National Bed Month…What a Dream!

Posted on 2nd March 20213rd March 2021 by Jessica Lee

According to the NHS, poor sleep can lead to issues with concentration, low mood and fatigue. This can lead to a number of issues in your everyday life. As per The Sleep Council & Sainsbury’s Living Well Index, ”better sleep is the biggest single contributor to living better”. Adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night. A lack of sleep is unsafe but sometimes unavoidable.

Have a read of some of the top areas affected by sleep and what you can do to help improve on this.

Work

A lack of sleep can lead to a lack of productivity, especially when in work. Despite numerous amounts of coffee, sometimes we just can’t shake the tiredness off. When tired, we find it hard to motivate ourselves to start the day, we lack concentration and aren’t fulfilling tasks to the best of our ability. Even when in meetings or having conversations with colleagues we lack focus and our minds can wander. This may cause us to miss vital information or even vital opportunities.

After a rough night of sleep we suggest opting for drinking more water than coffee. Coffee can give us a quick boost but fails in maintaining energy levels. Drinking more water improves circulation, digestion, detoxification and also increases the body’s energy levels, decreasing fatigue. Try snacking on fresh fruit, nuts & green vegetables too but avoid overeating which will cause you to feel heavy and sluggish.

Driving

Lack of sleep is an issue that is the cause of many road traffic accidents every year. When you lack energy and concentration, your reaction times increase and you aren’t as aware or responsive when you are out on the road.

When driving long distances, it is important to take regular breaks to stretch your legs and get some air. Refrain from driving late at night if possible. If you feel overtired, don’t get behind the wheel.

Mood

According to the Sleep Council, ”sleep deprivation itself can be a symptom of mental health problems and can increase the risk of developing mental health problems”. A lack of sleep causes an increase in a negative mood leading to an individual feeling more irritable, hostile and unsociable.

In an experiment carried out by the BBC and University of Oxford, it was found that after only 3 nights of restricted sleep (4 hours), anxiety, depression, stress, paranoia and mistrust in others all increased.

In order to help boost your mood after a rough night of sleep try exercising during the day.

Health

A lack of sleep can have an effect on your immune system. According to Healthline, ”While you sleep, your immune system produces protective, infection-fighting substances like antibodies and cytokines. It uses these substances to combat foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses.”

Reduced sleep prevents your immune system from building up these forces and so reduces the ability of the immune system meaning your body may not be able to fight off any nasty illness or disease and may take you longer to recover.

This month we encourage you to try and maintain a sleep routine – go to bed early and at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning (unless it is the weekend, then you definitely deserve a lie in!) Stay hydrated, reduce your caffeine intake but increase your fruit and veg intake. Exercise out in the fresh air, now that spring is coming the evenings are getting lighter and the sun is starting to shine. Try and be more aware of your sleep pattern and factors that contribute to your sleep.

And if worst comes to worst…try the good old counting sheep.

Sweet dreams!

*Please note the author of this blog is not a medical profession. Information has been taken from reliable sources online such as NHS, The Sleep Council and any others mentioned. If you are experiencing health issues relating to sleep please contact your GP or a medical professional.

Pesky Potholes…How to claim for your damage!

Posted on 16th February 202118th May 2021 by Jessica Lee

The roads across Northern Ireland are getting increasingly worse with potholes and even craters appearing more frequently and growing bigger by the day!

I’m sure we have all experienced the loud bang as we’ve hit a pothole causing our face to scrunch as you hope there hasn’t been any damage caused.

In some cases you are lucky enough that your wheels remain unscathed. However, in other cases you may not be so lucky and you discover that your wheel, that used to be in the shape of circle, isn’t quite as circular anymore!

Potholes can cause punctures, cracks and dents to the alloys or wheels alone, never mind the additional damage that can be caused underneath the surface! The damage repairs can amount to hundreds if not thousands of pounds.

Did you know you can claim for these repairs through your comprehensive policy?

