a 16-unit frame apartment building whose negligent inattentiveness to a charcoal grill resulted in the complete fire loss to the building and the loss of all the contents of the other tenants. While it didn’t happen in this claim, what if multiple tenants had been killed? In these contrasting scenarios, who has the greatest need for an umbrella policy? From this perspective, a renter with an HO-4 policy potentially has a greater liability exposure than an owner-occupant with an HO-3 or HO-5 policy.

And there is a moral component. We all have an obligation to protect innocent people from our negligence. The more wealth you have, the easier that is to accomplish without insurance. The less wealth, the greater the need for insurance. Needless to say, there are many people who struggle to make their insurance payments. However, if they own a house or an auto, reasonably adequate insurance is one of the necessary operating costs. And, per dollar of coverage, umbrella policies are one of the greatest values. I own a boat and insure it on a boatowners policy that includes liability coverage. I also cover it on my umbrella. What did it cost to add it to the umbrella? $7 a year. For more than $1M in additional coverage.

Umbrellas cover MANY things not covered by underlying home, auto, boat, or other policies and it covers them incredibly cheaply. That peace of mind has value of its own. Get a quote on an umbrella policy no matter what your financial status. 

As always, call us at (314)434-0038 with any questions, and our agents will be more than happy to assist. 

This article is reprinted with permission from Bill Wilson. 

When it comes to power tool safety, there’s a simple way to think about it: Use your head, keep your fingers.

All joking aside, it’s extremely important to your entire well-being to use power tools with the utmost of care. Here’s how:

1. Read all about it. You love the feeling of firing up and wielding a tool that’s abuzz with power. Just don’t do so until you’ve read the instructions. The instructions will help you get the most out of your tool, both in terms of safety and performance.

2. Take notes. When you get a new tool, jot down the details, and add the notes to your home inventory. Include a description, serial number, and a copy of the receipt if you have it, because it will all come in handy if your tools are ever stolen, or damaged in a fire or other disaster. Not big on writing? Photos or videos are great, too.

3. Get to work. Finally, it’s time to work, so long as you’ve got the right safety gear. This may include: eye and ear protection; a mask or respirator if the project will kick up a lot of dust or other fine debris; and protective clothing that isn’t loose.

4. Don’t rush. Working too quickly can lead to injuries. Always stay in control by making sure your work area is stable and clean. Use both hands to operate your power tools, and avoid distractions while you work. Don’t ever use powerful tools if you’re tired, sick, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Not only will you jeopardize your safety, you probably won’t be happy with your work.

5. Take good care of your tools. Keep your tools clean and stored in a safe, secure area. Replace parts, such as blades, as soon as they become bent or warped, and don’t ever use tools that have been damaged. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, along with using a little common sense, should help ensure your tools remain in good working order for years to come. Let’s hope that deck you’re building will, too.

It’s hard to imagine a time before power tools existed think of all the calluses! Just be sure to wield the power responsibly each and every time you tackle a new project.