Home Buyers Insurance Checklist

Shopping for your dream house? There are many considerations when looking at real estate, such as property taxes, school district, available recreational opportunities in the neighborhood, to name a few.

But an important and often overlooked consideration is the insurance implications of your purchase. You will be paying insurance on your home for as long as you own it, so you should factor the cost of insurance into the home-buying process. You don’t want to find out that your dream home is more expensive to insure than you thought—after you own it!

BEFORE YOU START LOOKING FOR A HOME

Thinking through all the costs associated with buying a home will make the process run more smoothly, and it may also save you money. It is important to:

Check Your Credit Rating
A good credit history helps you in many ways. Good credit makes it easier to get a mortgage at a competitive rate, and it may also qualify you for a good credit discount on your insurance. Make sure you know your credit rating before you apply for a mortgage. Get a copy of one or all of your credit reports. Make sure they are accurate and report any mistakes immediately. If your credit is not as good as it could be take steps now to improve it. The I.I.I. has information on credit and insurance to help you with this process

Protect Yourself with a Renters Insurance Policy
If you are currently renting a house or apartment, protect yourself financially with a renters insurance policy. This provides insurance protection in the event a fire, hurricane or other insured disaster damages or destroys your personal possessions. It also covers the cost of additional living expenses if something happens to make your rental home or apartment unlivable. Additionally, renters insurance gives you liability protection if someone is injured in your home and decides to sue you. Disasters happen, and it would be unfortunate to have to use the down payment you saved to buy your new home to pay for losses that could have been covered by renters insurance. Furthermore, having a renters insurance policy provides a useful insurance history to your prospective homeowners insurer when you go to buy your first home.

WHILE HOUSE HUNTING

As you search for your new home, remember that the physical characteristics of the house—its size, location, construction and overall condition—can affect the cost, choice and availability of home insurance. Following are some factors to consider when shopping for a home:

Quality and Location of the Fire Department
Houses that are located near highly-rated, permanently staffed fire departments usually cost less to insure. This also holds true for homes that have a hydrant nearby. An important underwriting criterion for insurance companies is a community’s investment in fire protection, which includes trained firefighters, proper equipment and adequate supplies of water.

Proximity to the Coastline
Houses located on or near the coast will generally cost more to insure than those further inland. There will also likely be a hurricane or windstorm deductible. This is a percentage deductible based on the cost to rebuilding a home, rather than a flat dollar amount. With a homeowners policy that has a $500 standard deductible, for example, the policyholder pays the first $500 of the claim before insurance kicks in. However, as percentage deductibles are based on the home’s insured value, if a house is insured for $100,000 and has a 2 percent deductible, the first $2,000 of a claim is paid out of the policyholder’s pocket.

There are two kinds of wind damage deductibles: hurricane deductibles, which apply to damage solely from hurricanes; and windstorm or wind/hail deductibles, which apply to any kind of wind damage. Percentage deductibles typically vary by state and range from 1 percent to 5 percent of a home’s insured value. These come into effect if certain triggers occur—a deductible triggering event can be, for instance, an official National Weather Service declaration that a storm is generating hurricane-strength winds (i.e., 74 miles per hour, or more) in your community.

In coastal areas with high wind risk, some homeowners may select higher hurricane deductibles to lower their insurance premiums, but that means they pay more if their home is damaged. In some coastal communities, private homeowners insurance coverage may not be readily available. Instead, you may need to purchase insurance through a state-run insurance program, which can provide less coverage, and in some cases be more costly, than private insurance.

Age of the Home
A stately, older home can be quite beautiful, but ornate features such as plaster walls, ceiling molding and wooden floors may be costly to replace and raise the cost of insurance. Plumbing and electrical systems can become unsafe with age and lack of maintenance. So, older homes may cost more to insure. If you are considering buying an older home find out how much it will cost to update these features and factor it into the cost of ownership.

Condition of the Roof
Ask about the condition of the roof. A new roof matters to insurers and keeps you and your family safer. Depending on the type of roof and whether or not you use fire and/or hail resistant materials, you may even qualify for a discount. Talk to your insurer about qualifying discounts.

