Is That Safety Gate Truly Safe? Without safety gates, parents, caretakers and pet owners would never be able to take their eyes off their charges who would be in constant danger – or just getting themselves in trouble! But what many users don’t realize is that some of the gates themselves may not be as safe as you might think. In fact, almost 2,000 kids end up in the emergency room every year, with injuries caused by climbing or falling through gates. That number, say researchers at the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, is double what it was 20 years ago. And most of the victims were under two years old, the majority of them boys. Fortunately, the vast majority of the injuries were minor, including cuts and bruises, but the potential for more serious injury is there if you use the wrong kind of gate in the wrong place. For example, gates used at the top of stairs should be hardware-mounted (bolted to wall frames), rather than the pressure types that use springs or stoppers that you unscrew to press against walls. Fixed gates can also be used elsewhere in the home but pressure-mounted gates should only be used at the bottom of stairs or as room dividers. Most experts also believe that safety gates should not be counted on once a child reaches the age of 2 because of the risk they'll try to open or climb over it. The researchers say greater efforts are needed to promote proper usage of gates, ensure safety in product design, and increase awareness of age-related recommendations for use of gates. When you buy a gate, check for a sticker saying it's certified by the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA). You can also download a buyer's guide from the JPMA at http://tinyurl.com/jpma-gates According to Consumer Reports magazine, you should choose a gate with a straight top edge and closely-spaced (less than three inches apart), rigid, vertical slats or a fine mesh screen. If you choose a model with mesh panels, look for a fine weave, it adds, because wider holes could provide a foothold for climbing, or trap fingers. It should also be at least three-quarters of your child's height. And, of course, you should always follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. For the full article, visit: http://tinyurl.com/CRsafety-gates FINDING YOU IN AN EMERGENCY If we don’t have your email address yet, please email me at [email protected] today. I well remember the difficult time we had reaching clients after the 1974 tornado and the 1980 terrible hail storm as well as the 1990 tornado. It’s a hetic time and everyone wants us to respond at once. The best way, initially, is by email. If all we have for you is a phone number and the phone lines are all down, getting back to you in a timely manner would be next to impossible. We don’t sell your email address or even give it away. But we would sure be able to respond a lot sooner on most service needs if we had yours. Even “Phone Tag” can last a couple of days or more sometimes. PLEASE SEND US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS NOW by sending us an email! Now Is The Time To Get Your Shots When you're rushing around with 101 other issues to deal with, it's easy to overlook one of the most important contributors to good health – immunization. So here's a reason to keep in mind: August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Immunization isn't just something for kids. People of all ages need vaccines: infants, pre-teens and teens, younger adults and seniors. So, use this campaign month to check that your own vaccinations are up to date. For adults, it's not just about getting your flu shot either. You might also need protection against tetanus, shingles, HPV and pneumonia – and, if you're under 55, even shots for measles, mumps and rubella. Plus, if you travel abroad, you might need other inoculations. If you want to make checking your status easy and a bit of fun, try this quiz from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http:// tinyurl.com/cdc-quiz - after gathering relevant information, it'll tell you exactly which vaccines you may need. Of course if you're unsure about which vaccines you need or if you're not in good health, consult a professional first. How To Avoid Loan Repayment Demand College is expensive and student loans have become a fact of life in recent years. It can be a struggle to pay them off but it can be even tougher if you have to repay the loan sooner than expected through no fault of your own. Most student loans must have a co-signer, usually a parent or grandparent. It's a sort of guarantee in case you default. But this pro-vision backfires if your co-signer hits financial problems of their own. Then, even if you're making your repayments regularly, the lender may be allowed to demand repayment of the full sum immediately. The way to avoid this is to request a release for the co-signer from the original agreement. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has more, and sample request letters, here: http//tinyurl.com/loan-release. IF YOU ARE IN A SPRING/ SUMMER STORM The following are some steps you can take to help you be ready for spring/summer storms: 1. Review your insurance policy. Make sure you have enough coverage for both your home and your contents. 2. Evaluate your need for Flood insurance. Understand your homeowners policy does not cover flooding even with the sewer backup/sump pump endorsement. 