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Video: What Thanksgiving Tradition Frightens Insurers Most?
With Thanksgiving approaching, I decided to run a quick search for "insurance thanksgiving" on Twitter earlier this week to see what might be on the minds of people in the industry related to the holiday. One trend quickly emerged:
New from our blog: How to Safely Prepare a Deep Fried Turkey – Avoid a Thanksgiving Day Home Fire ow.ly/2tjghL
— Berry Insurance (@Berry_Insurance) November 20, 2012
Looking forward to a deep-fried turkey this Thanksgiving? Check out these tips.bit.ly/UOUN8p #insurance #safety
— Tallman Insurance (@TallmanIns) November 19, 2012
It turns out deep-frying turkeys, a trend on the rise across the country, is causing a headache for insurers in the form of more home-fire claims. In fact, Wayne Goodwin, North Carolina's insurance commissioner and state fire marshal, took to the airwaves and the internet to spread the word on potential danger:
Noon Today on STATE OF INSURANCE: Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin discusses Thanksgiving safety & more. Questions? 800-241-0421
— WSHA 88.9FM (@WSHA889FM) November 19, 2012
November 19, 2012 -- State Fire Marshal Urges Families to Practice Safety on Thanksgiving: RALEIGH -- Insurance ... bit.ly/ZZ3JOp
— NCdotGov (@NCdotGov) November 19, 2012
State Farm says that Texas leads the nation in deep-fry fires, but this isn't solely a Southern phenomenon: New York and Illinois come in a close second. The insurer tapped Star Trek veteran William Shatner — a Montreal native — to film a paean to the deep-fried turkey and how to safely prepare it. As you break for the holiday, enjoy turkey safety tips delivered as only Captain Kirk could.
Nathan Golia is senior editor of Insurance & Technology. He joined the publication in 2010 as associate editor and covers all aspects of the nexus between insurance and information technology, including mobility, distribution, core systems, customer interaction, and risk ... View Full Bio