You might have thought that the worst thing that could happen on a festive holiday like Thanksgiving would be that you would overeat. However, cooking that feast that the family will enjoy could present serious risks as well. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) warns that Thanksgiving Day is the most dangerous day of the year for home cooking fires, with 2-3 times as many house fires occurring on Thanksgiving compared to any other day of the year.

Deep Frying the Turkey Could Ruin Your Day

Perhaps the newest Thanksgiving trend is preparing the turkey in a deep fryer to get a delicious, tender, juicy and golden brown result that draws those “oohs” and “ahs” around the dinner table. If done with extreme caution, this cooking method can also greatly shorten the cooking time. However, far too many “cooks” take dangerous shortcuts, ignore the safety warnings and find themselves with serious property damage, injury and even death from the home fires that occur.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says that most turkey frying accidents occur while the oil is being heated, prior to even adding the turkey. This means we must be extra vigilant when heating the oil, and turn off the fryer immediately if any smoke appears. If the oil overheats, it can ignite.

This video shows what can happen when turkey deep-frying goes bad.

Planning to Try Turkey Deep Frying This Year?

If you’ll be deep-frying that Thanksgiving turkey this year, then be sure to do your homework in advance. To help you, we’ve included a Recipe for Deep-Fried Turkey to help with the preparation along with a video with step by step instructionsl

We’re also passing along a Cheat Sheet for you including the best Safety Tips from our good friend, Libby Green and Service Masters of Bel Air to help you stay safe.

Homeowners Insurance Tip

No one ever thinks they will suffer a home fire causing devastating property damage, injury or death to their loved ones – especially at a time when family gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving. But, you need to be prepared, nonetheless. So if you have not reviewed your homeowners insurance policy recently, why not do it now. Just contact your insurance agent to be sure of your coverage.

Here at the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency, our experienced agents welcome your questions and would be glad to sit down with you to do an insurance policy review and let you know if you still have the best coverage at the best rates available to meet your needs.

According to the Washington Post, "Car theft continues to plummet" -- dropping by almost half from 2005 to 2011 in Maryland, Washington and Virginia. This seems to be due to improved automobile technology and the fact that police now have better tools to combat vehicle theft.

Even so, auto theft is still a significant problem.

A recent AAA motor club report, compiling federal and insurance industry statistics, shows that about half of all stolen cars were unlocked and a vehicle theft still happens every 43 seconds in the U.S. 

What vehicle makes and models are popular with car thieves? 

It varies, state to state.  In Washington, it's the Dodge Caravan.  The Jeep Cherokee is the thief's choice in Virginia, while in Maryland it's the Honda Accord.

Are you wondering how you can better protect your car? 

Take a look at these tips that we found on Anne Arundel Community College's website.  They were directed at students on campus, but they are just as meaningful to all of us.

• Install a vehicle alarm or mechanical lock for steering wheel or ignition.
• Lock doors and leave windows rolled up.
• Always activate auto alarms or anti-theft devices.
• Keep valuables out of sight. Displaying valuable items in plain sight invites theft even if the vehicle is locked. Don’t advertise the types of equipment you have in your vehicle.
• Place valuable items in the trunk – not the front or back seats.
• Know the license number, year, make and model of your vehicle.
• Do not leave money, checkbooks or credit cards in the vehicle at any time.

Would your auto insurance cover auto theft?

If you have not done so recently, maybe it's time to check with your insurance agent to be sure that you have the appropriate insurance in place.  Don't wait until the worst happens only to find that your coverage is incomplete.

Here at the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency in Lutherville - Timonium, Maryland (MD), our experienced agents welcome your inquiries.  We can review your auto insurance policy and help you explore your coverage options if necessary. Feel free to contact us at your convenience.

Prom Season – High Excitement… High Risk

If you have teenagers in your home, then you know this is a special time of year. High school seniors are celebrating the end of their high school career, eager for graduation and looking forward to taking that next step into the world. For many high school teens, this is the much-anticipated Prom Season – a time when memories of a lifetime (good or bad) will be created for both teens and families.

Yet, the excitement at this milestone comes with significant risk. According to the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA), prom and graduation season – April through June – is the time when most teen motor vehicle deaths and serious injuries occur. Moreover, NHTSA tells us that alcohol-related crashes kill more 16-20-year-olds than those of any other age group. Sadly,a report by Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) shows that most teens in this age group get their alcohol from family or friends.

