Heat stress is a signal that says the body is having difficulty maintaining its narrow temperature range. The heart pumps faster, blood is diverted from internal organs to the skin, breathing rate increases, and sweating increases, all in an attempt to transfer more heat to the outside air and cool the skin by the evaporation of sweat. If the body can’t keep up, then the person suffers effects ranging from heat cramps to heat exhaustion, and finally to heat stroke.

Workers at risk of heat stress include outdoor workers and workers in hot environments such as firefighters, bakery workers, farmers, construction workers, miners, boiler room workers, factory workers, and others. Workers at greater risk of heat stress include those who are 65 years of age or older, are overweight, have heart disease or high blood pressure or take medications that may be affected by extreme heat.  Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Prevention Tips

• Drink water frequently and moderately. 
• Take breaks and rest periodically out of the sun and heat.
• Eat lightly.
• Do jobs that are more strenuous during the cooler morning hours.
• Utilizing ventilation or fans in enclosed areas.
• Remembering that it takes about 1-2 weeks for the body to adjust to the heat; this adaptation is quickly lost – so your body will need time to adjust after a vacation.
• Avoiding alcohol consumption. Many cases have occurred the day after a “night on the town”.
• Wear light-colored, cotton clothes, and keep your shirt on; desert nomads do not wear all those clothes for nothing.

Do you need a homeowner’s insurance quote?  Talk to us today about keeping your home and family protected. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Brad Runnebaum and Jeff Hartman established PlatinumOne Insurance Agency in 2008. We are a full service insurance agency representing individuals, families and businesses in the Kansas City area. We are licensed professionals who are not limited to placing your insurance with just one carrier. We have the flexibility to choose the insurance company that best serves your individual needs. Having choices is our advantage and it benefits our customers.

Additional sources: CNA

As summer approaches, many people are moving outdoors. This includes using ATVs, boats, RVs, golf carts, and more. All these vehicles need insurance to protect you against damage and liability. It is important to have the right insurance for your recreational vehicles. Most of these are not automatically covered under your home or auto policies.

If you don’t want to insure physical damage on your recreational vehicles, that is an option, but you still need liability insurance. If you have loans on these vehicles, you may be required to insure them.

RV Insurance

RV insurance rates differ from company to company, so it pays to have us shop for your insurance. Some markets offer better rates for trucks, RVs, and campers, while others can offer better rates for motorcycles. To properly insure your RV, you may need liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist, medical payment, and towing coverage.

Boat/Watercraft Insurance

It would help if you considered watercraft/boat insurance for liability and damage to the hull and personal property. Boat insurance can include physical damage coverage, medical payments, liability, and trailer coverage.

ATV and Golf Cart Insurance

A standard auto insurance policy doesn’t cover ATVs. Even if you are not required to carry physical damage insurance on your ATV, it is still important to protect yourself from liability claims if you injure a third party.  

If you are a renter, then you need to read this article. Typically, the owner of the building is responsible for any loss to the building. The building owner or landlord is not responsible for your personal belongings. PlatinumOne Insurance Agency can also provide you with the option of quoting your renters and auto.

Kansas Renters insurance is a homeowner’s policy for non-homeowners. It covers loss of your personal property, such as clothes, furniture, computers etc. It covers losses due to theft, fire, wind and many other events that might cause damage to your personal property. A renter’s policy can also pick up coverage for your temporary living expenses while repairs are made if your rented home is damaged. If you think about it, the cost to replace your clothing, furniture, stereo, pots and pans, linens, sporting goods and computer could be a lot of money.

You can also design the renter’s policy to provide liability coverage, should you cause injury to a third party. In some cases landlords require such coverage. PlatinumOne Insurance Agency has access to many different insurers who offer this coverage. The quoting process takes very little time.

A renter’s policy can go a long way toward protecting you financially if you suffer misfortune. Best of all, you don’t have to own your home to qualify for protection. Kansas Renters insurance is very affordable, and can be designed to meet your individual needs.

Ah, travel is bliss; or we’d like to think so!   We want our vacations to be perfect, and ticket mishaps, delays, and schedule changes are all problems none of us like to have happen. We want you to have a great vacation and return home safe. Whether you are planning a trip across the state, or across the world, we have some tips to keep you safe:

• Create an itinerary and give it to a family member or close friend.
• Put all emergency numbers in everyone’s cell phone.
• Don’t carry a lot of cash.
• Advise your credit card companies of your travel. They will see purchases outside your normal area and may place a hold on the cards.
• To avoid problems when passing through security, keep medicines in their original, labeled containers.
• Put your name, address, and telephone numbers outside, and inside, of each piece of luggage.
• You don’t need all your credit cards and ID; leave those you will not be using at home.
• Never wear anything that projects affluence; no gold chains, expensive watches, rings, luggage, or other paraphernalia.  It is best to leave your expensive jewelry at home.
• Do not wear name tags in public.
• At the hotel discuss basic emergency procedures with your children, such as what to do in case of a fire.
• Park only in well-lit and well-traveled areas.
• Let your neighbors know your plans.
• If your plans include travel out of the country, check your health insurance, as there may be some limitations. Call the PlatinumOne Insurance for a review.
• Purchase timers for lights in your home and place them in two or three rooms.

Enjoy your vacation and be safe!

For many people, insurance can be difficult to understand.  Most people know that insurance is needed, but often they do not fully understand what they are buying or if they are properly covered.  That is why it is important to have an insurance agent on your side.  A good agent will help you determine what your insurance needs are, educate you about your options, and help you understand the specifics of the insurance you are buying.

Here are five things that you need to know as you consider your insurance options.

1. You cannot add coverage for a claim that has already occurred.  For example, if there is flooding in your area, you cannot buy flood insurance during an event.

• Coverage gaps can be costly. Having a gap or lapse in coverage can be costly.  Always pay your premiums on time, or ask for a grace period from your insurer.  You will end up paying more if you have lapses in your policy.

• Insurance is not intended to cover everything. Insurance is designed to provide financial recovery after an accident or unforeseen loss. Every policy has exclusions which are important to understand. Remember, insurance is not intended to cover regular maintenance.

• An agent can be a valuable resource. A licensed agent can help you find the best possible combination of coverage, price, and service that fits your individual needs.  A good agent will be willing to answer any questions you may have and be there for you when a claim occurs.

• Do not skimp on liability insurance.  The cost of litigation these days underscores the need for everyone to have an adequate amount of liability insurance.  The greater your assets are, the greater your need is to have your assets covered.  To protect yourself and your family financially, buy enough liability insurance on your auto and home insurance policies to cover above your net worth.  We can help you determine how much coverage your individual needs require.

Do you need a homeowner’s insurance quote?  Talk to us today about keeping your home and family protected. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Brad Runnebaum and Jeff Hartman established PlatinumOne Insurance Agency in 2008. We are a full service insurance agency representing individuals, families and businesses in the Kansas City area. We are licensed professionals who are not limited to placing your insurance with just one carrier. We have the flexibility to choose the insurance company that best serves your individual needs. Having choices is our advantage and it benefits our customers.