Selective Insurance Social
  • Business
  • Auto
  • Home
  • Digital Toolbox
    • LinkedIn Best Practices
  • Flood
    • Hurricane Preparedness
  • Infographics
  • Prep Guides
    • Coronavirus Information
    • Spring Maintenance Guide
    • Fire Prevention & Safety
    • Winter Preparation For Your Home
    • Winter Preparation For Your Business
    • Winter Preparation For Your Vehicle
    • Hurricane Preparation

insurance is our business.

How to Safely Escape a Fire

8/10/2018

 
According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), a structure fire is reported in the United States every 66 seconds. In 2016 alone, these fires resulted in 12,775 civilian injuries, $7.9 billion in property damages, and the loss of 2,950 civilian lives.

In the interest of helping save lives, consider this advice if you find yourself faced with a fire at a home or business.

Have a Plan for Your Home & Business
A good first step toward fire safety is to develop a fire escape plan. Your home escape plan should include at least two ways out of every room and a designated meeting place for your family outside the house.

Businesses should have a written emergency action plan and ensure all employees are familiar with it. Appoint team leaders to help direct employees and ensure everyone is accounted for in the case of an evacuation. Since an evacuation can result in injury and property damage, you can reduce the likelihood of those occurrences by having periodic evacuation drills.

Check all exit routes to be sure they are not blocked or obstructed in any way. You should practice your escape plan twice a year, making sure that you have practiced both during the day and at night. Children should be taught to crawl under smoke. Implement a plan to assist smaller children and the elderly.

If you are in a high-rise building or an apartment complex, make sure you are aware of the proper steps to take in case of a fire. All public buildings should have fire evacuation plans posted within plain sight of the entranceways and near elevators and stairwells on each floor. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with them when entering the building. When an emergency occurs is the most stressful time to be trying to find an exit. Pay attention and plan ahead. 
 
Know How to Escape Safely
Keep in mind that in many cases you may only have a few minutes to safely escape a fire. Many people believe they would have six minutes or more to make their exit. And only eight percent of Americans have acknowledged that their first thought on hearing a fire alarm is to get out.

In a fire, seconds can save lives. Get out as quickly as possible and call the fire department from a safe location. Closing doors on your way out can help prevent the fire from spreading. Do not go back inside for any reason.

Remember that smoke rises. So, it is best to crawl even if smoke is not heavy enough to impair visibility. If you cannot immediately see where the fire is, don’t open any doors without checking them first. Place your hand against the door or near the doorknob and see if it is hot. If it is warm, do not open it. Find an alternate route, but do not use the elevators. 

If all routes are blocked, then shelter in place and wait for instructions from the fire department. Close all doors between you and the fire and cover vents and door cracks with duct tape or towels, if available. Open any windows that you safely can at the top and the bottom to allow fresh air to circulate.

Signal for help with a flashlight or by hanging a brightly colored rag or clothing from the window and sitting tight.

While 71% of Americans have a home escape plan, only 47% have practiced it. Knowing the plan and following these tips can help ensure your safety. For more fire prevention and safety tips, visit Selective’s Fire Prevention and Safety Guide.
Picture
Protect your greatest asset. Contact us to learn more about how we can help with your insurance needs. Click below or call 732-820-4892 to get a customized quote.  ​
Get A Quote

How to Create a Home Inventory

8/1/2018

 
Picture
The idea of creating a home inventory can be daunting. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), 59% of consumers do not have an inventory list of their possessions, 27% do not have photos of their property, 28% do not have a backup copy in a secure location and 59% have not updated their inventories in over a year.

But there are many reasons why homeowners and renters should spend time creating one. First, you can be more sure that you have the proper amount of homeowners or renters insurance coverage by having a list of what you own and how much it might be cost to replace. Second, if you need to file a claim, having a properly documented inventory will make its processing much simpler. Third, if you are a victim of a burglary an inventory can greatly increase your chances of recovering your belongings.
​
Tips for creating a home inventory
The main thing to remember when creating your home inventory list is to take your time and not get overwhelmed. Accuracy is more important than speed.

Here are tips to help you get started – and finish – your home inventory.
  • Instead of looking at your entire home at once cut the job into manageable bites. Beginning with one area of your home, such as your kitchen or a single closet, is a good way to get started.
  • Break belongings down into categories. For example: List your clothes as shirts, skirts, pants, shoes. And categorize appliances by their function, like cooking or entertainment. This will help you track what you have and haven’t listed and make updating your list later much easier.
  • Be descriptive and list details for each item as possible. Color, make, model/model number, where bought, and the price paid can all be important details if you are trying to replace items lost in a fire or burglary.
  • Record the serial numbers on any appliances, firearms, watches and other items.
  • If you have big-ticket items such as artwork, collectibles of any type or jewelry, consider having them appraised or reappraised. You can then list the values in your home inventory. Values can vary greatly over time and establishing current worth will help you avoid being underinsured. Some categories of items (such as a diamond ring or other fine jewelry) may require a special rider to be fully covered.
  • When possible, list prices on sales receipts, sales contracts or other documentation. This helps you establish value in the event of an insurance claim.
  • Take pictures or shoot videos of items as you do your inventory. Pay special attention to items of greater worth. Jewelry, firearms, collectibles and similar items should be recorded in detail while items of lesser value like small appliances can be recorded in groups.
  • Use a mobile app or website service to assist in creating (and later updating) your inventory. Many of these make it possible to keep an electronic copy of your list on an online storage account where it will be safe from harm. But even a written home inventory list can prompt you  to get started.
  • Keep your list updated. Once completed, be sure to keep your home inventory updated. Remove items that have been discarded. Add any new purchases or gifts you may have received.
  • Keep a copy of your household inventory in a secure location outside the home. Rent a safety deposit box, or keep a copy at your office or at the home of a trusted friend or family member. Your inventory will be of no value if it gets washed away in a flood or destroyed in a fire.

It can be a little time consuming to create but once you have your initial inventory completed it is a simple matter to keep it updated but very important that you do so.

At minimum review your inventory annually. Contact Links Insurance Services today to ensure your possessions are properly covered. 
Picture
2 Protect your greatest asset. Contact us to learn more about how we can help with your insurance needs. Click below or call 732-820-4892 to get a customized quote.  
GET A QUOTE


    GET A QUOTE
    Picture
    To ensure you receive the best protection, it's important to understand what coverage your policy provides.
    Picture
Picture
© 2020 Selective Insurance Group, Inc.
User Agreement
​Community Guidelines
​
AdChoices
CCPA Request 
Privacy
Contact
Visit our main web site at: selective.com or follow us:

© 2020 Selective Ins. Group, Inc., Branchville, NJ. Products vary by jurisdiction, terms, and conditions and are provided by Selective Ins. Co. of America and its insurer affiliates.
Details at selective.com/about/affiliated-insurers.aspx
Picture
Picture
  • Business
  • Auto
  • Home
  • Digital Toolbox
    • LinkedIn Best Practices
  • Flood
    • Hurricane Preparedness
  • Infographics
  • Prep Guides
    • Coronavirus Information
    • Spring Maintenance Guide
    • Fire Prevention & Safety
    • Winter Preparation For Your Home
    • Winter Preparation For Your Business
    • Winter Preparation For Your Vehicle
    • Hurricane Preparation