Month: November 2019

Keeping Your House Secure During the Holidays

The holidays are quickly approaching. We are all busy running errands, cooking and visiting relatives and friends. Many of us travel for the holidays and burglars know this. Make sure your home is protected while you are away by taking these precautionary steps:

Install a home alarm system. Not just one that sounds when a window or door is opened. The new alarms let you monitor your entire house from your smart phone. You can turn on lights, lock doors, turn on the heat.  The Nest and Ring have home security systems that let you monitor all of these.

Put a few lights on timers. This may not always work because if your lights go on at the exact same time everyday, then a burglar watching your house will realize the lights are on a timer, not that someone is home turning them on. So your best bet is to change the time your lights go on every week. Also, have a few lights on timers, one in each section of your house.

Update your front door. The new type of door that is top for security is a steel door. The fancy windows on the side of your door make breaking in easier. Replace the whole unit with a steel door.

Have a neighbor or relative stop by occasionally to check on the house. This benefit is two-fold: a human presence to deter a burglar and to check to make sure everything looks ok.

Leave a radio or tv on. The sounds are a good deterrent for someone looking to break-in.

Lock all doors (even inside garage doors) and windows. This is obvious, but the most common break-in spot is a bedroom window. Check all of your windows, because often in the fall when it is nice weather we open the windows for fresh air. We don’t always lock them after.

Hide your valuables. In a good spot…not under the bed! There are many creative spots, some good ones are found here.

Make sure your valuables are scheduled on your Homeowners Policy!!!

We hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday season. Be safe and secure your home! Call us with any questions about your homeowners policy www.mancuso-nowak.com.

Driving While Drowsy? Not a Good Combination

The beginning of November is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.  It is important to give attention to this hazard on the road, as many people every day get on the road that are too tired to drive. Sixty percent of drivers surveyed in the Sleep in America poll have admitted to driving while drowsy. And a staggering fact is that 37% have actually fallen asleep at the wheel!  As it is easy for police to detect when alcohol is a factor in a crash, it is much more difficult to conclude that drowsiness was a leading or contributing factor in a crash. The estimates from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conclude that driving while drowsy has caused 100,000 car accidents, 71,000 injuries and 1,550 fatalities this year alone. Statistics also show that more men than women drive while too sleepy to drive, 56% vs 45%.

 

How can we prevent drowsy driving accidents?

  • Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night
  • If you have been up for 24 hrs, do not drive
  • Take a break every 2 hrs of driving or every 100 miles
  • Open the windows and get fresh air…the colder the better!
  • Drink a caffeinated beverage
  • Have a passenger with you while driving. Have them talk to you and keep you alert.
  • Avoid alcohol as it can make you even more drowsy (and it is against the law to drink and drive!)
  • Avoid medications that cause drowsiness
  • If none of these tips work, just pull off the road and take a quick nap or stay somewhere for the night and continue the drive on a good nights rest.
  • If you are prone to getting sleepy while driving have someone else drive on longer trips and at night when falling asleep is more likely.

Protect yourself and the ones you love by not driving while drowsy, share with friends and family and on social media with #AlertAtTheWheel.