by California Casualty | Nurses |
So, you want to be an Emergency Room nurse – that’s where all the action is, right?
That may be true but Kyleigh Roessner RN-BSN has this list of the 5 Craziest (and True) Things you might encounter in the ER:
1. Foreign bodies (things found inserted in the human body)
2. Tragic examples of homelessness and destitution
3. The “ick” factor
4. Complex mental conditions and disorders
5. Chronic repeats
We will leave the descriptions of the above for you to read here.
What is the craziest thing you have seen in the ER?
We would love to hear about it. Share with us below!
Read Kyleigh’s article here,
by California Casualty | Safety |
Think about how many things you do using your smartphone, your laptop and your tablet. Whether it’s banking, checking on your child’s grades or shopping for new clothing, your passwords, accounts and other information are vulnerable. Now, there are two new warnings about security breaches involving computers and cell phones that highlight the real threat of criminals trying to steal our personal information.
Reuters is reporting that 90 percent of the world’s smartphones are at risk of password theft, stolen data and even allowing hackers to take over control of the device. The flaw affects Apple, Google Android and Blackberry devices prone to an obscure industry standard that controls everything from network connections to how user identities are managed. A separate threat, called “Fake ID,” targets three-quarters of older Android systems, allowing malicious applications to trick trusted software from Adobe, Google and others without any user notification.
And, if that’s not enough bad news, the New York Times recently ran an expose of a suspected Russian crime ring that may have stolen internet credentials, including 1.2 billion user names and password combinations, scoured from 420,000 websites. The criminals targeted any website they could hack from giant corporations to small businesses.
There are steps you can take to protect your personal information. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is actively involved in ID theft protection. Some of their recommendations include:
- Lock your financial documents and records in a safe place at home
- Keep our wallet or purse in a safe place at work
- Shred all receipts, credit card offers and applications, insurance forms, physician statements, bank statements and other financial documents
- Don’t open files, click on links or download programs sent by strangers
- Use complex passwords on computers, laptops and websites and change them often
Credit experts like ID Theft 911 also advise consumers to check your bank statement weekly, request a receipt for any purchase you make and run a free credit check annually.
An extra sense of security comes with every auto and home insurance policy from California Casualty: Free ID theft protection and resolution services from ID Theft 911. Make sure your property and identity are protected by calling a California Casualty advisor today, 1.800.800.9410.
Sources for this article:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft
https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/31/us-mobilephone-cybersecurity-idUSKBN0G01RI20140731
https://idt911.com/en/KnowledgeCenter.aspx
https://thehackernews.com/2014/07/android-fake-id-vulnerability-allows_29.html
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/russian-gang-amasses-over-billion-201533714.html
by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info, Homeowners Insurance Info |
From pulling weeds to cleaning floors, it seems that work around the house never ends, but it’s a lot easier to tackle before winter storms and cold weather move in. As we enjoy the last few months of summer, now is a good time to do maintenance that will prevent damage, prepare your home for winter, and add lasting value.
These mid-summer home maintenance tips are courtesy of MSN Real Estate:
- Do an energy audit and start fixing insulation and cracks
- Insulate hot water pipes
- Clean patio furniture
- Scrub your concrete
- Patch concrete and asphalt cracks
- Prune or remove problem trees and shrubs
- Clean exhaust fans
- Fix the fence
- Make your landscaping “critter proof”(deer, rabbits and other animals can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your plants and trees)
Doing regular maintenance can not only protect your home, but it can enhance the value of your largest investment. Most realtors and home repair experts say simple projects can add thousands of dollars to your home’s worth. Wikihow.com is a great resource with tips that give the best payback:
- Clean and reduce the clutter around your home
- Spruce up your yard
- Repaint the interior and exterior
- Upgrade your lighting and light switches
- Add wood trim
Don’t forget another vital piece to preserving your home and all the things that come with it; insurance. Now is the time to get a home insurance update and policy comparison to make sure your precious items are fully covered at the best value. Have you made improvements that could land you big discounts? Don’t forget that bundling your auto and home can offer big savings. Call a California Casualty advisor today for a no hassle policy review at 1.800.800.9410.
Sources for this article.
by California Casualty | News |
There’s excitement and anticipation associated with relocating to a new place to live; you get to pick the paint colors you love, maybe there is a new yard to plan and that extra room you always wanted. If you are preparing for a new home or apartment, you are not alone; the U.S. Census Bureau finds almost 36 million people moved to a new residence between 2012 and 2013. The reason for most was to find a new place to live, followed by relocation for a new job. No matter the reason, preparing for a moving adventure can be a stressful experience.
