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As we move into this new year, we need to plan to improve our safety and that of our family. There are many things we can all do better to ensure our safety and protect our homes and valuables. This year, we offer these five actions you can take to reduce the chance that one of your family members or a house guest gets hurt and to make sure your possessions are well-protected. Remember too that after the New Year, robbers are on the prowl, looking for opportunities to make off with the new stuff you got for Christmas.
1. Childproof your home, even if you have older kids You can change the way you protect your kids in the home as they age.
Babies and toddlers- Install cabinet locks to prevent babies from getting into places with household chemicals and cleaners, or your liquor.
Install cordless blinds or curtains throughout your home to prevent choking.
Young children- Make sure you have non-slip rugs in the bathroom.
Also, one common injury for the little ones is burns and scalds. Keep a close eye on your children whenever they are near things that can burn them, such as ovens, stoves, heaters, the fireplace, and other appliances and products that may get hot, such as curling irons or hair straighteners.
Pre-teens- As kids get older, subtler and unseen dangers await them, especially as most of them use computers, smartphones, or tablets to play games, socialize, and surf the Internet.
RUNNING A BUSINESS IS HARD WORK— WE ' LL FOCUS ON PROTECTING IT.
You may want to install parental controls on the computer and have a talk with your kids about sharing personal information- and also about talking to strangers online.
2. Keep your valuables safe
Home burglaries increase after the holidays, so if you have expensive jewelry, cash, collections, or other valuables you don’ t want to go missing, you should store them in a fireproof safe.
Other items you should consider storing in the safe include the deed to your home, wills, birth certificates, passports, and any other important documents you don’ t want to lose.
The fireproof part is important since fires, floods, and other disasters can damage or destroy those documents.
3. Close the garage door Drive down most any neighborhood during the day, and you are likely to see at least one house with the garage door open and no one in sight.
By leaving your garage doors open unattended, you might as well hang a sign that says“ Free stuff. Come and get it.”
Also, if you will be away for an extended period, you should consider disabling your garage door.
4. Start a neighborhood watch You may have nosy neighbors who annoy you, but they could suddenly become your best friend if they catch a stranger snooping around the outside of your house.
If you are concerned about the potential for break-ins, you can start by getting acquainted with your neighbors, encouraging them to check in on each other, and promising not to ignore alarms that go off. Watch for strangers wandering or loitering in the neighborhood, and notify one another of suspicious activity.
You can even make it formal by proposing a neighborhood watch program.
5. Keep emergency numbers by all phones
If your older kids are home alone, make it easy for them to respond in an emergency. Make sure your child has easy access to this information:
• 911 for emergencies.
• 1-800-222-1222 for the Poison Control Center.
• The numbers for a pediatrician, police, fire department, emergency medical services, and a neighbor.
• Your home address, so that caregivers and children can easily tell emergency personnel how to locate the home.
PROTECTING WHAT YOU LOVE IS OUR TOP PRIORITY.
Cusumano Insurance, a local family-owned business, has been serving the Pittsburgh area since 1958. The agency represents several insurance companies offering various options for your personal and business insurance needs. Its experienced staff are creative problem solvers who help find the suitable insurance companies, products and discounts to meet your specific needs. Give them a call today for a free insurance review.
This Industry Insight was provided by:
Joann Cusumano Sciulli, AAI Agency Principal
Rosann Cusumano Elinsky, AAI, LUTCF Agency Principal
Cusumano Insurance Agency, Inc. • 178 Clairton Blvd • Pleasant Hills, PA 15236
The heart of our business is protecting your evolving story. We’ re always here if you need us no matter what tomorrow brings.
178 Clairton Blvd Pittsburgh PA 15236 412-655-4432
contactus @ cusumanoinsurance. com www. cusumanoinsurance. com Like us on Facebook
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SPRING 2026 |
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