By:  James Lunders,  Insurance Agent
Chances are, either your home or the home of someone you know, has a fuse box.  Fuses function the same way breakers do—to cut off power if an electrical circuit is overloaded.  Both fuses and breakers can be very effective in protecting your home against an electrical fire.

However, one problem that can arise with fuses occurs when someone inserts a fuse of higher amperage than the circuit is designed for.  For example, a homeowner tires of replacing blown fuses and inserts a 30-amp fuse where a 20-amp fuse should go, the 30-amp fuse allows more current into the circuit than the circuit was designed to accommodate.  The fuse “blows” indicating that the circuits are overloaded. These must be replaced as the fuse element burns up.  A fire can result.

If you have a fuse box, it’s a great idea to have an electrician inspect it and check the wire size to install the proper fuse bases. Type S fuses should be used in aging fuse panels to prevent over fusing. Type S fuses are the only type allowed by the National Electrical Code in new fuse box installations.

Whether you have a fuse box or a breaker box, have your electrician tell you the size of your electrical service to make sure it is sufficient. Years ago, 60-amp or 100-amp service wasn’t uncommon; but most families today have electrical appliances that demand more service.  It’s smart to get an electrician’s opinion on whether an update is needed since modern homes are typically wired for minimum 200-amp service.

Electrical fires are all too common, and many homes in the U.S. need electrical updates.  Please take whatever action necessary to update the electrical service in your home.

By James Lunders, West Des Moines Insurance Agent

Although the number of crash-related fatalities for children has steadily decreased since 1975, motor vehicle crashes remains one of the leading causes of death for children¹.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that, on average, 6 children under the age of 15 years were killed and 721 were injured in crashes everyday in 2002².  Sadly, most of these deaths could have been prevented.  Half of all children under age 15 killed in crashes were completely unrestrained².  Although all 50 states currently have some form of child restraint laws, parents and drivers need to make sure children are appropriately restrained every car ride.  Here are some tips to help keep kids safe in vehicles:            

• All children 12 and under should ride in the back seat of the vehicle appropriately restrained³            
• Make sure children are appropriately restrained according to current best practices.  NHTSA recommends the following guidelines⁴:
  • Infants: Birth until at least 20 pounds AND at least 1 year old should ride rear-facing in an infant or convertible seat
  • Toddlers: Over at least 20 pounds AND over at least 1 year old; up to 40 pounds should ride forward-facing in a convertible or combination seat
  • Young children: Over 40 pounds; Up to at least age 8, unless 4’9” should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat with a lap and should seat belt
  • Older children: Over 8 years old or 4’9” should use a lap and shoulder seat belt

• All child safety seats should be used and installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, as well as the vehicle owner’s manual instructions
• Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an airbagBe a good role model…always wear your seat belt.  For adults, seat belts in combination with air bags provide the best protection against injury and death in crashes.  

¹Insurance Institute For Highway Safety

²National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

³AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics

4Current as of May 2003

This site is being developed daily and should be up to speed by the end of February, 2008.

Thank you for visiting.

James