• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
• When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

• Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, which indicates conformance with safety standards. Use only lights that have fused plugs.
• Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged sets. Always replace burned-out bulbs promptly with the same wattage bulbs.
• Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. Make sure the extension cord is rated for the intended use.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
• Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).
• Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
• For added electric shock protection, plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. GFCIs can be installed permanently to household circuits by a qualified electrician.

• Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
• Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
• In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
• Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.

• Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
• Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

According to a recent Travelers article, thieves prefer low-technology old-fashioned theft.

What does that mean for you?  If you, like most people, previously thought that a computer was to blame for identity theft...you were wrong.

According to the date compiled by Travelers' research, the following are the top known causes of identity theft:

• 78% - burglary and theft of wallet/purse/personal identification/computer
• 14% - online or data breach
• 5% - change of address/postal fraud
• 3% - lost credit card and other miscellaneous causes

In addition, over 75 percent of these cases involve criminals using the information to open new credit card accounts or use the existing credit cards to make charges.  Twenty percent will withdraw money from an existing checking, savings and online account, while another 16 percent open utility accounts in the victim's name.

This means that our TRASH and MAILBOXES are prime targets for identity theft!  Think about it...how much information is contained in a mailed bank or credit card statement?  How about a notice from the MVA that includes your driver's license number?  Restoring a stolen identity is time consuming, costly and requires expertise.  Most of us do not have this expertise.

Most insurance companies will  make sure all the required phone calls are made, all the letters written in order to get your identity back for a nominal fee.  The Identity Fraud Expense Coverage is available as an endorsement on a most homeowners, condo and renters policies for as little as $25 annually and offers protection up to $25,000 with no deductible.

Identity theft is the fastest growing white collar job in a America, and you may not be aware that your identity has been stolen until a merchant or collection agency contacts you, seeking payment for a bill you know nothing about.  Or, you may be declined for a loan or employment because your credit records show defaults on loans unknown to you.

Contact us today if you are unsure if you and your family are currently protected from this financially devastating scenario.