Winterizing Your Home

Here are a few simple steps that can help you stay cozy indoors during this cold, winter season and save on heating costs, as well.

• Have your heating system checked by a professional annually.  This will ensure that your system is working safely and efficiently which, in turn, will save you money.  If you heat by wood, clean your fireplace or stove.  Have your chimney flue checked for any buildup or creosote and then clean to lessen the risk of a fire.
• Make sure your home is properly insulated.  If necessary, insulate walls and attic.  This will help you to conserve energy and reduce your home’s power energy and reduce your home’s power demands for heat.
• Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out.
• Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside.  This will provide an extra layer of insulation keeping more cold air out.
• To keep pipes from freezing, wrap them in insulation or layers of old newspapers; cover the news papers with plastic to keep out moisture; let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing; know how to shut off water valves.

Source: New York State Emergency Management Office website

For more information contact Mars Insurance or visit our website at marsinsurance.com

Survey: Risky Online Behavior Exposes Many to Lawsuits

Feb 16, 2010

Nearly 30% of people have cleaned up their social networking profiles for job interviews, and the economic downturn has made them more cautious about posting on social media sites.

A new telephone survey sponsored by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies reveals that more than one in four (27 percent) individuals say they have posted a comment on a news site or blog.  One third of 18 to 34 year-olds have posted a comment to news sites or blogs.  And 37 percent of those respondents making $100,000 or more have posted a comment.

The survey, which polled 1,000 Americans, shows that while some people are being cautious about putting personal information online, many are unaware of the liability exposures associated posting comments to blogs or other Internet sites.

"A foolish post or a tweet could cost you a job or even trigger a libel lawsuit," says Christine Alderman, vice president of Chubb & Son and new product and services manager with Chubb Personal Insurance.  "We all should think twice before posting any comment online."

The survey also asked respondents about obtaining permission to share copyrighted online materials.  Sixty percent of respondents said they rarely or never obtain permission to cut and paste articles, other information or artwork from copyrighted websites before emailing them out and distributing them to others.  One in four (25%) respondents said they always obtain permission.

Only 2 percent of respondents said they have lawyers review comments before posting them on their blogs.

"This raises significant risk issues for the owner of the blog," says Alderman.  "There are different schools of thought with regard to allowing comments to be posted directly to the site versus reviewing  comments before they are posted.  The safest and most conservative approach is to require pre-registration before allowing comments and to preview the comments before they appear online.  This may not be practical for everyone, but there are other ways to protect yourself."

Forty-five percent of the respondents were members of one of the following social networking sites: Facebook (37%), MySpace (19%), LinkedIn (9%), and Twitter (6%).  Nearly 60 percent of respondents earning $100,000 or more belonged to one of these sites.

The telephone survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corp.

Source: Chubb Group of Insurance Cos., www.chubb.com/personal

Find this article at http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/2010/02/16/107401.htm

For all your insurance needs contact Mars Insurance or visit our website at www.marsinsurance.com .

Beat the Heat!!

As the hazy, lazy days of summer approach, we all do what we can to stay cool. To help your house conserve energy and stay cooler, consider the following:

•Make certain airflow to your outdoor air conditioning unit is not blocked by shrubbery or other obstructions.

•Keep draperies, blinds and shades closed during the hottest part of the day.

•Keep windows and doors tightly closed when operating air conditioning equipment.

•Close closet doors in air-conditioned rooms.

•Close all openings into the attic from air-conditioned areas.

•Turn off unnecessary lights.

•Check your air conditioning or furnace filter regularly and clean or replace it as needed.

•Plan cook-free meals of cold cuts, fresh vegetables, fruits and salads.

•Do your cooking, showering, washing clothes, drying and ironing in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler.

For all your insurance needs contact Mars Insurance Agency or visit our website at http://www.marsinsurance.com/.



Source: American Electric Power Co.

