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Outdoor Spring Cleaning Safety Tips
When spring is in the air and in
your step, it’s time to clear away winter’s last remnants. Before
beginning your exterior spring cleaning, consider these safety tips
from Erie Insurance Group: |
Wear the appropriate
protective clothing
• Heavy, non-slip shoes will help you keep your footing.
• Long pants and wraparound goggles will protect you against rocks,
wood and other objects thrown from the blades under the mower.
• Wear clothes that fit. Loose clothing can become caught in
equipment’s moving parts.
• Earplugs will protect your hearing.
• Gloves will protect your hands.
Keep your feet on the ground
• Use a pressure sprayer to wash windows.
• Clean gutters with an extension rod.
• Inspect the roof from the attic.
• If you must use a ladder, make sure it is sturdy, properly locked
and anchored, and tall enough for what you need to reach. Enlist a
helper to hold the ladder steady.
Be aware
• Before using any equipment or tools, carefully read all warnings
and instructions.
• Before mowing, walk the yard and remove rocks, sticks and other objects that could
become mower launched missiles.
• Never leave power tools unattended.
• Put tools away at the end of the day to deter theft. |
Keep pets and others safe
• Keep kids and pets away from the mower. The blades are dangerous,
and objects can
be shot out from under the mower.
• Never allow a child on or near a riding mower.
Prevent fire
• Handle flammable fuels with care. Never fill a tank when an engine
is running or still hot.
• Clean up spills and store fuel away from the house in a
safety-approved container.
• Use only UL–approved extension cords that are rated for outdoor
use. Inspect them often to make sure they’re in good condition.
• Prevent electrocution by never using power tools or extension
cords when it is wet or damp outdoors.
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Grill Safety Tips
When the weather warms, you can
practically smell the mouthwatering aroma of grilled hamburgers and
hear the tempting sounds of steaks sizzling. But, before you fire up
the grill and bring your senses to life, Erie Insurance Group offers
the following tips for your gas and charcoal grill safety: |
Gas grills
Propane is highly flammable, but can be used safely if proper
measures are taken.
• Carefully read all instructions and warnings prior to use.
• Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks. Make
sure that no sharp bends exist in the hose or tubing.
• Move gas hoses away from hot surfaces and dripping grease.
• Always keep propane cylinders upright.
• Never store a spare propane cylinder under or near the grill, or
indoors.
• Never store or use flammable liquids near the grill.
• Do not use a gas grill indoors or in an enclosed environment.
Never bring the propane cylinder into the house.
• When you fill or exchange your cylinder, have your supplier check
for dents, damage, rust or leaks on the cylinder you will be
transporting home.
• Never leave a filled propane cylinder in a hot car or car trunk.
Heat will cause the gas pressure to increase, and may open the
relief valve allowing gas to escape. |
Charcoal grills
Charcoal produces carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless gas,
when it is burned.
CO can accumulate in closed environments and reach toxic levels.
• Carefully read all instructions and warnings prior to use.
• Charcoal should never be used indoors. Never burn charcoal inside
of homes, vehicles, tents, garages or campers. Every year about 17
people die as a result of CO fumes generated by charcoal being
burned inside.
• Do not store charcoal grills indoors with freshly used coals.
Charcoal produces CO fumes until it is completely extinguished.
• Only use starter fluid formulated for the purpose. Never use
gasoline to start a charcoal fire.
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Children's Water Safety Tips
Whether it’s the clear, sparkling
water of your backyard pool or the beckoning waves of the beach,
water means summertime fun. Yet, it can also mean danger, especially
for children. Erie Insurance Group offers the following tips to help
keep your children safe: |
Never allow a child
to be alone in the water Drowning is a leading cause of death
for children between one and four years of age. Children should
always have an adult supervising their activity in the water.
Keep pools covered
Protective pool covers can keep young children from accidentally
entering the water when no adults are around.
Install a childproof gate with an alarm
A childproof gate will prevent most children from entering the pool
area. Should the gate be opened, the alarm will sound to alert an
adult that someone is in the pool area.
Remove toys from the water
Children may be tempted to go in the water when an adult is not
around to retrieve their toys. |
Keep life vests on and life preservers within reach
If a young child falls into the pool while playing, a life preserver
could save his or her life. And, life vests must be worn on boats
and near any pool or other body of water. Swim only in public areas
that are staffed with a lifeguard.
