Shannon Harvey Insurance

For many people, decorating the Christmas tree is a favorite part of the holiday and adds to the spirit of Christmas. However, with the addition of a Christmas tree to your home, the risk of fire and other household accidents increases.

According to the National Fire Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,451,500 fires in 2008. These fires resulted in 3,320 civilian fire fatalities, including 2,780 civilians whose lives were lost in residential fires in 2008.

There are simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday. By following these steps, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of becoming a holiday casualty.

The National Safety Council and Allstate offer the following safety tips to ensure a fire or other accident does not spoil your holiday season:

Christmas Trees:

• A real tree can fill your home with beauty and the scent of pine. But a real tree can also pose a fire hazard. Select a fresh tree by looking for that one that is green. The needles of pines and spruces should bend and not break and should be hard to pull off the branches. On fir species, a needle pulled from a fresh tree will snap when bent, much like a fresh carrot. Also, look for a trunk sticky with sap.

• Cut off about two inches of the trunk and put the tree in a sturdy, water-holding stand. Keep the stand filled with water so the tree does not dry out quickly.

• Stand your tree away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. Make sure the tree does not block foot traffic or doorways.

• If you use an artificial tree, choose one that is tested and labeled as fire resistant. Artificial trees with built-in electrical systems should have the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) label.

Tree Lights:

• Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors. Look for the UL label. Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or barbed wires, or loose connections. Replace or repair any damaged light sets.

• Use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord. Extension cords should be placed against the wall to avoid tripping hazards, but do not run cords under rugs.

• Turn off all lights on trees and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.

Tree Ornaments:

• Always use the proper step tool or ladder to reach high places.

• Read labels before you use materials in jars, cans and spray cans.

• Never place lighted candles on a tree or near any flammable materials.

• Avoid placing breakable tree ornaments or ones with small, detachable parts on lower branches where small children or pets can reach them.

• Do not hang popcorn chains and candy canes on the tree when small children are present.  They may think that other tree ornaments are also edible.

Don't let a Christmas tree fire ruin your holiday season. Instead, focus on what matters most  -- keeping your family safe and happy during the holidays. 

What might happen if you're involved in an auto accident that is your fault, which injures the other driver, and the cost of those injuries exceeds your policy liability limits? What if the accident totals that person's vehicle, which costs more to replace than your liability limit would cover? Is it likely that you could end up on the wrong end of a lawsuit with your savings, retirement account and home equity up for grabs? Does just thinking about the possibility stress you out some? Perhaps a Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP) would provide the stress relief you can't afford to live without.

A PUP works with a customer's existing liability coverage by providing additional protection. Additional benefits include:

• Customers will not have to face court alone. If they are sued over an incident covered under their personal umbrella policy, we will retain and pay for an attorney to represent them in court.
• Their coverage goes everywhere. So, they are covered no matter where they are, including outside the U.S. like Cancun, Cozumel or other spring break hot spots.
• Helps with gaps in their coverage. Homeowners and auto policies do not cover certain types of incidents, like those alleging slander. But a personal umbrella policy helps provide protection for this kind of incident as well as others.
• Reimbursement for lost wages. Customers will be reimbursed for the wages lost for absence from work for a court appearance, up to the limits specified for this benefit in the policy.

We offer a range of personal umbrella coverage amounts in $1 million increments, and they are surprisingly inexpensive. Customers may qualify for up to a maximum coverage amount of $5 million. While you hope to never need a Personal Umbrella Policy, it's better to plan for the worst just in case.