3. Maintain home repairs. Make sure your home is in tiptop shape by having a local contractor inspect your roof, gutters, and HVAC system for damage or clogging. Make any necessary repairs, and clean air ducts and replace filters now. 4. Create or update your Go Bag. If you have to leave your home in a hurry, would you have the essential items you need ready to go at a moment’s notice? You can purchase a Go Bag at popular websites like Amazon and eBay. Or you can simply make a list of items that you need to include and purchase them locally. 5. Have a communications plan. Family members may not be in the same place when a disaster strikes you so think through beforehand how you will communicate with each other. Cell phones may not work well after a disaster if cell towers are damaged. Text messaging may have a higher likelihood of getting through. You can also designate a family member who is not in your local area to be your contact person. I got caught in the 1974 tornado without being prepared. I was in Des Moines when I got the word that a tornado was sighted near Ankeny. After driving with my accelerator to the floor to my home I took my wife and the twins to her parent’s home in Maxwell to stay. Chris was already there. When I tried to get back into town, the National Guard wouldn’t let me in. I tried 4 different roads to get back in before I finally found a National Guard vehicle with someone who knew me and let me by. Luckily, my office was not damaged so we had phone service but I might not be so lucky next time. Remember the Boy Scout Motto and “BE PREPARED”. Stay Safe On The College Campus In a matter of days or weeks, many young people will be tasting their first experience of living away from home, as they begin their college education. The experience should be fun as well as enlightening. But it can also be dangerous for the unprepared. So, if you're off to college or you know someone who is, here are some simple safety rules to share: Fire: Make sure there are smoke alarms installed wherever you're living and that you have a fire escape plan. If you're in a dorm or other large building, find out where the fire escapes are. Property Security: Don’t leave wallets/money, laptops and other valuable items unattended in your room unless you're the only occupant and the door is locked. Auto Security: Try to park in a well-lit space and, if possible, within sight of your room. Always arm your car alarm when you leave the vehicle. Personal Security: Don't drink and drive and don’t travel with a driver who has been using either. Don't walk alone around the campus late at night, especially if you're a woman. If you must walk alone, don’t wear headphones. Walk away from altercations. Don't share computer passwords and other confidential information. You'll possibly also discover that your school has its own safety program. If so, take the time to find out about it. It could be a life-saver. WE GET QUESTIONS Q. A client called who is selling her home and moving out of state to live with her daughter. But, the closing on the sale has been delayed. The client is moving out and the buyer is moving in, paying rent for a few weeks. Our client wants to know if she has coverage in this situation? A. Definition referenced from an insuring agreement in the ISO (Insurance Services Office) and most other homeowners policies could result in NO COVERAGE for our client if the home is destroyed and she’s no longer living there. There are many “if’s and but’s” here, so call us if this happens to you to make sure you retain coverage. Most homeowners policies say the named insured must be residing in the residence for coverage to be in effect. In this case, the named insured, our client, would not be living there. Q. A boomerang kid lost his job and moved back home with his parents. While driving his mother’s car, he negligently struck another vehicle, causing thousands of dollars in property damage. He had been at home for about 60 days. Is this covered? A. There was no coverage on the basis that the driver’s residency was not reported to the insurance company within 30 days of his return home. Still think 15 minutes can save you 15%? It didn’t with this client. If they had purchased an ISO (Insurance Services Office) policy from our agency instead of getting a 15 minute quote on line, it would have been covered. While a lower price doesn’t necessarily imply lesser coverage, that is often the case. In the words of sales legend Morty Seinfield, “Cheap fabric and dim lighting. That’s how you move merchandise.” For awhile, at least! Campus Shootings Despite recent incidents and widespread publicity about them, most colleges and campuses have never experienced a serious shooting incident, but students should still know what to do if it happens. If the shooting is outside and you can quickly get inside a building and lock the door, do so. Otherwise, look for somewhere near to hide. If there's nowhere, lay flat on the ground and stay still. Only call 911 if you're in a safe place and will not draw attention to yourself. If the incident happens inside a building but outside the room where you're located, barricade the door and stay inside, turning off lights and remaining quiet. Turn off your cell phone ringer but don’t switch the device off. Consider sending a text message rather than calling 911, so you don’t have to use your voice. These are common sense rules. Stillness and