Don’t Just Fall Back...Look Ahead! As an insurance agent, I feel fortunate to receive the “insider tips” from my corporate partners. Here are a few tips from Allstate that remind us to think about home and office safety as we turn the clocks back.

AT HOME 

• Change Batteries in the Smoke Detector
• Flip the Mattress
• Wash Pillows
• Restock the Medicine Cabinet (throw away expired items) Clean Refrigerator Coils 
• Clean Dryer Vents and hoses
• Replace Air Filters
• Clean Oven
• Check Emergency kits for home and auto Turn Off Outside Water Taps 
• Replace HVAC Filters Reverse Ceiling Fans Prepare Trees for Winter Inspect the Furnace 
• Seal Air Leaks
• Inspect the Chimney
• Drain the Hot Water Heater 

AT WORK 

• Change Batteries in Smoke Detectors 
• Check Exits-Working signage, doors that open properly, clear pathways 
• Schedule a Deep Clean Before Cold and Flu Season 
• Clean the Break Room and/or Kitchen items (Refrigerator coils, contents, etc.) 
• Restock First Aid and Emergency kits in office, on fleet vehicles 
• Inventory Office supplies, restock as needed
• Turn Off Outside Water Taps/Inspect Taps Used During Cold Weather Replace HVAC Filters
• Review Sick Leave Policies
• Inspect Buildings & Grounds, note maintenance items and schedule repairs 

Let’s Talk About Carbon Monoxide Detectors 

A client of mine recently told me about an experience that happened to her several years ago. Her children were youngsters, asleep on the second floor. Her bedroom was on the third floor. She wakened to the faint sound of a “smoke alarm” going off on the first floor. She was disoriented and believed she was just having difficulty waking from a dream but made her way to the children and roused them up. They, too, were struggling to get to their feet but Mom got them down to the first floor and out the door. 

As it turns out, the Fire Department discovered high Carbon Monoxide levels in the home. A detector was only mounted on the First Floor. It took my client over an hour to begin to recover from her stupor, and the children were groggy and listless. With some attention from the personnel on the scene, all three were given care. Once their rental home was aired out and the issue resolved, they could go back inside and resume life as usual. 

This cautionary tale is to remind us all that detectors should be located at the entryway and, if the home is multi-level, adjacent to the sleeping areas. This is an important point. In this case, the property management company simply overlooked or did not follow the necessary protocols. We all feel lucky that this story has a happy ending, but it could have turned out differently if Mom had not been roused out of her drowsiness to react. 

Detectors work best to save lives when we install them and use them properly. If you have any questions, reach out to my office and I’ll provide resources to make sure you feel safe in your home! 

Freeman & Sherburne, Insuring Families and Businesses for 150 Years (dated August 2020) 

What if it only took one phone call, and one conversation with just one licensed insurance agent, to have access to insurance quotes from a variety of insurance providers and nationally known carriers? Getting insurance quotes from several “name brand carriers” can mean calling several different offices and talking to several different people. Is there a more convenient way? 

Yes! An Independent Agent has all the same licensing and requirements as the “name brand commercial carriers”, and also represents many of the same commercial carriers seen in advertising on television. 

Freeman & Sherburne Insurance in Gainesville, Virginia is an independent firm that represents a variety of well-known national insurance companies and carriers. Because they have access to so many insurers, they can easily provide a variety of insurance quotes from many different carriers to their clients-and clients only need to talk to one agent to provide information just the one time. For those families constantly on the run, this provides the convenient and competitive advantages! 

Independent agencies have existed for over 200 years, and Freeman & Sherburne has been around for almost 150 years. Licensed in DC, Maryland, and Virginia (and in many states across the country, too) our team can assist with life insurance needs, property insurance for home, auto, and recreational vehicles, and business insurance. We have helped families all over the region manage life’s many changes and moves, and have protected business owners through the evolving cycles of growth and transition. 

“The most important thing to me is family,” said owner, Bobbac Oveissi. “Sure, my family is important to me, but our office has several family relationships within it that are important to all of us who work together. I believe that’s what makes our office special-we know how important family is to our clients and we work hard to find solutions for people that protect who and what they love most.” 

Freeman & Sherburne Insurance is located in the Heritage Village Plaza in Gainesville. In-office visits are by appointment only, but the office continues to maintain normal daily hours and provide assistance by phone or teleconference.