by California Casualty | Firefighters, Peace Officers |
Have you ever stood on the side of a busy road or highway? It can be a bit intimidating as traffic roars by; you can feel the wind of speeding cars and trucks and the sting from dust and pebbles thrown as they fly past. Now imagine that you are a first responder, law enforcement officer or maintenance worker trying to do a job, often just off of or in busy lanes of traffic.
Every day the people who protect us put their safety and lives on the line when they get out of their vehicles to help a stranded motorist, block a lane of traffic, clear up debris or provide first aid to someone hurt in a crash. This should be a reminder that we all need to be more careful as we drive along the byways and highways on our daily commutes or while on a special trip. Over the next hill or around the next curve could be an unexpected situation with a first responder or law enforcement officer who might be in a vulnerable situation while trying to help others.
Just such a situation recently turned deadly for 33 year old Colorado State Trooper Jamie Jursevics who was hit and killed while assisting people involved in a crash off I-25. Another driver, who has been charged with driving while intoxicated and vehicular manslaughter, slammed into Trooper Jursevics. She died at the scene leaving behind a husband and an eight month old daughter.
The pain that Jursevics’ family is enduring is felt by hundreds of others every year. The National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund reports that between 2005 and 2014, 134 officers died after being struck by a vehicle. In addition, hundreds of highway construction and maintenance workers were also struck and killed while on the job.
We all owe the men and women who keep our roads safe our undivided attention. This means not being distracted by cell phones or other electronic devices, never driving while overly tired or after consuming alcohol or taking certain prescription drugs, and slowing down when we see emergency vehicle lights either in traffic or off to the side of the road. It’s hard to imagine the horror of being distracted and causing injuries or death.
That’s why all 50 states now have Move Over laws on the books, to try and protect the men and women who protect us. Move Over laws require motorists to slow down, change lanes or move over as far as possible when approaching an emergency vehicle. More of us need to be informed about those laws, though; with surveys showing that 71 percent of Americans still have not heard of Move Over laws.
The American Safety Council reminds us to be extra vigilant when we see an emergency vehicle and to:
- Pull as far to the right as possible to let them pass
- Stay at least 500 feet behind them
- Move as far over as possible when nearing a stopped emergency vehicle with lights activated and slow to a speed not more than 20 miles less than the posted speed limit
The men and women who swear to serve and protect us, as well as ambulance drivers, tow truck operators and construction workers deserve all the extra safety we can give them.
by California Casualty | Educators |
There are so many great resources for teachers. The problem is trying to read all of them for the best ideas. We are making it easy for you with this list of the 11 classroom hacks that can help you reach kids, organize the classroom and make your life at school easier.
Materials and Supplies
- Find an old straw dispenser to use for pencils
- Use decorated Pringles cans to store rulers and other items
- Frame and mount board games on the wall to eliminate bulky (easily broken) boxes
- Turn an old step ladder into an easel
- Shop at thrift stores for oversized button up shirts or dresses to use as paint smocks
- Turn squeezable condiment bottles into easily used paint containers
- Glue a pom-pom on the end of dry-erase markers to use as erasers to avoid using excess tissues
- Use a shoe organizer for the classroom mailbox
Classroom Management
- Discourage test cheating by putting version numbers on each question sheet and tell students to write the version they have on their answer sheet (hint, although there are version numbers, they are all the same – but nobody has to know that but you)
- Pre-empt excuses for missing homework by holding a “best excuse writing” lesson (then you’ll be able to say, “I already heard that one”)
- Employ a “Too Noisy” app that shows a colorful graph with a digital noise meter to alert you and your students when the class has exceeded acceptable noise levels
We know we’ve barely scratched the surface of great classroom/teacher ideas and we’d love to hear about some that you use.
By the way, we have all kinds of great classroom resources and tips at our blog, https://mycalcas.com/category/auto-insurance-for-teachers/ or at https://mycalcas.com/category/teachers/.
Here are two more resources from California Casualty that can help educators:
- Let us help make setting up your classroom a little easier on your wallet with a $2,500 Academic Award at www.calcasacademicaward.com.
- If you hate going into the run-down teacher’s lounge at your school, make sure to enter our $7,500 School Lounge Makeover® contest at www.schoolloungemakeover.com.