silence are the best way of remaining unobserved. And don't try to be a hero! Student Insurance: Have You Got The Right Protection? With so many other things on your mind when your student son or daughter heads off to college for the first time, it's easy to overlook the need to make sure they're properly protected with good insurance coverage. The two key areas of risk are their medical coverage and damage or loss of personal property through accident or theft. Health insurance options include allowing the student to stay on their parents' plan (up to age 26), joining the college's own plan (if it has one) or buying separate, subsidized coverage under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Some individual student policies may provide dental and eye care coverage, while others might have limits including no coverage for accidents caused by drinking or drugs, or they might place a ceiling on the maximum coverage per accident or illness. Personal property insurance may be covered under an existing homeowners policy. If not, you will definitely need protection – up to 50,000 campus property crimes are reported every year. Are You Watching Your Numbers? Our lives are governed by numbers of all sorts: Social Security, phone, employee numbers; street addresses and bank balances. But there's one set of numbers that's more important than all of these – the figures that denote your health status. Things like blood pressure, pulse, and cholesterol levels. Remarkably, many people have no idea what their own personal set of health numbers is, and, just as important, what they should be. 10 Basic Rules To Protect Your Pet When Traveling This is the time of year when many of us hit the road for our annual vacations and, even when we travel a great distance, many of us just can't bring ourselves to part with our pets. So we take them with us. Travel safety for pets is important all year round, of course, but never more so than when there's a long journey ahead. Here are 10 simple rules for safeguarding yourself and your pet during journeys:  Always be sure your pet is well enough to travel  If it has known problems or was recently sick, speak to your veterinarian  Include any pet meds in your packing  Get your pet micro-chipped if it isn’t already Health experts say you should check your blood pressure every two years, starting at age 18. And that's just if the figure is "normal". If your BP is elevated it should be checked much more frequently – every day if possible. "Normal" is generally accepted to mean a level of 120/80. Healthy men aged 35 and over should have their cholesterol levels checked regularly. Men and women at risk of heart disease should also be checked, no matter what their age. The numbers you're looking for here are: total cholesterol, under 200; HDL or "good" cholesterol, 60 or higher; LDL or "bad" cholesterol, under 100; triglycerides, under 150.  Enclose animals securely to avoid injuries or distractions but don’t put them in a trailer  Take sufficient liquid for the journey & make frequent stops.  Stop and investigate if your pet seems unduly stressed  Crack car windows open no matter how short your absence  If traveling by air, check with the airline on requirements  Always take documentation relating to ownership and vaccinations You don’t need to know what these figures represent but you do need to know the numbers and how you're doing! Nearly 1 million LifeLock victims are getting refunds due to FTC claim that LifeLock made false claims which promised consumers absolute protection from Identity theft. FTC Chairman, Jon Leibowitz said that the protection they offered left enough holes that you could drive a truck through it. LEGAL SHIELD Yes! We now represent Legal Shield. If you have one of the others out there call me for a comparison. We are the only one who will completely restore your identity after a loss. No matter what the others say. Attorneys charge around $250 an hour now so our Legal Protection is a bargain. Call me at 515-964-0637 or 1-888-464-0637 today for a free quote. Our cost is less than LifeLock also. APPLES TO APPLES QUOTES ARE NOT APPLES TO APPLES! I don’t know how many times I’ve had folks call me and ask for an “apples to apples” quote for their auto or home insurance. There is really no such thing! Oh, the limits may be the same for liability and uninsured motorist and medical coverage. And the deductibles may be the same. But that’s where the “apples for apples” quote stops. So you buy on price only really. That can be a disaster to you at the time of a claim. Here are a few things that will smack you good with some of the “cheaper” companies. 1. Undisclosed household residents. For example, elsewhere in this newsletter, “boomerang” kids living at home that the insurance company has not been told about. Our ISO policies are much less restrictive than many of the “phone” companies. 2. Business use of non-owned autos is excluded. Ever borrowed a neighbor’s car or made a business stop in a dealer loaner car? 3. Use of any non-owned auto is excluded. Not in our policies. 4. Vehicles over 10,000 pounds in Gross vehicle Weight are excluded. Like a U-Haul truck or an motorized RV? 5. Any type of delivery is excluded. Including pizza, newspapers, Mary Kay cosmetics. 