Boating Safety Tips

Have a safe boating season by following these tips:

•Take a boating safety course offered by your state DNR, Law Enforcement, or U.S. Coast Guard agencies.
•Make sure your boat is in top operating condition and that there are no tripping hazards.
•The boat should be free of fire hazards and have a clean bilge.
•Have safety equipment that is required by law on board at all times and maintained in good condition, also be sure to know how to use it.
•File a float plan with a relative or friend, or at the very least, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.
•Have complete knowledge of the operation and handling of your boat.
•Know your position and where you are heading.
•Maintain a safe speed at all times to avoid collision.
•Keep an eye out for changing weather conditions.
•Know and obey federal and state regulations and waterway markers.
•Maintain a clear, unobstructed view forward at all times. “Scan” the water back and forth; avoid “tunnel” vision. Most boating collisions are caused by inattention.

Remember to always practice safety while operating any vessel or vehicle.
Also remember to have the proper insurance in place. No one ever plans to have a loss, but they do happen. Keep peace of mind by having your boat coverage in place.
Let Mars Insurance help you with your personal insurance.

Water Water Everywhere!

Am I protected from a flood? PROBABLY NOT!
Flooding occurs in EVERY state! Many people find out too late that they are at risk for flooding, and even worse that their property insurance doesn’t cover flood damage.
• Your Homeowners policy DOES NOT cover flood loss to your home and contents.
• In certain areas, the chance of a flood is 25% greater than a loss due to a fire during a 30-year mortgage.
• 6 out of every 10 declared disasters involve flooding.
• Homes in areas where there is new construction or where there have been other events such as forest fires, may be in greater danger than in the past because of changes to the land around them.
• 25% of all floods occur outside of a high-risk flood area.
• Federally backed mortgages in certain areas require flood insurance policies for the life of the mortgage.
To ensure that your property and belongings are protected, call your independent insurance agent.
Even if you already have a flood policy, you may want to discuss coverages with your agent to ensure that your policy is up to date.
For all your insurance needs please contact Mars Insurance Agency or visit our website at www.marsinsurance.com
Information courtesy of Travelers.

Bicycling "Rules of the Road"

Bicycles are considered to be toys by some people, but for others they are a means of transportation and exercise. But whatever their purpose, bicycles can be dangerous if they are not operated with safety sense in mind.
Here are some “rules of the road” for serious bicyclists:
• Bicycles are subject to the same traffic rules as automobiles, so obey all highway signs and regulations.
• Ride off the right-hand side of the road, with traffic, not against it.
• Ride single file.
• Only cycles with 20-in wheels, or less, are permitted on sidewalks.
• Use arm signals to indicate stopping or turning.
• Bicycles must yield to pedestrians.
• Lights are required for nighttime riding.
• A bicycle must have a horn or bell to sound a warning when necessary.
Source: Safety Sense Enterprises, Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
For all your insurance needs contact Mars Insurance Agency or visit our website at www.marsinsurance.com.

Drive Safely And Defensively

Because cars have changed and new features are being added all the time, leaders of safe driving courses say these are the best ways to avoid an accident:

Know your car, its features and how to use them.

Focus on driving. Do nothing else including texting, eating or conversing with passengers, especially in traffic.

Stay alert. if you can't remember driving the last 50 miles, your mind is not on driving and you won't be able to react quickly to an emergency.

Intersections are danger zones. Be extra careful. If turning left, keep your wheels straight until you are turning.

Keep side mirrors adjusted to give a full view of what's behind you and what's coming on either side.

Stay a car length's distance behind the car ahead for every 10 miles per hour you are driving. Add an additional distance if it's raining.

At night, park in well-lighted areas. Don't park between 2 vehicles that are larger than yours. You won't be able to see when you back out.

If you have a close call or a near miss, analyze the situation to see what you could have done to avoid it.

There are instances where you must yield the right of way. Assume that there are no instances where you are guaranteed the right of way.

For more information contact Mars Insurance Agency or visit our website at www.marsinsurance.com