Sources for this article:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/clever-classroom-tips-for-elementary-school-teachers#.jbYeBkjx3
https://info.marygrove.edu/matblog/8-more-classroom-organization-hacks-for-teachers
https://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/8934-classroom-hacks-for-teaching-in-the-trenches
https://freespiritpublishingblog.com/2015/03/06/guest-post-top-ten-classroom-life-hacks-for-teachers/
https://www.survivingateacherssalary.com/50-classroom-tips-and-tricks-for-teachers/
https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/14-hilarious-homework-excuses
by California Casualty | Safety |
“It came out of nowhere!” That’s what a friend said after he hit a deer as he drove to our house last year. The impact tore off his grill and front bumper; who knows if the animal survived. My friend was lucky; he was shaken up after the accident but unhurt. Little did he know that he was one of hundreds of thousands who have an unfortunate meeting with deer every year.
Deer-vehicle collisions can happen any time of year but fall is particularly bad. Crashes with them spike October through December as they seek new habitats to breed and forage for food.
Be especially careful if you live in a rural area or one that is near deer habitat; the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates more than 1.5 million deer collisions take place every year in the U.S., causing over $1 billion in vehicle damage. The top five states for deer-auto crashes are:
- West Virginia
- Montana
- Iowa
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
These are things you can do to reduce your risk of hitting deer or other wildlife while driving:
- Don’t drive distracted
- Slow down
- Use high beams at night when there is no oncoming traffic
- Stay especially alert at dusk and dawn when deer tend to be most active
- Watch for road signs warning about wildlife
- Honk your horn to scare any deer you encounter off the road
- Break firmly and don’t swerve
If all these fail and you collide with a deer:
- Attempt to move your vehicle to the side of the road and use your hazard lights
- Call local law enforcement or the state patrol
- Don’t attempt to move injured animals
- Take photos of the animal, the damage to your vehicle, and the roadway where the crash occurred
- Contact your insurance company as soon as possible
Damage from striking deer and other wildlife is one of the things comprehensive auto insurance coverage helps pay for. Make sure you have adequate protection if you encounter a deer, contact a California Casualty advisor today for a free policy comparison and review at 1.800.800.9410, or visit www.calcas.com.
Sources for this article:
https://www.propertycasualty360.com/2015/10/12/oh-deer-drivers-beware-its-deer-season?page_all=1
https://www.iihs.org/iihs/sr/statusreport/article/49/9/3
by California Casualty | News |
Why do we still do it?
I’m talking about Sunday’s time change. Almost everyone I talk to dreads saying goodbye to daylight saving and turning our clocks back this weekend for the return of standard time. We might regain an hour, but it’s depressing leaving work in the dark at 5 p.m.
It’s more than just an inconvenience; the “fall back” can be a real health hazard. Some 40 million of us already have some type of chronic sleep disorder and 40 percent of us admit we’ve recently fallen asleep while driving. Sleep experts say that setting the clock back an hour is contrary to how our body clocks work, leading to some interesting health effects –both good and bad – that you may not have known about.
- Your risk of being in a car accident may increase
A Texas A&M University study found there was a seven percent increase in car crashes the week after daylight saving time comes to an end, with morning crashes jumping 14 percent. Researchers think the hour difference affects us much like jet lag when we disrupt our normal sleep pattern
- Your odds of a heart attack may drop
In a 2014 study, researchers found a 21 percent decrease in heart attacks on the Tuesday following the fall time change. That compares to the 24 percent increase just after the switch to daylight saving.
- Your mood may improve
As the weather gets colder and daylight diminishes, we tend to be more depressed. But in the weeks following the fall time change, your wake time may actually sync with the sunrise, giving you a temporary mood a boost. Exposing yourself to morning light is one of the most powerful things you can do to stave off winter blues.
- The quality of your sleep may take a hit
Many of us have trouble after we set the clocks back; we actually stay up later because we aren’t tired when it’s bedtime and our brain is still programmed to get us up an hour earlier than the clock says. One study suggests that instead of capitalizing on the supposed extra hour of sleep, you may actually lose sleep the week after the fall time change. A Finnish study found that the quality of sleep after the fall transition actually decreases for many of us.
Now you probably already know if you are sleep deprived, but just in case, you can take the National Sleep Foundation’s “sleepiness test” to show how you stack up against other Americans.
And, if you find turning the clocks back leaves you out of sorts, overtired and more cranky than usual, here are some recommendations from the Sleep Foundation:
- Avoid napping during the day
- Limit stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol in the late afternoon and evening
- Use relaxing exercise like yoga or meditation before bedtime
- Stay away from heavy, late meals
- Don’t experiment with spicy dishes for dinner
- Expose yourself to as much natural light as possible
- Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine
- Keep the bedroom for sleep – eliminate the TV
- Make your bed and sleeping area as comfortable as possible
Oh, here are a couple last things:
- Don’t forget to set your clocks back Saturday night so you won’t show up an hour early for church or other morning activities.