VIDEO: Maryland Officials Warn Against Teens, Drunk Driving and Prom Night

VIDEO: Prom Season – Protecting Teens from Drunk Driving (III.org)

How can parents prevent this season of celebration from turning into tragedy?

The experts at the NHTSA and SADD, as well as many other organizations agree on the following critical steps parents should take to keep their teen drivers safe during Prom and Graduation season.

• Get a commitment from your teen that their cell phone will be on throughout the evening and designate times to have them check in with you as the evening progresses. Clearly emphasize that your teen can call you – no questions asked – .if they need a safe ride home and/or any problem occurs.
• Find out about your teen’s plans for the evening and determine who will be responsible for driving. Then confirm your child’s plans with other adults such as other trusted parents or school officials.
• Discuss your expectations and outline your rules, those of law enforcement and of the school for the evening.

Auto Insurance Tip

If your teen will be driving, you’ll want to be sure that they are well covered either by your auto insurance policy or their own. For your own peace of mind, confirm the coverage with your insurance agent.

Here at the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency in Timonium, MD, we wish your family the best for graduation and prom season; and our staff is available to answer discuss your insurance coverage at your convenience.

There Could be Danger Lurking in Your Laundry Room

Most of us never think very much about the condition of our washer and dryer until something goes wrong. We believe they will always be dependable… and safe. Have you ever stopped to consider that your clothes dryer might be a serious fire hazard? The U. S. Fire Administration (USFA)   (a division of FEMA) reports that close to 100 injuries, five deaths and about $35 million in property loss result from an estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires occurring in homes each year.

The USFA’s report also tells us that clothes dryer fires appear to happen more frequently in winter months. They have found that the main cause of such fires is the failure to thoroughly clear lint and fibers from the dryer, mostly because the lint that is not caught by the filter which settles around the exhaust pipe or the heating element where it can ignite.

Good News: You Can Prevent Dryer Fires

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has made available their Clothes Dryer Safety Tip Sheet to make your dryer safer. Some of these very important tips are as follows.

• Always use a lint filter when operating the dryer.
• Do not leave the dryer operating when you go to bed or if you leave home.
• Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time.
• Test the outdoor vent flap to see that it opens when the dryer is operating, and be sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted at any time.
• Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions, and don’t overload your dryer.

Homeowners Insurance Tip

Home fires – no matter the reason – can be a devastating threat to life and property. Be sure your home is properly protected by your homeowners insurance. If you are not sure about your coverage, now is the time to arrange a meeting with your insurance agent for a policy review.

Contact our experienced agents here at the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency to review your home owners insurance policy to be sure you have complete coverage to meet your needs at the best rate available.

Car Shopping Now Quicker, Easier and Safer

It’s a brand new year. Is this the year when you’ll replace that old car? Perhaps you’re thinking about it, but dreading all the research you’d have to do to decide on a new model that meets your family’s needs.

Would it be easier if you could find out the safety rating of the makes and models you’re considering – right there in the car lot? Well now you can do just that using your smart phone? Think of the time you’ll save!

You might ask why check a car’s safety rating before buying. Not only is it important that your new vehicle offer you and your family the best protection in a crash, but the safety rating also influences your auto insurance bill.   

Now, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), has made it easy for car shoppers to check on the auto safety ratings and crash test results while browsing on the dealer’s showroom floor or anywhere else. The Institute has launched a new mobile website so consumers can easily compare vehicle safety ratings.

In fact, the site does much more. You can also compare child booster seat ratings, the latest highway safety news and much more. You can also use your smart phone to sign up for an automatic RSS feed when new material is available.

The IIHS routinely publishes the results of tests showing the performance of a given car, truck, SUV or van in protecting passengers in front, rear and side impact crashes as well as in rollovers. Depending upon how they perform, each vehicle is rated as good, acceptable, marginal or poor. Vehicles that perform to the highest standards receive the distinction of TOP SAFETY PICK.

Auto Insurance Tip

If you’re in the market for a new or used car, don’t forget to get your insurance agent’s input in advance. In fact, our experienced agents, here at the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency in Timonium, MD, are ready to help you with all your insurance questions. Just contact us at your convenience.