Here’s what you need to do:

Take images of the damage to your vehicle.
Take images of the pothole in the road and measure the depth and width of the pothole if possible. If you don’t have anything to use to measure, use an object of some sort in your photo to show the size comparison.
Report the pothole via Report a pothole | nidirect
Get an estimate for the repairs to your vehicle from an approved repairer recommended by your insurance company or from your own repairer.
Contact your dedicated claims handlers for your insurance broker or insurance company and initiate the claim process.
Send your estimate in for approval by your insurance company – this is to ensure the garage you are using (if not approved) aren’t overcharging for labour or repairs. Once approved, your garage will be notified and can begin the repairs.
On completion of repairs, pay the excess on your policy, ensuring you retain the receipt.
Complete a ‘claiming compensation form’ to initiate a claim against the Department of Infrastructure via Claiming compensation due to a road or street problem

The claim process against the Department of Infrastructure can take up to 6 months and so this is why we suggest claiming through your insurance policy initially to ensure you can get your vehicle repaired and get back on the road as soon as possible.

So, in the unfortunate case that you do end up with a damaged vehicle following an unwelcome meeting with a pothole, don’t hesitate to call your claims handling agents to assist you in getting back on the road again!

Competition Terms and Conditions

Posted on 22nd April 202022nd April 2020 by Jessica Lee

Competition Rules / Terms & Conditions

Competition is open to entrants who are resident in Northern Ireland except employees or former employees of Motorists Insurance Services Ltd / MIS Group
There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary. There will be no monetary value in exchange for the prize.
By entering this competition, the entrant is agreeing to be bound by its terms & conditions
Closing date for entry will be as stated. After this date, no further entries will be accepted.
The Company reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the Company’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible.
The winner will be chosen at random.
The winner will be notified by the social media platform through which entry was made or via e-mail if entry was via the website. If the prize is not claimed within 24 hours, the Company will withdraw the prize and draw a new winner.
The Company’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material. Any personal data will be used solely in accordance with current data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to any other party without the winner’s permission.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

Tips To Keep You Ticking Over

Posted on 6th April 20205th April 2020 by Jessica Lee

During the current Coronavirus pandemic lockdown, the majority of us are unable to leave the house unless for essential trips such as work (if unable to work from home or if you are a key worker), travelling to the shop for essentials or medications, providing medical care or going for our one exercise a day. Due to this many cars, vans and other vehicles are remaining stationary in the driveway or outside our homes for long periods of time. Whilst you may be glad that you are saving a few pennies on fuel, you could end up spending a few pennies elsewhere.

Cars are mechanically propelled vehicles that have cogs, mechanisms and a whole brain within the engine and chassis. Leaving a vehicle unused for a period of time can cause all kinds of problems which we want to help you avoid! Heres what you need to do:

1) Give Your Battery a Boost

Flat batteries are extremely common due to the current situation and approximately 70% of the clients we assisted over the past weekend alone had flat batteries. In order to prevent this, we recommend that you start your vehicle every day or two and allow it to run for at least 15 minutes in order to charge the battery. It is important to remember that you should not leave your vehicle unassisted during this time. Use the 15 minutes to your advantage – get some peace, listen to the radio or make a few phone calls.

If you happen to have two vehicles in the household and you are popping out for some essential items, alternate between the two vehicles for these essential trips.

Remember to turn off any lights (both interior and exterior) and ensure all doors and the boot are closed properly to help prevent the battery running down.

2) Seize The Day, Not Your Brakes

Whilst sitting stationary for long periods of time, your brakes and other mechanically moving parts can begin to seize. If possible and safe to do so try and release your handbrake and use the brake pedal to apply the foot brake a few times, every so often. Due to the current lockdown restrictions it is not advised that you go for purposeless drives or journeys. When driving restrictions are lifted in the future we recommend that you check break pads and discs to ensure they are in working order and your vehicle is safe to drive.

3) Restrict The Revving

When you start up your car, you may be tempted to rev the engine thinking that this will help the engine after not running for a few days. However, this is not the case. It is best to avoid revving the engine when it is cold as the oil needs time to heat up and circulate around the engine to prevent any possible damage.

4) Eliminate the Elements

Whilst sitting outside in the ever-changing weather, your car may get weather beaten. The damp and cold can affect your car, and likewise so can the heat. We recommend you keep your vehicle in a car port or garage if you have one to protect it from the harsh elements. This will especially help protect your paintwork and prevent rust and other weather damage.

5) Holler for Help

If you do require assistance to jump start your car or you require any other roadside assistance, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 028 9041 0220 where our agents can assist you 24/7.

If you do not have a breakdown policy, you can purchase our policy for just £25 online which covers for home start, punctures, mechanical breakdown, fuel shortage/ wrong fuel and much more. Terms and Conditions apply.

Please note: all government restrictions should be strictly adhered to.

