Quick Month Newsletter December 2023

FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT QUICK INSURANCE

In this issue:

• Holiday Office Schedule

• Tips for a safe holiday home

• Winter weather driving tips

Our offices will be closed: 

•at Noon Friday December 22nd

•Monday December 25th in observance of Christmas

•Monday January 1st in Observance of New Year's Day

A safe and merry holiday season!

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s latest Toy-Related Deaths and Injuries report highlights the importance of safety when buying and playing with kids’ toys – even for older children.

The majority of the injuries reported were attributed to choking or asphyxiation associated with small parts, balls, or balloons. Among the treated injuries, non-motorized scooters accounted for the largest share of injuries across all age groups – 35,400. Non-motorized scooters accounted for one in every 5 toy-related injuries to children aged 14 and younger.

Consumers should not only “think safety” about what they buy for children but should also be vigilant about where gifts are purchased, especially online. As e-commerce retailing continues to grow year-over-year for holiday sales, Chair Hoehn-Saric is urging caution when turning to online retail outlets.  

“Consumers expect the products they purchase online to be as safe as those they buy in brick-and-mortar stores,” Chair Hoehn-Saric said. “While this is true when buying online directly from a manufacturer, purchasing from an online marketplace that services other sellers raises additional risks. Consumers need to educate themselves not only about what they buy, but where and from whom. It’s important not to sacrifice safety.”  

Toys:

• Follow age guidance and other safety information on toy packaging and choose toys that match each child's interests and abilities.

• Get safety gear, including helmets, for scooters and other riding toys–and make sure that children use them every time. 

• Keep small balls and toys with small parts away from children younger than age 3 and keep deflated balloons away from children younger than age 8. 

• Once the gifts are open, immediately discard plastic wrappings or other packaging on toys before they become dangerous playthings.

Cooking:

Cooking is the leading cause of residential fires. Of the 360,800 home fires every year, cooking fires account for nearly half of these. Thanksgiving & Christmas Day are the peak days for cooking fires, with an average of 1,600 cooking fires occurring on these days – more than three times the daily average of cooking fires.

• Never leave cooking food unattended on the stove or in the oven.

• Only fry a turkey outside and away from your home or other flammable materials. Never use turkey fryers in an enclosed area like the garage or on the porch.

Holiday Decorations:

On average, there are about 160 Christmas decorating-related injuries each day during the holiday season, with over 40% of the incidents involving falls. In the 2022 holiday season about 14,800 people were treated in hospital emergency departments due to holiday decorating-related injuries.

• Make sure your live Christmas tree has plenty of water and look for the “Fire Resistant” label when buying an artificial tree.

• Never leave candles unattended. Place burning candles in sight, away from flammable items, and blow or snuff them out before leaving the room. Use flameless candles whenever possible.

Never string together more than three sets of incandescent lights, and never overload electrical outlets.

Reduce your odds of a winter accident:

Driving in the winter can be a nerve-wracking experience. Slick roads, reduced visibility, freezing temperatures and other factors all can contribute. It’s important to know a few safety rules before you head out. Here are some tips and insights to help you smartly navigate the wintry roads:

1. Know What’s Coming

Don’t get caught off-guard. Watch weather reports,  free weather alerts and delay trips when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival. Even if you can drive well in snow, others can’t. Remember 4-wheel drive doesn't mean 4-wheel stop!

2. Get Your Ride Ready

As winter hits, keep your vehicle in peak operating condition. When the temperatures drop, keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid a gas-line freeze-up. Pack blankets, gloves, a hat, food, water and necessary medication in case you become stranded in the snow.

3. Clean All the Snow

Even if you’re only driving a short distance, clean the snow and ice off your whole car—not just the windshields. This protects you from snow falling onto your windshield—and onto cars behind you.

4. Drive Slow and Steady to Stay Safe

Accelerate and decelerate slowly to maintain traction, and keep plenty of distance between your car and other vehicles. Never use cruise control on any slippery surface. When you do slow, keep your heel on the floor and use the ball of your foot to brake gently, squeezing the pedal slowly. Take extra care on bridges and overpasses, where slick spots freeze first and melt last.

5. Stay a Step Ahead

Plan your movements well in advance and do one thing at a time. Brake, then turn, then accelerate. Don’t stop if you can avoid it; slow your speed and keep moving. When driving uphill, keep a steady, consistent speed and don’t press your brakes.

6. Use the Right Lights

In heavy snow at night, use your low beams. The light from your high beams will reflect off the snow—as well as heavy rain and fog—and can cause a glare, impacting your visibility. Fog lights can be a good way to improve nighttime visibility in bad weather, when extra light is needed.

7. Get Practice Early

During the first snowfall, take your teens to an empty parking lot in daylight and let them practice to gain experience. Teens are at greater risk than adults of crashing, due to their inexperience, and those who got their license in warmer months may have never driven in wintry conditions.

Let's Hear from you!

"Thanks for always having your clients' best-interests as a priority!" -Michael S

-"Searched for good pricing, helpful reminders about my renewal dates" -Maryann A

-"Dawn is always there when you need her, she always pleasant and helpful. We have been with Quick Insurance for over 30 years" -Matthew H

-"Very helpful and professional. I am fortunate to have Diana as my account rep!"-Ron S

Send in your testimonials and reviews! We would love to share them!

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