Is the Home Well-Built and Up to Code?
Find out whether the house has been updated to comply with current building codes. Homes built by careful craftsmen and those built to meet modern engineering-based building codes are likely to better withstand natural disasters. Consider hiring a licensed home inspector who is knowledgeable about the latest building codes to inspect the property before you sign a mortgage.

Risk of Flooding
Damage from flooding is NOT covered by standard home insurance policies. If you are buying a home in an area at risk from flooding, you will need to purchase separate insurance. Insurance for flooding is available from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is serviced by private carriers, and from a few specialty insurers. People often underestimate the risk of flooding. Ninety percent of all natural disasters in the U.S. involve flooding, according to the NFIP. More important is that 25 to 30 percent of all paid losses for flooding are for damage in areas not officially designated as special flood hazard areas. If you are not in a high-risk flood zone, NFIP coverage is available at a lower premium.

History of Earthquakes
While earthquakes are most frequently associated with California, they have occurred in 39 states and, like flooding, are not covered under standard home insurance policies. Earthquake insurance is available from private insurers as an endorsement to a homeowners policy, and in California from the California Earthquake Authority, a privately funded, publicly managed organization. The cost of earthquake insurance differs widely by location, insurer and the type of structure being covered. Generally, older buildings cost more to insure than new ones. Wood frame structures may benefit from lower rates than brick buildings because they tend to withstand quake stresses better. Regions are graded on a scale of 1 to 5 for likelihood of quakes, and this difference is reflected in insurance rates.

Swimming Pool or Other Special Feature
If the house has a swimming pool, hot tub or other special feature, you will likely need more liability insurance. You may also want to consider purchasing an excess or umbrella liability policy to provide added protection in the event someone gets injured on your property and decides to sue you.

BEFORE YOU PLACE A BID ON THE HOME

Check the Loss History Report
Ask the current owner of the house for a copy of the insurance loss history report, such as a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.) report from ChoicePoint or an A-PLUS report from ISO, a leading source of information about property/casualty insurance. This is a record of insurance claims on the house that can provide answers to two questions that any savvy homebuyer should ask:

• Have there been any past problems in the home?
• If damage has occurred, was it properly repaired?

Note that prior claims are not a barrier to getting insurance. In fact, sometimes a recent claim can have positive ramifications. If, for example, a roof was damaged by a wind storm and replaced by a new one, this would make the house more desirable to an insurance company. If there have been no claims within five years, there will be no loss history report on the home.

Get the House Inspected
A thorough inspection of the home is very important. The inspector should:

• check the general condition of the home;
• look for water damage, termites and other types of infestation;
• pay special attention to the electrical system, septic tank and water heater;
• show you where potential problems might develop;
• double-check that past problems have been repaired;
• suggest upgrades or replacements that may be needed.

If the inspector raises questions, your insurance company will as well. And, be sure to find out if there is an underground oil storage tank, as many insurers will not provide policies for homes that have one.

Determine How Much It Will Cost to Maintain the House
Routine maintenance is your responsibility as a homeowner. Losses caused by failing to properly care for your home are not covered by standard homeowners insurance policies. The yearly cost of taking care of your house is another factor to be included in the overall price of owning the home.

Call Your Insurance Representative
Don’t wait until the last minute to think about insurance. Ask your insurance professional if the house will qualify for insurance, and get an estimate of the premium. The sooner you act, the smoother the process will be. Don’t be shy about asking for estimates on more than one house. Insurance is an important consideration when purchasing a home. If you are uncomfortable with the cost of insuring a particular house, keep looking for one that better fits your financial situation. If you do not already have an insurance agent or company representative, get recommendations from family, friends or co-workers, or consult yourstate insurance department.

Purchasing Insurance for your New Home

When purchasing a home insurance policy, work with your insurance agent or company representative to get enough insurance to rebuild the house in the event of a total loss. No new home buyers want to think that their house could go up in flames, but disasters do happen. It’s important to have enough insurance to completely rebuild your home and replace all of your personal possessions. You also need to make sure you have enough liability insurance to protect your financial assets. Ask about additional coverage such as:

• Replacement cost for personal possessions
• Extended or guaranteed replacement cost for the structure
• Building code upgrades
• Sewer and drain back-up coverage
• Inflation-guard
• Umbrella coverage for a pool or other high-risk items
• Special riders for jewelry, collectibles and expensive items