6. Permissive Users Only Get Minimum Limits. Not the limits you bought if they borrow your car. 7. With many of these “cheap” policies “street racing” is excluded. Google “street racing” and see how often people are killed or critically injured in a “street race”. Many policies exclude this, period. My dad would have been in deep trouble with one of these policies when I was a kid. 8. Criminal Acts are excluded or limits reduced. DUI’s or even speeding tickets may preclude any coverage here. 9. Medical Payments only include licensed physician fees. One insured incurred a $25,000 “life flight” helicopter fee that would not be covered, even in part, by a policy with this exclusion. 10. Theft without evidence of a forced entry is excluded. One insured had a four-figure vehicle theft loss denied because he left his keys in his car. 11. Sales tax is not included under loss settlement. This cost one “same coverage as you had before” insured more than $2,000 out of pocket for sales tax on a replacement auto. PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ANKENY, IA PERMIT NO. 17 USEFUL NEWS Lew «FNAME» «LNAME» «ADDRESS1» «ADDRESS2» Or Current Resident Ankeny, IA «ZIPCODE» Do you receive solicitations for low cost, no medical exam life insurance from your bank, credit union, AAA or others? I receive stuff like this in the mail all the time. Do you ever wonder if those offers are too good to be true? BE CAREFUL…. Most of those are VERY pricey. 95% of the time you can do MUCH better by talking to us. Here is the scoop from your local agent . . .  Chris Chad The Doubledays  THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR REFERRALS  We really do appreciate you referring your friends and fellow workers to our agency these past months. The most sincere form of compliment is a referral and we don’t take them lightly. The May winner of our Olive Garden drawing is Ron Nelson. Thank you! The June winner of our Olive Garden drawing is Larry Hogue. This is Larry’s second time at winning. He also one for an Ipad a few months back. It pays to keep referring folks. Thank you, again, Larry! Don’t forget, each referral you send us garners a $10 Gift Card and a chance at each month’s $50 Olive Garden drawing AND…… A chance at our $2,000 cash drawing in January! How would you like $2,000 in January to take a trip somewhere warm for a while? Keep sending your referrals to us. Somebody has to win and it might as well be YOU!   Life insurance is meant to replace your income. My rule of thumb, and something that financial “expert” Dave Ramsey agrees with, is to buy an amount equal to 12-15 times your annual salary. If both of you work, both should have Life Insurance to replace their own income. AND, even if one spouse does not work and you have kids, it is still a good idea to have life insurance because you will have to find money to pay someone to take care of the kids. There are two primary types of life insurance. Term life coverage provides a payment only if you die during the policy period or term. Other policies, like whole life or universal life, include investment charges. Avoid buying more than one policy for any person. Every insurance policy you buy has fees hidden in it. So two $50,000 policies would cost you more than one $100,000 policy. If you buy Term, make certain it is convertible to a permanent plan until, at least age 70. Many do not and lapse because the premium is so high later. TO CONTACT US: Call 515-964-0637 Toll-Free in Iowa: 888-464-0637 Website: www.doubledayinsurance.com Email: First [email protected] (Example: [email protected]) I DON’T NEED LIFE INSURANCE! I’M YOUNG AND WILL LIVE A LONG TIME YET! Heard this many times before. I’ve also delivered death claims on people age 4, 7, 29, 28, 47 and many other young ages. Here are some death benefits paid by Pekin Life Insurance Company in 2013 alone! Age 35, married Male, Owner/Contractor. Years in effect: 2.5. Amount paid: $1,000,000. Cause of death: Cardiac Arrhythmia. Two children. Age 38, Married Male. Self-employed. Years in effect: 6. Amount paid $50,000. Cause of death: Accident. 2 kids. Age 47, Married Female, Nurse. Years in effect: 14. Amount paid out: $250,234.44. Cause of death: Multiple Myeloma. 4 children. Age 71, Married Female, Homemaker. Years in effect: 10. Amount paid $100,000. Cause of death: Alzheimer’s Disease. Age 49, Single Female, Homemaker. Years in effect: 3. Amount paid $100,000. Cause of death: stroke Total Death Benefits Paid by Pekin Life Insurance Company in 2013 = $48,916,112!!! Just this one company. Still think you’re Immune? Think again and while you’re at it, give us a call to see how little it costs to protect the ones you love with life insurance. 964-0637 or 888-464-0637 Don't Pay Too Much For Final Respects Funerals are not something we like to think about, which is why, when the bill comes in to bereaved familes, it sometimes includes pricing surprises. In a recent undercover investigation, 32 of 124 funeral homes failed to disclose pricing information in the way the law requires. In fact, for 30 years, the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule requires funeral arrangers to provide an itemized price list at the outset, as well as casket prices before consumers view any of them. It also prohibits funeral homes from making the purchase of a particular item, such as a casket, a condition of providing other services. Before you find yourself in the unhappy position of having to organize or pay for a funeral, download the FTC's document, Paying Final Respects, from http://tinyurl.com/funerals-rpt