Mace M. – Hero of the Month : May 2016

Mace_M

It was mid-December when Bishopville, MD Volunteer Fire was alerted to a structure fire with someone trapped inside.  Mace, a 43 year veteran, was the first on the scene. The two-story house had fire shooting through the roof on the second floor. He quickly located the victim about 4-5 feet inside the doorway. With help from the local county Sheriff, both were able to pull the victim out safely. His quick actions and bravery in the face of danger have earned Mace our Hero of the Month designation!

 

 

 

 

 

Auto Recalls: What You Need to Know

We wouldn’t allow our children to play with an unsafe toy, nor would we use a household item that was deemed dangerous. But, when it comes to our autos and trucks, many Americans continue driving one that has been recalled because of a safety concern.

It’s More Than You Might Think

The statistics are a bit unsettling – the number of recalled vehicles reached 51 million in 2015, second only to 2014’s record of 60 million vehicles.

What do you need to be worried about?

Auto experts say the bulk of the recalls are for faulty airbags, which have been linked to injuries and deaths. However, other recalls were for hazards involving steering, cruise control, engines and seat belts. These failures have led to sudden loss of control of the vehicle, parts failures in a crash, or caused vehicle fires.

Many Are Not Getting Fixed

Despite a major effort by automakers, only 75 percent of vehicles that might have issues are being looked at or repaired.

And that’s the concern; a recent Carfax survey found that tens of millions of vehicles that have been recalled the past few years have never been fixed. By their estimate, one in five on the roads today is in need of a repair for a safety defect. Even more troubling is that the type of vehicle with the highest rate of unfixed safety issues is a family-owned minivan. SUVs and pickup trucks are a close second and third. Often, this means the drivers of those cars or trucks, maybe someone you know, is at significant risk if a part should fail.

So Why Wouldn’t Someone Get the Fix?

There are many reasons why drivers aren’t getting defective vehicles to a dealer or mechanic:

  • They are not aware of the recall
  • They worry it will take too much time or cost too much
  • They just don’t care
  • Recall notices are often mailed to an old address
  • So Has Your Vehicle Been Recalled?

The government maintains an excellent website where you can check, for free:

https://www.safercar.gov/CheckForRecalls

If you find your vehicle on the recall list, safety groups recommend that you contact the car dealer immediately to set up an appointment to have it looked at. Keep in mind, you should not have to pay for any parts or labor because of a recall. Not all vehicles may need a fix, but finding out will bring you peace-of-mind. And, if you think your vehicle has a defect, but hasn’t been recalled yet, save any receipts; you should be reimbursed if the recall occurs later.

What Does a Recall Mean for My Insurance?
While driving a recalled vehicle shouldn’t affect your insurance, the quicker you have it checked out or repaired, the safer you and others will be.

However, you should contact your insurance company if the dealer gives you a loaner car while yours is being repaired; you’ll want to verify that you have the right coverage..

4 Insurance Tips for Driving a Loaner Vehicle

If you’ve gotten a new recall notice about a dangerous airbag, you are not alone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is warning that 51 million vehicles had some recall in 2015. That follows the record 60 million the year before.

Most of these recalls involve Takata equipped airbags. As of April 2016, ten deaths in the U.S. have been attributed to the defective airbag inflator that can send dangerous shards of metal at drivers and passengers. Of the 24 million U.S. vehicles recalled for the problem, only 7 million have had the inflators replaced. Many auto makers, including Honda, are redoubling their efforts to notify consumers about the recall, dating back to 2013.

Be prepared that when you take your car or truck in to fix the problem, it could take weeks or even months until the parts arrive. Many automotive dealers are offering temporary rentals or loaner vehicles until the work is complete. If you get that offer, here are some insurance issues you need to know.