Here are some helpful packing tips that will make the move easier, from the article 17 Packing Hacks that Will Transform Your Next Move:
- Open all lotions, sprays and gels, place a layer of plastic wrap over the opening before putting the cap back on to prevent messy and costly spills
- Use a garbage bag liner in a box with numerous small items that could break; it will make clean up much easier
- Put necessities in a small suitcase or tote so they will be easy to find when you arrive at the new place
- Keep clothes on hangers, zip tie them together and wrap them in plastic for easier transition into a new closet
- Put fitted sheets on both sides of a mattress to protect it
- Plastic foam plates between breakable dinnerware is better protection than newspaper
- Potholders can be used as knife holders
- Pack bottles of wine in kids pool floaties to keep them from breaking
- Label your cords with duct tape with the name of the corresponding appliance for hassle free matching
- Pack books in suitcases
The time of year you move can save you money. In 2008, July passed June as the most popular month to move. November was the slowest time, meaning more room for price negotiation.
Mayflower.com has a list of 10 essentials most often forgotten in a move. Did you remember?
- To get copies of your family’s medical records and veterinary records for your pets, as well as copies of prescriptions you may need to transfer
- An official copy of your child’s school records (needed to enroll them into a new school)
- Valuables you had hidden around the house (jewelry, stamps, coins)
- Important phone numbers and email addresses
- The items you may have taken to the cleaners but hadn’t picked up yet (or the watch at the repair shop)
- A copy of your new address
- To leave some cleaning supplies for the after move clean up
- To leave the garage door opener – many people forget to take the out of their vehicles
- To open a checking account in your new city a month prior to the move
- To gather all the keys to the house you have hidden or given to neighbors and friends
Keep in mind there are other expenses to consider: hotels, meals out and establishing utilities, internet and cable or satellite TV at your new location. Moving.com calculated that people spend more money during the three months around the time of their move than non-movers spend in five years. When all is said and done, relocating homeowners spent as much as $10,000 on furniture and accessories, apartment dwellers around $4,000.
Insurance is also an essential part of your move! While most renters and home insurance will cover your items during a move, very few provide coverage while your goods are in transit. It’s recommended that you purchase insurance from a moving company to protect your items from point A to point B.
You will also need to contact your California Casualty representative BEFORE-hand to get the appropriate coverage on your new dwelling.
Make sure you get the best value in protecting your home and the valuables inside. Contact a California Casualty advisor for a homeowner or renter policy review at 1.800.800.9410.
Sources for this article:
https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/moving-statistics
https://www.moving.com/about-us/index.asp
https://www.hampdenmoving.com/forgotten-items.html
by California Casualty | Peace Officers |
Keeping guns and ammunition secure can be a full-time job for any law enforcement professional, but proper storage options make this task easier. This article, the last in a three-part series, looks at six ways to secure the weapons in your station. You can read part 1 and part 2 to take a closer look at other necessary storage options for the modern law enforcement facility.
1. Properly Mounted Temporary Storage
Do your officers need a gun in the interrogation room or in common areas? No — and when situations are heated, having a gun out in the open can increase the chance of a problem. Installing temporary storage options, such as secure gun lockers, in these areas will help prevent unwanted discharges and the problems that they bring. These lockers keep guns secure (by requiring entry with a key) yet still accessible if the guns will be needed shortly.
2. Secure Weapons Rooms
Secure weapons rooms are the ultimate storage option for the modern law enforcement facility. With storage lockers or racks, this room gives the facility a one-stop place to store and retrieve weapons. A variety of organizational options keep firearms and ammunition accounted for, while a locked door ensures that they are only delivered to authorized personnel.
3. Shelving with Electronic Security
Weapon shelving is an excellent choice for storing guns in an accessible manner. But the modern law enforcement facility must be certain that items are stored securely, so only authorized personnel can access them. If the facility doesn’t have the space for a designated weapons room, electronic security that tethers the firearms to the shelf until accessed by the proper personnel is a good solution.
4. RFID Tracking Systems
In addition to providing security, RFID tracking systems built into storage systems can help facilities know who has checked out a particular weapon, making it easier to locate missing items and pinpoint who used a certain firearm in case of an investigation.
5. Universal Weapon Racks
These racks fill a need for secure weapons storage in facilities where a full weapons room is not needed. Universal weapon racks have locking doors that keep them secure when not in use. The racks can be adjusted to fit a variety of handguns, and can tilt up to 90 degrees in any direction without losing their hold on the guns or causing damage to equipment. This type of rack can be used in your facility, your transport vehicles or anywhere else that secure storage is needed.
6. Mobile Storage Solutions
Officers often need to bring their weapons into the field. Mobile storage solutions provide a secure way to do this. For single handguns, portable gun boxes are the best choice. Padded and locked, these boxes protect the firearm and store it safely.
When multiple firearms are needed in the field, mini universal weapons racks can help. Like their larger counterparts, these smaller versions keep firearms protected during transport, and can carry a larger number of firearms than gun boxes, which hold only one.
Whether you choose one or all of these options for your facility, ensure that your weapons are secure and accessible with proper storage.
Author Bio:
Denny Hammack is the President of Patterson Pope, a primary provider of storage opitions for businesses in the public safety industry. Hammack has over 25 years of experience in the storage and records management industry and has lead Patterson Pope to become one of the leading public safety storage solution providers in the industry.
