Want quick, useful information on topics such as keeping your home safe while you’re vacationing, or how to save money on your Western National homeowners’/renters’ insurance? Or maybe you’ve had great service from Western National and want to “become a fan” of our company. Whatever your reason, now you can connect with Western National via our new social media profiles on Twitter® and Facebook®. We’ll provide regular tips, discount information, news, useful links, and more—and all you have to do is find and “follow” us on Twitter® (our name: WesternNational) or “become a fan” of us on Facebook® (search under the “Pages” tab for Western National Insurance). See you there!

We’re all a-Twitter® about social media

We’re all a-Twitter® about social media

Western National’s Policyholder Newsletter - Issue 4.1 The Relationship Company®

Homeowners’/Renters’ Edition

Have questions about anything mentioned in the Focus? Contact your Independent Insurance Agent or visit us online at www.WNins.com

6 ways to reduce your risk of electrical fire

According to a recent United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) study, defective electrical wiring systems cause approximately 40,000 residential fires annually. In addition, electrical cords and plugs are involved in about 7,000 fires annually. The National Electrical Safety Foundation offers these tips to safeguard your home against electrical fire and related losses:

Make sure that your outlets and extension cords are not overloaded1. Examine electrical cords to ensure they are not frayed, damaged, or 2. placed under rugs or carpetsVerify that the proper wattage bulbs are being used in light fixtures 3. and lampsConsider installing ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) in 4. bathrooms, utility rooms, and kitchens (this device protects people against electrocution)Take steps to protect your electrical appliances from power surges, 5. such as by purchasing surge protection devicesConsider updating your entire electrical system if your home is over 6. 40 years old (many older homes contain aluminum wiring, which is

much more susceptible to starting fires than the copper wire required by modern building codes)

Source: International Risk Management Institute (www.irmi.com)

Do you use a charcoal grill or a kerosene heater? How about a chimney, a woodstove, or a fireplace? If you use any of these devices in your home, you need to take special precautions to protect yourself from carbon monoxide leaks. For example, it’s a good idea to have a trained professional inspect, clean, and tune-up your central heating system (furnaces, flues, and chimneys) annually, and it’s important that you repair any leaks promptly. For a full list of recommendations for carbon monoxide-proofing your home, view the CO fact sheet at www.minnesotasafetycouncil.org.

Just how CO-proofed is your home?

Focus

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Western National Insurance Group5350 West 78th StreetEdina, Minnesota 55439Toll Free: (800) 862-6070Twin Cities: (952) 835-5350www.WNins.com

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Western National Insurance Group Focus - Homeowners’/Renters’ Edition 4.1

CLAIMS CORNER“No Vacancy” By Nancy Jacobson, CPCU, Special Investigations Unit

I grew up in the 1960s, where our family vacations were always road trips, and the back seat was always filled with Archie comic books and games such as “Auto Bingo.” My sister and I fought constantly about who was over the invisible line dividing the car sear that designated each one’s personal space. Searching for a motel was always a chore, because most rooms failed to meet my mother’s standards (she inherited dual cleanliness genes from her Swedish father and German mother). As a result we drove many extra hours, late into the night, to find a suitable room. As the late hours increased, so did the “No Vacancy” signs.

Today, vacancies of a different nature are prevalent. Our neighborhoods are dotted with deserted homes and businesses. While optimistic for a better fu-ture, we need to understand the effect vacancy may have on insurance cover-age.

Vacant properties have an increased chance of a loss due to fire, theft, and vandalism. If you live next door to a vacant home or business, you also have a greater-than-average risk of suffering a loss caused by collateral damage. Like my sister, these losses do not respect the invisible line: for example, your home could suffer heat dam-age from a nearby arson fire.

Here are some suggestions to reduce your chances of losses caused by this risk:

Contact your local police department and verify its awareness of the va-1. cancy.Watch the vacant property carefully and report all suspicious activity/2. changes to law enforcement.

Sometimes your home may also be vacant or simply unoccupied for a time. If this is the case, it is a good idea for you to contact your agent to obtain advice on insurance coverage as this may affect your insurance coverage for a loss.

It is our sincere hope this new kind of vacancy will also one day be extinct. In the interim, these measures will help you avoid unnecessary hardships.

Every year nearly five million people are bitten by dogs in the United States, and more than 300,000 seek emergency medical care because of those bites. With over 50 percent of bites occurring on the dog owner’s property, the issue is a major concern for owners and guests alike.

Here are some simple rules to follow (and, if you are a dog owner, to encourage your guests to follow) to prevent bites from occurring:

Ask the owner’s permission • before petting a dogBefore you reach to pet a dog, • allow it to sniff you firstDo not try to pet a dog that is • eating, sleeping, or playing with a toyAlways speak quietly and move • slowly (quick movements and loud voices can frighten a dog)

Source: Minnesota Safety Council (www.minnesotasafetycouncil.org); Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org)

Protect guests and yourself from dog bites