Coronavirus Car Cleaning

Posted on 5th April 20205th April 2020 by Jessica Lee

A few weeks ago you may have seen our Instagram story of some car cleaning tips, if not, we are bringing them to you here. We are all cleaning the surfaces around every inch of our house and work but what about our cars? When you think of how many times a week you are in and out of your car you may wonder why you don’t clean it more often!

On a normal morning (before the coronavirus that is) you struggle into your car with files, bags, lunch and essential coffee in hand. You open the door whilst dropping your yoghurt onto the ground (disaster!), you slump into the driver seat, place your coffee into the cup holder, put the key in ignition and place your hands on the steering wheel ready to go (hands placed at 10 to 2, of course). Next up, you put your car into gear, reverse or drive, remove the hand brake and you are off. A few minutes in, you realise someone has changed your radio station to Classic FM (no judging if that’s what you’re into, it can be quite relaxing at times) so you switch the station over, then you turn the volume up. It’s a bit chilly so you turn the heating on, turning the temperature dial to the warmest it can be. Low and behold, the rain has come on in typical Irish fashion so you turn the window wipers on. Your fuel light comes on so you stop to get fuel. You open the petrol cap, lift the petrol pump, fill your tank (how the other half live!) and then you head in to the cashier to pay. You hand over some cash, receive your change, head back to the car, lift the door handle, close the door and ahhh back to the heat. You start the whole process again…and that is only ten minutes into your journey.

In doing all of that, think of how many surfaces, switches, buttons and handles you have touched in such a short space of time. Think of how many more times you are going to touch the same surfaces in the same day or the same week. What if you have picked up the virus or any other germ and you have had this on your hand? Now, think of how many times you’ve cleaned all these surfaces in the past week…probably not once.

The car has so many surfaces in which we touch yet we do not seem to think of cleaning it quite as often as we would clean our kitchen or bathroom surfaces. Now, more than ever, it is extremely important to remember to clean all of these surfaces on a regular basis.

We used Dettol wipes to clean down all the surfaces and switches which was an easy no-fuss method and only took five minutes. The details on the back of the wipes state that Dettol can destroy the coronavirus on surfaces. However, you may find another alternative antibacterial wipe which does the same job. We also used some Zoflora (just call us Mrs Hinch) which we diluted and sprayed on surfaces. Zoflora is a disinfectant and also leaves your car smelling divine. We recommend that you use disposable gloves during the cleaning process.

Here is a list of areas you should remember to clean:

car key
door handles (inside and out)
steering wheel
indicator toggles
gearstick
handbrake
centre consoles
cup holders
radio buttons and screens (especially if touch screen)
window switches
light switches
sun visor
glove box surface and handle
arm rest compartments
handles for adjusting seat height or position
lever handles for moving seats forward (usually in a three door vehicle)
petrol cap
boot handle
temperature and air conditioning controls

We also recommend airing out your car once a day. To do this simply have your window open whilst driving or when you get home leave the window or door open for a short period of time as long as you are in a safe place and it isn’t raining of course. This will refresh the air inside your car. Please do not leave your keys inside your car whilst doing so.

If possible, keep some hand sanitiser in your car to use every time you are out of the car or when you get back in. However, we understand hand sanitiser is like gold dust in the current times, so we suggest not leaving it in plain visible sight whilst you are not in the vehicle. Treat it like the valuable it is!

With all that in mind, let the car cleaning commence!

WORKING FROM HOME: Tips to keep you going

Posted on 26th March 202026th March 2020 by Jessica Lee

Here at MIS, the majority of our staff are now working from home due to COVID-19 in order to allow us to continue to provide essential claims services, breakdown recovery services and to assist our broker partners with renewals and advice.

However, we understand that although being able to work from home is a privilege in these times it can be tough to maintain a healthy work environment and a healthy mind. We have compiled some tips to help see our staff through these times and thought we would share them all with you below.

1) Try and set up a work space for yourself

Whether this be in a study, kitchen or living room we suggest setting up a work space with all things work related that you will need, essentially building your work desk in your home. It is important to try and separate your work space from the places that you will be relaxing in order to create a boundary. If, for example, you set your workspace up in your bedroom, it may be hard for you to switch off at night when you need to relax. It is best to set up where you are least likely to be disturbed or distracted to keep you focused on the task in hand (this is hard especially when the kids are home. We can sympathise). We recommend that you set up somewhere with lots of natural light too. Not only can harsh indoor lighting hurt your eyes and make you feel more tired but natural light can also help keep you feeling motivated, especially when the sun is shining.