  1. Your personal auto insurance policy should transfer to that temporary vehicle, but with the same deductibles and limits contained in that policy. If you have an older car or truck without coverage for damage from a collision or hail, flood, etc. (comprehensive and collision), the temporary car you are using does not have that coverage either. Unless you add that it, you will be paying out of pocket to replace or fix the loaner if you cause a crash. You might also want to make sure you have uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage.
  2. Most insurance companies don’t pay for “loss of use” for a rental vehicle. If you damage the car or are involved in an accident, you can be charged for the time it takes to repair and have it available for rent again. Rental companies will usually charge you the daily rate they lost while that car or truck is getting repaired, plus administrative fees. That’s why you want to negotiate with the dealer for loss of use coverage; otherwise, you may want to purchase it through the agency providing the vehicle.
  3. You should not drive your recalled vehicle while you have a “loaner” vehicle. Doing so could void the need for that temporary vehicle, and crash with either vehicle may not be covered.
  4. To speed up any claims and avoid miscommunication, contact your insurance company to let them know you are using a temporary vehicle and provide the year, make, model and vehicle identification number.

You can find additional information, including how to check if your car has been recalled by clicking here.

5 Effortless Ways Peace Officers Can Manage Stress

As a part of law enforcement, you face difficult situations daily. Stress is everywhere and everyone struggles with it. How it can manifest can depend on the individual’s stress management techniques and lifestyle. Research shows that police officers who don’t manage stress properly are prone to burnout, poor judgment, substance abuse, and suicide. With all of this, it isn’t often that you find an officer that isn’t stressed out.

Here are some of the sources of stress officers encounter:

  • Exposure to Distress: the distress of public that you become involved with will at some point affect you. This can take a toll on stress and mental health.
  • Danger: Many officers experience physical danger daily, especially departments in areas with high crime rates. The possibility of being injured can become heavy mentally.
  • Responsibility: The responsibility of protecting lives is a great deal of stress in itself.
  • The Pace: Officers must always be ready for all situations at a moment’s notice. Switching from office work to crime work doesn’t allow for much rest causing your mind to rush back and forth.

With all the different stressors, we have tips to help manage your stress.

  • Breathe: Practicing deep breaths can create a sense of calm.
  • Breakfast: Eating oatmeal is said to help reduce stress. Start your day on the right foot with a beneficial breakfast.
  • Exercise: It releases endorphins that eliminate tense muscles and stress.
  • Sleep: Schedules can be hectic, but make sure to get enough hours of sleep. Feeling well rested the next day will help with alertness while on duty.
  • Have a strong network of family and friends: Close relationships will help provide a strong support system and help with your stressors.

If you feel like the stress of the job is becoming more overwhelming, recognize that there are outlets for help. Reach out to your support system, friends and/or family. Having a life outside of the job will also help with physical and mental health. There are other options for outlets. Seek peer counseling or employee assistance programs, which are in place to assist officers in times of high stress.

 

 

 

 

Why Driving with Bad Posture is Dangerous

bad posture

Most of us spend at least 5 days a week driving to work on a regular basis. So if you commute an hour a day, that is 5 hours a week, 20 hours a month, and 240 hours a year driving. And that’s just driving to work, not including errands run to/from work or on days off.

With that much time in the car, it’s crucial to have good posture while driving. If any of these signs look familiar, it is time to make adjustments.

 

 

Bad Posture includes:

  • Poked Neck
  • Shoulders Hunched Forward
  • Upper Back Rounded forward
  • Pelvis slouched

If you said yes to having any of the above, odds are it came from sitting in front of the computer. These symptoms can lead to bigger issues like constant headaches, back pain, and more. Safety is a top priority, so if any of these next exercises cause more pain, please refrain from doing them.

Seat Adjustment: Keep your seat height high (as it can comfortably go). Make sure you can see complete vision of the road, and your feet can comfortably reach the pedals. If the seat is too low, it will cause slouching and result in rounded posture which is what we want to avoid.

Lumbar Support: See that the back of your seat fits comfortably with the natural arch of your lower back. If your car does not have this feature, use a rolled towel or small pillow instead. If the lumbar support is not correct, this can leave you with the tendency to round your back.

Elbow Position: Keep your elbows low and close to your body, in a comfortable position. Don’t flare them out. This keeps your shoulders safe and in a neutral place. Don’t place your elbows on the side of the window, this makes the elbows flare-ending in bad posture.

Change your Driving Position: Develop a range of different positions for driving. Sitting in the same position can cause discomfort.

As said before, safety is a main concern. Many long–term injuries can be prevented by protecting yourself and maintaining good health.

 

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