To save money on your homeowners insurance, shop around and take the highest deductible you can afford. Since most people only file a claim every eight to 10 years, having a higher deductible saves money over time and preserves your insurance for when it’s really needed. You can also ask about available discounts for:

• Multi-policy (home, car or other policies with the same company)
• Smoke detectors
• Fire extinguishers
• Sprinkler systems
• Burglar and fire alarms that alert an outside service
• Deadbolt locks and fire-safe window grates
• Being 55 years old and/or retired
• Long-time policyholder
• Upgrades to plumbing, heating and electrical systems
• Earthquake retrofitting to make the home safer
• Wind-resistant shutters

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• ChoicePoint
• CLUE reports
• Fair Isaac
• To order a credit report, MyFICO.com
• For help in determining your credit score, call 800-777-2066
• Institute for Business & Home Safety
• ISO
  -To order a copy of your A-PLUS report, call 800-709-8842
  -For up-to-date information on fire protection services throughout the country, see the Public Protection Classification program
• National Flood Insurance Program

For More Information please visit: Insurance Information Institute

Your Insurance Policies Can Protect You If You Get More “Tricks” Than Treats This Halloween

A few basic safety steps, along with up-to-date homeowners and auto insurance policies, can take some of the fright out of possible Halloween related damage, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

“If you’re worried about your home or apartment being damaged by a small army of trick-or-treaters dressed like Zombies, Charlie Sheen, Snooki or Lady Gaga—anticipated to be the most popular costumes this year—call your insurance agent, broker or company representative,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I. “They can help explain your insurance coverage, suggest upgrades to your policy and even offer tips to keep your home safe this holiday season.”

Fortunately, your insurance can provide coverage for many possible Halloween-related disasters:

• Your home or car is the target of mischief
  Standard homeowners and renters insurance policies provide coverage for vandalism. There will be a deductible before your policy starts to pay, but if you suffer expensive damage to your home or possessions you will be financially protected. In the event that your car is damaged by mischievous trick-or-treaters, there is coverage under the optional comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy.
  
  
• There is a fire in your home
  If a Halloween candle or electrically powered decoration causes a fire, any damage will be covered by standard homeowners and renters insurance policies. If the fire is significant enough to make your home unlivable, you would also be covered for additional living expenses, such as having to check into a hotel while your home is being repaired.
  
  
• A trick-or-treater is injured on your property
  If a trick-or-treater or Halloween party guest is accidently injured in your house or apartment, you would be covered under the liability portion of your homeowners or renters insurance policy, should the injured guest sue you. Standard policies also include no-fault medical coverage so that the injured guest could simply file their medical claim with your insurance company and avoid a lawsuit. Not everyone is familiar with this coverage, but it provides very important financial protection.
  
  
• You crash your car into a tree to avoid hitting a trick-or-treater
  Of course, we know you will drive slowly and carefully, but if a group of excited trick-or-treaters darts in front of your car causing you to swerve and hit a tree, you should be covered. Accidents that do not involve another driver or pedestrian are covered under the optional collision portion of an auto insurance policy. If another car or person is involved in the accident, the liability portion of your auto policy would kick in.

Some basic steps can make your home safe for trick-or-treaters, so you can avoid Halloween disasters altogether:

• Remove all objects around the outside of your house that could cause children to trip or fall.
• Turn your outside light on so children will know they can visit your home.
• Keep candles, jack-o-lanterns, matches and lighters in a place that children cannot reach. Halloween candles with multiple wicks close to one another are hazardous and should not be used. When lit they can produce a single high flame or several large flames close together resulting in intense heat and the danger of igniting nearby materials such as curtains or window sills.
• Keep pets inside and away from trick-or-treaters and lit candles, especially if they are easily frightened or become over-excited in the presence of strangers.
• If using decorative lights indoors or outdoors, use lights certified by a recognized organization such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories). Check lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections. Discard damaged sets. Do not overload extension cords.