2) Clean, clean, clean

The words you are probably sick of hearing by now but we aren’t asking you to go all Mrs Hinch on us. Not only is it essential to wash your hands regularly singing Happy Birthday, Wagon Wheel, or whatever song you prefer (we won’t judge) but you should also ensure you are cleaning any surfaces and equipment including laptops, iPads, mobile phones, folders and any other items that you are touching constantly. Think of your keyboard and mouse to start, even if you are the only one using them.

3) Get dressed

It is all too tempting to stay in your pyjamas when you don’t need to leave the house but in order to keep yourself motivated you should get up, get showered and change into some clothes. These don’t obviously need to be work clothes, comfy clothes are ideal. This way you will feel ready to seize the day! You will also refrain from any embarrassment when your boss unexpectedly video calls. Changing out of your clothes at the end of the day will also help keep your mind in check with the work/relaxation boundary and help in retaining a routine.

4) Take short breaks if you can

Try to take 10 minutes away from your work space every so often in order to give your mind and eyes a break from your computer or laptop. This will help you stay motivated and refrain from getting fed up. Grab a cup of tea and sit in the garden but don’t sit down for too long, you might never get back up!

5) Maintain your regular working hours if possible

If you work from 9-5 (cue Dolly Parton), 5 days a week, try and maintain this whilst working at home. It can be easy to slip away from work when you have lots to do and think you can just continue to work on into the small hours of the morning to get items ticked off your to-do list. Don’t do it! It will end up being an endless cycle and you will exhaust yourself.

6) Look after your mental health

If you are struggling with working from home, chat to your manager or colleagues. Everyone will be in the same boat and we are aware some people can adapt to changes like these better than others. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or tell someone you are struggling. Being at home 24/7 isn’t great for anyone’s mental health. Whilst the government guidelines are still in place, use the benefit of being able to leave the house once a day for exercise. Go for a walk or run but ensure you are practising social distancing measures if there are others out and about with the same idea.

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST… STAY SAFE!

We hope that by following the government guidelines the COVID-19 pandemic can be quashed as soon as possible. We wish everyone good health and urge you to stay safe. Hopefully we can all get through this by working together (but essentially apart). Please adhere to all government guidelines to keep yourself and others safe.

Keep in touch with us (no, not literally touching) through our social media pages and send us some pictures of your workspace or tips of your own for working from home!

CORONAVIRUS: FACT OR FALSE?

Posted on 18th March 202018th March 2020 by Jessica Lee

With the coronavirus pandemic headlining all over the world, fear and anxiety are prevalent. Many people are taking to social media to seek advice and also air advice given by others. However, it is important to note that not all advice on social media is statistically or scientifically correct. Have a look below as we distinguish what is fact and what is false- and remember, we are a company who specialise in insurance services, not medicine or virus control!

1) You can test for the virus by holding your breath –FALSE

It has been advertised that holding your breath successfully for over 10 seconds without feeling any pain, discomfort, coughing or breathing difficulty indicates you do not have the virus. There is no scientific evidence that this test can show if you have the new coronavirus or not. If you do suffer from asthma or breathing difficulties you should be taking medical advice from your doctor.

2) Drinking water every 15 minutes washes the virus into your stomach- FALSE

Some social media posts have claimed that drinking water every 15 minutes washes the virus into your stomach where the acid will destroy the virus. There is no evidence to suggest this is true. However, it is important to drink plenty of water to ensure you stay hydrated as with any flu or virus.

3) The heat in the summer will kill the virus – FALSE

Yes, you guessed it- false information again! It has been suggested that temperatures above 25 degrees can destroy the virus and so once the warmer summer weather begins to roll in the virus will soon dwindle. There is evidence that similar viruses spread less in the heat. However, there is no evidence to support this with the Coronavirus. In fact, countries with temperatures higher than 25 degrees do have reported cases of the Coronavirus showing that although there is a possibility that spreading of the virus can be reduced in the heat, the virus is not altogether heat-resistant or prevented by warm temperatures.