- Don’t forget to test and change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Don’t lose sleep worrying about your auto and home insurance; contact a California Casualty advisor today for a free, no hassle policy review and comparison at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com. You’ll sleep better knowing you have the best coverage with exclusive professional discounts.
Sources for this article:
https://www.better-sleep-better-life.com/insomnia-statistics.html
https://www.yahoo.com/health/4-weird-ways-the-time-change-affects-your-health-101686684992.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079212001141
https://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6793/8/3
https://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-hygiene
by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info |
by: Mark Goldberg
As more and more of us opt to rent rather than own a home, the monthly cost has been climbing. My wife and I are experiencing it as we start looking for a place for our daughter when she moves out of the dorm next year. There’s nothing worse than thinking you have found the perfect place and then realizing you really can’t afford it. Here are some things to take into consideration for your calculations.
First, how much rent can you really afford? Let’s face it; it’s really expensive these days to rent a place. A new Harvard study found many of us are now paying 50 percent of our income on rent. However, The U.S. Census Bureau and many financial experts say we should only pay 20 to 30 percent of our monthly take home pay. So, if you bring home $4,000 a month, you should consider monthly rents around $1,200. Every dollar more means less you will have for going out to dinners, concerts or saving for a home.
Second, calculate the expense of finding that place. Many first time renters fail to consider application fees many landlords now charge, the security deposit (often a month’s rent) and having to come up with first and last month’s rent. This can add up to a many thousands of dollars before you even get the chance to move into your new apartment or house.
Third, don’t forget to use your “scam radar.” As apartment and home rentals become scarce and more expensive, scammers are working to lure desperate people. The Federal Trade Commission is warning about a growing proliferation of criminals running fake rental ads or hijacking landlord advertising accounts trying to steal money from vulnerable consumers. Many people fail to confirm what they are renting and who they might be renting from, as evidenced by a New York bar owner who ran a fake ad about a one bedroom for rent that turned out to be his public restroom. He was shocked at the number of people who responded. With that in mind, here are the top signs that apartment or home rental ad could be fake:
- It seems too good to be true
- There is no address
- The contact is only by email or mail
- The landlord seems too eager to rent and doesn’t ask for your employment verification or any other tenant screening
- You are asked to wire money to apply or hold the apartment (especially if you never met anyone in person)
- You’re told you don’t need a lease or rental agreement
- The “landlord” says she is out of town and will only come back to meet you if you send money first
Finally, think about your other expenses. After you pay rent, will you have enough for utilities, cell phone, cable, internet, food, fuel, car payment and fun? Don’t forget about any student loans you have to repay. If you overdo what you pay for rent you may not have enough money for your other financial obligations, not to mention not being able to afford going out to see a movie or joining friends for dinner. Use this rent affordability calculator to gage what your budget allows.
Here are ways to reduce your monthly costs:
- Look outside the urban area like a nearby town or suburb for rentals
- Get a roommate or roommates
- Apply for rental subsidies offered by some cities and the federal government
- Scale down your expectations and find a smaller apartment
- Negotiate with the landlord
- Do without cable or satellite TV
- Have more meals at home with friends rather than going to restaurants
One expense you should never skimp on is renters insurance. Your landlord’s insurance doesn’t cover your things, and many landlords now require you to have our own policy. For as little as $15 a month you can protect your possessions from fire, theft or damage from a broken water pipe. Renters insurance also covers you in case someone gets hurt at your place and sues. Make sure you have the coverage you need, contact a California Casualty advisor for a quote today at 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
Sources for this article:
https://www.census.gov/housing/census/publications/who-can-afford.pdf
https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/us-rental-housing-crisis-projected-grow-households-paying-more-50-percent-income-rent-topping-13
https://www.dailyfinance.com/2015/06/29/save-money-renting-apartment/
https://www.moneycrashers.com/how-to-find-cheap-apartments-for-rent-guide/
https://blog.credit.com/2015/06/how-much-rent-can-i-afford-119742/
https://mmink.com/calcs/renter1.html
https://www.moneycrashers.com/monthly-rent-afford-calculator/
https://www.gobankingrates.com/personal-finance/surprise-savings-account-wont-cover-cost-renting-apartment/
https://apartments.about.com/od/apartmenthunting/a/How-To-Recognize-And-Avoid-Apartment-Rental-Scams.htm
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0079-rental-listing-scams
https://www.amny.com/real-estate/nyc-bathroom-advertised-as-hip-artist-loft-shows-how-desperate-people-are-to-live-in-city-1.10952017
https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/rental_assistance
