Preventing Legionella Before It Infects the Masses

Image Legionella Pink X

Legionnaires’ disease may not make front-page news every week, but when it hits a community, it can be devastating.  Hotels with pools and hot tubs, property owners with buildings that have cooling towers or fountains—and anyone nearby can be affected. If the naturally occurring bacterium Legionella gets out of balance, it can make people very…

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Managing Risk: Preventing Legionella

Koli Bacteria

Updated July 6, 2017: Recent Cases Underscore Legionella Exposure Since we originally wrote this article there have been several new cases of Legionella reported where people have died and fell ill. In June, one person died and six became ill in the Lenox Hill neighborhood in New York where investigators are looking into the air-conditioning…

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Pool Safety: Pool Drownings Can Happen in A Flash

Swim Ring

More than 3,500 people – many of them children – drown each year in the U.S. and many more suffer serious, irreversible injury in near-drowning incidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Furthermore, for every fatal drowning incident involving a child 14 years old or younger, three children require emergency room…

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Dog Related Injuries and Homeowner Insurance Claims

Photo Beware Of Dog Sign

Ouch! More than four million people per year are treated for dog related injuries. Claims generated by bite victims and dog owners can impact property owners and homeowner’s associations as well.We love these poochie pals, but sometimes their bite is worse than their bark. To the tune of about $570 million, dog bites and other…

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Risk Management: Keeping Hotel Guests Safe

Distinguished Programs Announces New Program with Core Specialty for Hotel General Liability Coverage | Distinguished Programs

The Erin Andrews case made headline news when a jury awarded the ESPN sportscaster $55 million in a lawsuit filed against the hotel as a result of its failure to reasonably safeguard her privacy and safety. This and other events are reminders to hotel owners and operators of their obligation to ensure the safety, security…

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Managing Risk: Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

On March 25, police discovered four people dead inside Building G of the Evergreen Apartments in Wilmington, Delaware. Exhaust pipes designed to vent carbon monoxide from the gas boilers in the basement rusted and collapsed. The cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide kills. We know this. The gas produced when fuels like…

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Managing Risk: Preventing Child Abuse

Sometimes parents feel like they need a vacation when they’re on vacation. It’s true. The packed itineraries, disrupted routines, and lack of alone time can be exhausting. Which is why over 18 percent of U.S. hotels and resorts now offer classes, camps, and activities just for kids. It’s great. But these new offerings also introduce…

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Distinguished In The News

It’s been a busy month for Distinguished in the media. Earlier this month, our own Kellam Radford spoke with Rough Notes about the state of the construction market and what it means for insurance brokers and agents. He also offered some advice for the latter:  

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