4) More people have died from other medical conditions than the Coronavirus – FACT

Yes, it has been recorded that the number of deaths from other illnesses, suicide or the common flu have been higher than those recorded from the coronavirus. However, it is important to highlight that it is the rapid increase in deaths and the potential detrimental effect that the uncontrolled spreading of the virus could have that is cause for concern. It has been advised that numbers of recorded deaths have been inflated and exaggerated in comparison to the deaths associated with Coronavirus. Many of those who have died from the Coronavirus have also had underlying medical issues making them more vulnerable. For accurate death figures you should refer to the World Health Organisation.

SOME GENERAL ADVICE:

If you are showing any symptoms please follow self-isolation instructions advised by local authorities. Be mindful of those who you may be in contact with that may be vulnerable or at high risk of contracting the virus. These include people who are 70 or above, pregnant, who suffer from a long term condition or who have a weakened immune system.

Stay at home if you have either:

a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
a new, continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.

DO:

wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
always wash your hands when you get home or into work
use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
avoid close contact with people who have symptoms of coronavirus
only travel on public transport if you need to
work from home, if you can
avoid social activities, such as going to pubs, restaurants, theatres and cinemas
avoid events with large groups of people

DON’T:

touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
have visitors to your home, including friends and family

Please note that any medical queries should be directed to the relevant authorities. Information provided above supported and provided by Fact Check and NHS.

CORONAVIRUS: What you need to know about travelling whilst the coronavirus continues to spread.

Posted on 27th February 202027th February 2020 by Jessica Lee

The Coronavirus is spreading rapidly with thousands of new cases being reported each day, the most recent being discovered in Italy. With this in mind, the Irish Travel Agent Association are advising holidaymakers and travellers to be vigilant on their travels and for those booking holidays to be mindful that the virus is spreading beyond China to many holiday destinations.

Travellers are being reminded that it is important to have appropriate comprehensive travel insurance in place to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical repatriation/evacuation and to follow advice of local authorities, taking all preventative measures recommended. The Department of Foreign Affairs have advised to download the DFA Travelwise smartphone app that provides specific travel health advice for individual countries.

It is important to note that some standard travel policys may automatically exclude cover where a policyholder travels against the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the World Health Organisation. Cancellation and Curtailment sections may also exclude cover for claims arising directly or indirectly from travel arrangements affected by or contributed to, or by order of any government or public/local authority.

If you are currently travelling in any of the affected regions in Italy -Lombardy (Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano) or Veneto (Vo’ Euganeo) you are advised to follow all advise being given by the state authorities.

Policyholders who had purchased travel insurance and travelled before the FCO issued its advice on 25 February 2020 should be covered as normal while in the affected regions of Italy.

Any customers with cancellation or curtailment claims arising under valid policies incepted before 25 February 2020 with pre-booked travel and accommodation to one of the listed towns above, booked prior to 25 February 2020 will be considered under the normal terms and conditions. Policyholders will need to provide their original booking confirmation alongside evidence of cancellation costs and any refunds.

For customers who have booked to travel to one of the affected towns after 25 February 2020, these claims will be excluded as these were booked after the date the FCO advised against travel.

Policyholders who had booked their trip via a tour operator or travel agent or using a credit card should contact them to see if they can get a refund or have their trip re-arranged.

For all those travelling it is important to remember how fast the Coronavirus is now spreading and to take all precautions possible.

What to do to protect yourself:

Wash your hands – soap or hand gel can kill the virus
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing – ideally with a tissue – and wash your hands afterwards, to prevent the virus spreading
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth – if your hands touch a surface contaminated by the virus, this could transfer it into your body
Don’t get too close to people coughing, sneezing or with a fever – they can propel small droplets containing the virus into the air – ideally, keep at least 1m away

Anyone experiencing symptoms, even if mild, after travelling from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days, is advised to stay indoors and call the NHS 111 phone service.

If you have returned from the following specific areas since February 19, you should call NHS 111 and stay indoors and avoid contact with other people even if you do not have symptoms:

Iran
lockdown areas in northern Italy
special care zones in South Korea
Hubei province

If you have you have returned from the following areas since February 19 and develop symptoms – even mild ones – stay indoors, avoid contact with others and call NHS 111:

Northern Italy (above but not including Pisa, Florence and Rimini)
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
Myanmar

If you are unsure about the travelling regulations it is advised that you contact the World Health Organisiation, Foreign and Commonwealth Office or local state authorities for your destination as well as your travel provider and contact your travel insurer for all cover details.

Please note all advice is subject to travel destination, travel provider and travel insurance provider.

Author: Jessica Lee