by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info |
Decks; they come in all sizes, shapes and age. They’re an extension of our living space as the weather warms and we spend more time outdoors. They can also be an accident waiting to happen.
A study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that close to 50,000 people are injured each year from falls off decks, porches and stairs; about 15 percent of those were from a structural failure or collapse.
Summer is when most deck collapses are reported. The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors says of the more than 45 million existing decks in North America, only 40 percent are absolutely safe.
Most failures take place while the decks were occupied and approximately 90 percent were a result of separation of the house and the deck ledger board. While age can be a factor, deck collapse can take place on any deck that was not properly installed.
Here are five deck safety and inspection tips from the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) that can keep the summer BBQ from becoming a trip to the hospital:
- Search for split or decaying wood including support beams and joists below
- Test railings and banisters to make sure they are firmly attached
- Check fasteners to make sure they have not come loose or corroded
- Step carefully looking for loose boards or spongy areas
- Clean up debris like leaves branches and other things that can cause slipping and mildew
NADRA also urges homeowners to test deck stairs, make sure grills and fire pits are on a non-flammable pad and away from walls and overhangs, and to consider proper lighting for nighttime use.
Michael Beaudry, executive vice president of the NADRA wants people to know about the importance of annually inspecting their decks. “Outdoor structures like decks are exposed to sun, rain, snow and extreme temperature changes over the years. The need to maintain and inspect them is critical for keeping decks strong and safe.”
You can find an extensive point-by-point deck inspection check list from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors at https://www.nachi.org/deck-inspections.htm.
Another piece of protection is to inspect your home or renters insurance. Now’s a great time to review your policy and make sure you have the proper liability coverage if someone gets hurt at your home. Call a California Casualty advisor today at 1.800.800.9410 or by visiting www.calcas.com.
Resources for this article:
https://nadra.org/
https://www.buildingonline.com/news/pdfs/Outdoor-Deck-and-Porch-Injury-Study.pdf
https://www.nachi.org/deck-inspections.htm
https://www.fiberondecking.com/blog/2015/how-safe-is-your-outdoor-deck-space
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.800.800.9410 or www.calcas.com.
by California Casualty | Nominate a Hero |
As long as he could remember, and well before he was in the academy, Joe wanted to be a firefighter. He spent many years volunteering with Escondido Fire before becoming a full-time firefighter with LA County over 13 years ago.
During one of the largest fire seasons of San Diego’s history, Joe fought beside San Diego’s firefighters to help save numerous homes and lives. Due to injuries sustained on the job, Joe is now a Fire Inspector.
by California Casualty | Firefighters |
You Know Your Dad Was a First Responder When:
- Adam 12, T.J. Hooker, CHiPs, Code Red, Emergency and Hill Street Blues were the mainstay on the family TV
- You practiced family evacuation drills as a Father’s Day ritual
- Dad displayed the implements of the trade: unloaded shotgun, ax or chainsaw, just as the date showed up to take out his daughter
- Your door bell was a siren
- Your Holiday display consisted of emergency lights
- Dad would cruise the neighborhood “just to make sure everything was alright” before he went to bed
- Everyone was equipped with a walkie-talkie
- He had 10 cans of black shoe polish to make sure his shoes looked shiny every day
- “Resuscitation Annie” was a member of the household
- Dad would never allow the birthday candles to be lit on the cake
by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info |
Summer is more than just a great time for BBQs, baseball and swimming pools; it’s the perfect time to get your home maintenance done.
The experts say warm weather is perfect for:
• Interior and exterior painting
• Power washing exterior walls to remove dust, mold or grime
• Power washing and re-staining decks
• Replacing loose or broken boards on decks and hammering or screwing down nails or screws that have come loose
• Checking roofs for winter wear
• Checking and clearing gutters and drain spouts of debris and making sure the spouts direct water away from the home’s foundation
• Pruning trees and shrubs and removing overhanging branches
• Fixing any plumbing problems while pipes are warm
• Inspecting for insect and termite damage to baseboards, decks or around windows – look for soft spots in wood around doors and windows or mud tubes against outside walls
Summer is also a great time to make sure your home or renters insurance is up-to-date. Get a free policy review with a California Casualty advisor at 1.800.800.9410 or at www.calcas.com.
by California Casualty | Educators |
Donn Harrison doesn’t think of himself as exceptional. He’s a kindergarten teacher at Parkview Elementary School in Cameron, Missouri, where he also volunteers as a firefighter and ambulance driver/ EMT. He says he is just a regular guy who loves his family and his community.
But, millions of Americans think he is much more than that. They voted in droves, helping him win Live! with Kelly and Michael’s Top Teacher of 2015 contest. Donn won new laptop computers for his school, a new car, $20,000 and a Caribbean vacation.
What makes Donn such an amazing teacher and member of his community? California Casualty recently had the privilege of talking with Donn to learn more.
First, Donn said he is humbled by the attention and the prize. “My wife nominated me thinking I might get a mention and a thank you note,” he said. “Then, I got word I was one of 12 finalists. What an honor; it blew my mind to think that I was thought of as one of the 12 best teachers in America!”
Donn was astonished as people left remarks on his Facebook page that they had voted for him and passed the information on to their family members, fellow firefighters, EMTs and others to vote for him too. In fact, he now has more than 10,000 followers.
Donn is a little embarrassed about the notoriety, but he’s thrilled that he can highlight Cameron, Missouri, a small rural town where he said people still help each other and make sure to say hello. He often gets stopped at the store or bank by former students who want to share the latest news about their family, introduce him to their newest baby or thank him for the skills that landed them a new job.
As for teaching, Donn came from humble roots. He and his brother were raised by a single parent mother, who was a teacher. Getting through school wasn’t easy for Donn. “I struggled and had to work hard.” He said he attended summer school so he could continue to the next grade. Somehow the guidance from his mother stuck with him and he decided he wanted to be a teacher himself.
Remembering his educational hardship is what makes him such a great instructor. Donn said he is there for every student, especially the ones that have to work harder to succeed. “I’ve been there, I understand,” he said. “I work hard to make the classroom accommodating for those students so everybody wins. If you care and show interest, kids will do anything for you.”
Donn said if he could offer advice to other teachers and schools it would be this: “Put kids first. Make class work for all kids, especially those with issues,” he said.
Donn’s goal is to remove the stigma associated with being a “special needs” student. Realizing that all children learn differently, he said anyone can reach kids and get more out of them if you work with them. In fact, by integrating a special education co-teacher into the classroom, Donn finds almost every kindergartner that starts the year with an individual education plan is off them by the end of the year.
Oh, a couple last things; Donn is enjoying his new car, and after paying taxes for that and the vacation he and his family will take, he will donate any excess money back to his community. He also wants educators to know that he has been insured with California Casualty for a number of years now, and enjoys the Auto and Home Insurance benefit provided by the NEA. Donn said while the price was one of the initial things that attracted him, the customer service, the human contact and the fact that California Casualty gives back to teachers with programs like the $7,500 School Lounge Makeovers and the $2,500 Academic Award keep him spreading the word to others about the value of the NEA® Auto & Home Insurance Program.
California Casualty is proud to partner with exceptional teachers like Donn. It’s why we work so hard to protect educators who make our communities better by preparing the minds of future generations to come.
We are also thrilled that Donn will be writing about his experiences as an educator and sharing them on our blog. Be looking for more articles soon.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.800.800.9410 or www.calcas.com.