It will be getting dark in much of the country by 5 p.m. on Monday, October 31, and because Halloween falls on a school day, many youngsters will be canvassing neighborhoods for treats after dark. Motorists need to remember that kids may be distracted by all the costumes and candy. So, drive slowly in residential areas and honk your horns on dimly lit streets to alert children who may not be paying close attention to vehicular traffic. And watch out for youngsters crossing against the light, darting out from between parked cars and walking in the street.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT INSURANCE: www.iii.org; PUBLICATIONS: iii store AND amazon.com

FACEBOOK: InsuranceInformationInstitute; TWITTER: @iiiorg

THE I.I.I. IS A NONPROFIT, COMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

Insurance Information Institute, 110 William Street, New York, NY 10038, (212) 346-5500

Six Questions To Ask Before Buying A Life Insurance Policy

I.I.I. Recognizes Life Insurance Awareness Month, A Reminder Of The Importance Of Proper Coverage

Before buying a life insurance policy there are some important questions you should consider, and discuss with your insurance agent or company representative, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

The benefits of a life insurance policy are clear: the coverage provides financial protection against the death of a policyholder in the form of a payment to the beneficiary; and life insurance proceeds are not taxable income. However, it is important that you find the policy that best fits your situation. In recognition of Life Insurance Awareness Month, here are six key questions to help you make the right choice.

1. Do I need to buy a life insurance policy?
   If you and your spouse or partner have made financial commitments that rely on the continuation of your income, a life insurance policy is the most cost-effective way to provide the benefits your survivors would need. The proceeds from a life insurance policy also enables your estate to pay what it owes after your death, or fund a post-death gift to your beneficiaries.
   
   
2. Won’t the life insurance benefits I receive from my employer be enough?
   Maybe, but probably not. Group life insurance policies—often offered to employees by their employers—generally pay out a dollar amount equal to one year of the employee’s salary, much less than what your survivors would need over time.
   
   
3. Can I count on my survivors getting Social Security benefits?
   U.S. Social Security survivor benefits are available only if the surviving spouse has dependent children under the age of 18, or if the surviving spouse is aged 60 or over, so there may be a lengthy period where, in fact, he or she would not receive any benefits at all. Even when children and spouses are eligible for Social Security survivor benefits, the federal government caps them at a “family maximum,” which is likely to fall far short of what the survivors need.
   
   
4. How can I figure out how much life insurance coverage I need?
   Try to identify how much money your survivors will need for as long a time period as they will need it, and buy enough insurance to meet this dollar amount. Some people like to use a shortcut, such as a multiple of their current annual income, when deciding how much the face value of their life insurance policy should be. If you use this method, remember that your income is likely to increase over time, while the life insurance benefit is often a fixed amount, such as $100,000 or $500,000. In other words, a death benefit bought today as a multiple of your current income will be a smaller multiple of future income. Moreover, life insurance industry research has shown that most survivors struggled to meet their financial commitments when the life insurance policy proceeds they received were equal to three times the policyholder’s annual income, or less. If you use a multiple-of-income shortcut, consider buying a life insurance policy with a face value equal to at least 10 times your annual income.
   
   
5. Should I purchase a term or permanent life policy?
   Term insurance is a form of life insurance that pays out only if the policyholder’s death occurs during the “term” of the policy, which is usually anywhere from one to 30 years. The premium rates for term policies are lower than for permanent life policies. Permanent policies, such as whole life, universal life, variable life and variable universal life, remain in force as long as the premium is paid, and some policies accumulate a cash value.
   
   
6. How can I save money on life insurance?
   Life insurance premium rates, especially for term life policies, are now at virtually their lowest levels in history. However, there are a number of things you can do to keep the cost even lower, whether you are purchasing a term or permanent life insurance policy. For example, buy policies with face-value amounts that reflect “quantity discounts.” It’s possible that a $500,000 life insurance policy will cost less than one valued at $450,000 because the larger policy might offer a discount for reaching the $500,000 milestone. You can also save by paying premiums annually, rather than on a monthly, or quarterly, basis.
   
   But the most important question to ask about price is: how much will it cost your survivors if you do not pay the premium at all?

RELATED LINKS

Insurance Topics: Life Insurance

Video: Insurance IQ – Life Insurance

Video: Finding a Lost Life Insurance Policy

Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE)

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THE I.I.I. IS A NONPROFIT, COMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

Insurance Information Institute, 110 William Street, New York, NY 10038, (212) 346-5500

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Do You Have Earthquake Insurance?