Learn and live
Insist that family, friends and babysitters learn CPR. Enroll
children in a professional swimming instruction course.
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What To Do
After A Fire
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Immediately
• Evacuate the burning structure.
• Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.
• Give first aid where needed. Cool and cover burns; it will reduce
the chance of further injury or infection. Severely burned or
injured victims should be transported to professional medical
assistance immediately.
As soon as possible
• Contact your Erie Insurance Group Agent.
• If you are a renter, contact your landlord.
• Check with the fire department to see if utilities (water,
electricity and natural gas) are shut off and if the structure is
safe to re-enter.
When you’re able to return to your home…
• Look for structural damage. Fire authorities may allow you to
re-enter, but may not have completed a thorough inspection.
• Make a detailed list of damaged or destroyed property. Use
pictures and inventory lists to help your ERIE Agent and ERIE
adjuster assess the damages.
• Don’t discard damaged goods until after The ERIE has conducted an
inspection.
• Secure your home from further damage by weather,
theft or vandalism. Save receipts for materials purchased to make
temporary repairs.
• Discard food that has been exposed to heat, smoke or soot. The
high temperatures of fire and its by-products can make food unsafe. |
• If power was shut off, keep the
refrigerator and freezer closed to maintain temperature.
• Do not attempt to reconnect utilities yourself. Only the utility
company should restore gas service. A professional should inspect
all wet appliances before re-use. If damaged, improper grounding or
shortcircuiting may result in further property damage and safety
hazards.
• Don’t be rushed into signing repair contracts. Deal with reputable
contractors. If you are uncertain about a contractor’s credentials,
contact the Better Business Bureau or your local Chamber of Commerce
for referrals.
If your home is uninhabitable…
• Remember to take the following:
– Identification
– Medicines, eyeglasses, hearing aids or other personal aids
– Valuables – credit cards, checkbooks, insurance policies, money,
jewelry, firearms, etc.
• Notify:
– Your ERIE Agent
– Your mortgage company
– Your employer
– The telephone company
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Replacing Your Valuable Documents |
| Item Damaged, Lost
or Stolen & Who to Contact for Replacement Financial
Records
• Bank Books
........... Your bank as soon as possible
• Credit Cards
........... The issuing companies as soon as
possible
• Income Tax Records
........... The Internal Revenue Service
Center where you filed or notify your accountant
http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html
• Stocks
........... The issuing company or your broker
• Bonds
........... Your local bank or the Bureau of
Public Debt
www.treasurydirect.gov/forms/sav1048.pdf
Identification and Licenses
• Driver’s License
........... Your local office of the
Department of Motor Vehicles
http://www.onlinedmv.com/
• Social Security Card
........... Social Security Administration at
800-772-1213 or complete the SS-5 form online
http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf
• Passports
........... Local Passport Agency or U.S. Department
of State, call 202-955-0430 or visit
online
http://travel.state.gov
• Check Cashing Cards
........... The issuing companies
• Medical ID Cards
........... The issuing doctors
Legal Documents
• Birth and Death Certificates
........... State Bureau of Records in the state of
birth, death or marriage
http://www.vitalrec.com
• Marriage Certificates
........... County courthouse in which the
license was issued
• Citizenship Papers
........... The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services, complete an Application for Replacement
Naturalization/Citizenship Document (Form N-565) online or call
800-870-3676
http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/n-565.htm
• Divorce Papers
................................................. Circuit court where the
decree was issued
• Military Discharge Papers
........... Local office of the Veterans
Administration, complete Standard Form 180 (SF-180), requests
accepted online
http://www.archives.gov/research_room/vetrecs/
• Social Security or Medicare Cards
........... Local Social Security Office at
800-772-1213 or online
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/
• Wills
........... Your lawyer
Property
• Auto Registration Title
........... Your local office of the
Department of Motor Vehicles
http://www.onlinedmv.com/
• Titles and Deeds
........... Records department of city of
county in which the property is located
• Prepaid Burial Contracts
........... The issuing company
It’s a good idea to keep valuable documents in a safe place, such as
a safe deposit box. Yet, in the event of a loss, you may need to
replace lost, stolen or damaged records. The following contact list
will guide you in registering for replacements:
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Protection and Service Erie
Insurance Group…Protecting You From Loss
ERIE INSURANCE GROUP
This information is presented as a public service of Erie Insurance
Group and your local ERIE Agent. |
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