Contrary to popular belief, many homeowners do not have earthquake coverage. While, some may not believe it to be necessary, the recent earthquake which reached many locations in Kentucky is an eye-opener. What would you do if your home was destroyed due to an earthquake but had no issuance to cover it? Could you repair or rebuild?

Get the Facts on Earthquake Insurance

What you don't know can hurt you. For example, your basic homeowners policy doesn't cover damage, and if even if you do have the coverage on your policy the earthquake deductible is probably higher than you think.

Possibly the most important thing to know about earthquake insurance is this: A basic homeowners policy does not cover earthquakedamage. Even if you don't live in an area where earthquakes are common, it's possible you might need earthquake insurance.

Earthquakes have occurred in 39 states since 1900, and about 90% of Americans live in areas considered seismically active. Yet only a small percentage of people purchase earthquake insurance.

Even in California, where earthquake fears are a daily fact of life, only about 12 percent of homeowners have earthquake insurance, according to the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), down from 30 percent in 1996 when the state legislature created the CEA.

Each year, more homeowners get rid of earthquake coverage than buy it because, according to consumer groups, they believe the policies cost too much and cover too little.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there is a 70 percent probability that one or more damaging earthquakes of magnitude 6.7 or larger will strike the San Francisco Bay area during the next 30 years. (A magnitude 6.7 earthquake is equivalent to the 1994 Northridge, Calif., earthquake that killed 57 people and caused $20 billion worth of damage.)

Homeowner, condo and rental insurance policies do not cover damage caused by an earthquake, but coverage can be puchased as an endorsement or a separate policy. Earthquake insurance can be quite inexpensive depending on where you live. Contact your insurance agent or company to find out what the costs would be for your home.

Not surprisingly, Californians buy the most earthquake insurance, but earthquake insurance has been sold to residents of all 50 states.

The Earthquake Education Center at Charleston Southern University claims there's a 40 to 60 percent chance of a major earthquake somewhere in the eastern United States in the next 20 years. That has prompted the South Carolina Insurance News Service to recommend residents of that state consider purchasing earthquake policies.

The New Madrid Fault, which runs through Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, also has insurers worried. According to the Insurance Information Institute, there's a 40 to 63 percent chance the region will suffer an earthquake with a 6.0 magnitude in the next 15 years. The availability of earthquake coverage has become an issue in some regions of those states. For those who don't remember, which would include anyone not alive in 1811, an earthquake struck the New Madrid area with enough force to change the course of the Mississippi river and ring church bells on the east coast.

"The potential magnitude of a catastrophic New Madrid quake dictates that we approach the preparedness on a regional basis," says W.R. Padgett, board chairman of the Central United States Earthquake Consortium. "No one state can possibly begin to address all the issues."

What does earthquake insurance cover?
Ideally, your earthquake insurance policy covers the cost to replace or repair your damaged property. There are several options to consider when picking a plan, including:

Does the policy cover only the dwelling? Are accessory structures, such as garages, also included?

Will your policy pay for the contents of your home and for additional living expenses if your home is badly damaged or destroyed?

Are there any exclusions or limitations to coverage?

What deductible must you pay before the insurance kicks in?

How much does earthquake insurance cost?
Earthquake insurance rates are determined differently by each insurance company and can vary widely depending on several rating factors.

Generally, older homes cost more to insure than new homes. Wood homes get better rates than brick ones because wood tends to withstand quake stresses better.

In addition, areas are graded on a scale of 1 to 5 for likelihood of quakes, and this might be reflected in earthquake insurance rates. Because earthquake insurance is a type of catastrophic coverage, most policies carry a high deductible — anywhere from 2 to 20 percent of your replacement coverage limit.

For residents of California, one option is to get insurance through the CEA. The CEA is a state-sponsored private-public partnership providing earthquake insurance to California homeowners, renters and condominium owners. Insurance companies that belong to CEA offer a standard earthquake insurance policy with a 15 percent deductible. There's also a 10 percent deductible policy available. The CEA Web site has a tool to calculate your estimated annual earthquake premium. Californians can also buy earthquake policies outside the CEA.

How much coverage should I buy?
If you ultimately decide to purchase earthquake insurance, remember you should buy enough to cover the costs of rebuilding your house and replacing broken possessions. The amount of insurance you buy should be based on replacement and reconstruction costs, not the market value of your property and possessions.

You should also find out your rights for filing claims before you sign any earthquake insurance policy. It's important to know how much time you have to file a claim following a quake. In some cases, damage from earthquakes is not immediately apparent.

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Before Taking a Dip In The Swimming Pool, Consider the Insurance and Safety Implications

A Few Precautions Can Help Prevent Accidental Injury or Drowning and Protect You Financially, Says the I.I.I.

With temperatures soaring throughout the country, many people will be taking advantage of the heat-beating enjoyment of a swimming pool. Whether you have a luxury in-ground pool or plan to blow up an inflatable kiddie pool, it is important to consider the insurance and safety implications, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I).

Swimming pools are more popular than ever before. An estimated 8.8 million swimming pools are in residential or public use in the United States today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Pools offer a great way to keep cool in this heat and humidity, but they can also be dangerous,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I. “A child can drown in a few inches of water in less than 30 seconds.”

Indeed, there are over 3,400 fatal accidental drownings in the U.S. annually, with children ages one to four having the highest drowning rates. Fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury related death for children ages one to 14 years old, according to the CDC. In addition, for every child who dies from drowning another four children will be treated for “nonfatal submersion injuries” which can cause brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities and permanent loss of basic functioning (e.g. permanent vegetative state).

The I.I.I. suggests taking the following steps if you own or are considering purchasing a swimming pool:

• Call your insurance agent or company representative
  Let your insurance company know that you have a pool or are getting a pool, since it will increase your liability risk. Pools are considered an “attractive nuisance” and it may be advisable to purchase additional liability insurance. Most homeowners policies include a minimum of $100,000 worth of liability protection. Pool owners, however, may want to consider increasing the amount to at least $300,000 or $500,000. You can also talk to your insurance agent or company representative about purchasing an umbrella liability policy. For an additional premium of about $200 to $300 a year, you can get $1 million of liability protection over and above what you have on your home.
  
  “You can be sued if someone drowns or is injured in your pool even if they do not have your permission to be there,” Salvatore warned. “So it’s important to have the proper locks and safety equipment and to have appropriate liability insurance.”
  
  If the pool itself is expensive, you should also have enough insurance protection to replace it in the event it is destroyed by a storm or other disaster. And, don’t forget to include any chairs, tables or other furniture around the pool deck.
• Contact your town or municipality
  Each town will have its own definition of what constitutes a “pool”, often based on its size and the depth of the water. If the pool you are planning to buy meets the definition, then you must comply with local safety standards and building and electrical codes. This may include installing a fence of a certain size, locks, decks and pool safety equipment.

The I.I.I. also recommends taking the following safety precautions:

1. Install a four-sided barrier such as a fence with self-closing gates to completely surround the pool. If the house forms the fourth side of the barrier, install alarms on doors leading to the pool area to prevent children from wandering into the pool or spa unsupervised. In addition to the fences or other barriers required by many towns, consider creating several “layers of protection” around the pool, in other words setting up as many barriers (door alarms, locks and alarmed safety covers) as possible to the pool area.
2. Never leave small children unsupervised—even for a few seconds. And never leave toys or floats in the pool when it is not in use as they may prove to be a deadly temptation for toddlers trying to reach them who might then fall into the pool.
3. Keep children away from pool filters and other mechanical devices as the suction force may injure them or prevent them from surfacing. In case of an emergency, know how to shut off these devices and clearly post this information so others can do so too.
4. Ask if pool users know how to swim. Learners should be accompanied by a good swimmer. If you have children, have them take swimming lessons as early as possible. And, do not allow anyone to swim alone.
5. Check the pool area regularly for glass bottles, toys or other potential accident hazards. Also, keep CD players, radios and other electrical devices away from pools or nearby wet surfaces.
6. Limit alcohol use around the pool, as drinking alcoholic beverages negatively impacts balance, coordination and judgment—and its effects are further heightened by sun exposure and heat. The CDC reports that alcohol use is involved in up to half of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation.
7. Clearly post emergency numbers on the phone, in the event of an accident. Keep a first aid kit, ring buoys and reaching poles near the pool. You may also want to consider learning basic water rescue skills, including first aid and CPR training. For additional information, contact the American Red Cross.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has launched Pool Safely, a pool safety campaign that can also be found on Twitter: @poolsafely.

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