Creating a spooky Halloween mood often relies on great lighting effects in your home and yard. Glowing jack-o-lanterns, flickering luminaries, and strategically placed uplighting are all classic fare.
But they can also pose a fire threat. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that Halloween decorations cause approximately 800 house fires per year, totaling $11 million in property damage. And that’s not counting the injuries sustained when flammable costumes meet heat sources or open flames.
Here are some do’s and don’ts to make your Halloween safer — without giving up on the spookiness!
Decorations
Many decorations are flammable due to materials or the use of candles and other heat elements. In fact, . Make sure yours pass the safety check:
Jack-o-Lanterns – These are the ubiquitous, favorite Halloween decoration of most households.
DON’T use a candle as your lighting feature. The pumpkin can easily be tipped over and catch its surroundings on fire, whether that’s dry brush or a porch outside, or upholstery or carpeting inside.
DO use an LED light, glow stick, or electric candle instead.
Flammable decorations – These can light up in an instant, igniting from live flames as well as heat sources like heaters and light bulbs.
DON’T use cornstalks, hay bales, dried flowers, or crepe paper. And don’t put flammable decorations in the path of exits, which creates a serious obstruction risk in case your family needs to exit quickly.
DO use flame-resistant or non-flammable materials wherever possible. Avoid having a wood-burning fire inside if it may become unattended due to holiday commotion or trick or treaters. Outside, have a hose and buckets of water ready for any outdoor emergencies.
Paper bag luminaries – Another holiday mainstay, these decorations give a warm, welcoming lighted pathway up to a house.
DON’T use live candles. Paper bags are extremely flammable and are prone to tip over with just a slight breeze.
DO use an electric candle instead which, even if tipped over, won’t cause any damage.
Candles – More than a third of Halloween home fires each year are started by a candle. A live flame is never safe – inside, outside or anywhere.
DON’T use candles for any holiday decorations.
DO use electric candles or LED lights instead. Just doing a Google search on “LED lights Halloween” will bring up a range of options for creative, fun ways to give a spooky lighting effect.
Costumes
Unfortunately, a lot of Halloween costumes pose a fire hazard. Follow these tips to keep you and your family safe.
Only choose flame retardant materials.
Avoid costumes that are bulky or billowy or have long trailing fabric.
Teach kids to stay away from open flames, including jack-o-lanterns and luminaries, while they’re trick-or-treating.
Give them glow sticks or flashlights to light their way on the big night.
If your child’s costume has a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so she/he can easily see out of it.
Review “Stop! Drop! And Roll!” with your kids, making sure everyone understands and passes a practice round.
Final Reminders
Make sure well ahead of time that all your fire and smoke alarms are working and ready. Also, remember that even if you take fire-safety steps, your neighbors might not – and if their home catches fire, yours could be imperiled. Review these fire safety tips from firefighters, and update your family’s evacuation plan, just to be on the safe side.
By following Halloween fire safety precautions, you can make this scariest night of the year all about the fun kind of scary instead of the bad kind of scary.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
“Clean the gutters:” It’s one of those perennial to-do list items that never seem to get crossed off. One season runs into the next, and before you know it, winter has arrived and your gutters are still full of debris.
Unfortunately, that can wreak a lot of havoc on your house, from water and structural damage to pest problems and more. And those problems will bring repair and replacement costs that can easily be avoided.
Check out the 6 ways below that clogged gutters can imperil your home, and 6 tips at the bottom to get ahead of the problem.
Structural Damage
Clogged gutters cause water run-off and overflow, which can collect around your home’s foundation. Over time, that water can cause cracks in your foundation, which leads to huge repair costs. When ice dams form, excess water can also seep through your roof.
Damage to Gutter Components
When fascia boards – the long, straight boards running along the lower edge of your roof – are exposed to excess water, they can crack, warp and start shedding paint. If your gutters are weighted down with debris and/or frozen water, they can begin sagging. This can result in tearing and pulling away from the exterior walls, or even coming loose completely.
Interior Damage
Whether from ice dams or a clogged gutter that sends water running in all directions, your home interior is also at risk of damage. This can happen from water leaking underneath shingles and through the roof, affecting electrical systems, appliances, and furniture. Oftentimes, interior walls will show mold, leaks, and water stains, and cracks will appear on ceilings. Window and door frames can also warp and rot.
Ice Dams
These are a main culprit behind all the issues above because they force excess water away from the proper exit route (down the downspout), leaving it up to chance and gravity for water finding its way downhill. In addition, they also cause icicles, which – although picturesque – can injure people and pets, as well as damage your deck and roof.
Pests
A gutter full of leaves can harbor infestations of all kinds. Rodents love just about any dark, cozy place and can quickly start nesting and breeding. Before long, they may try to enter your home through the walls, under the roof, etc. Besides rodents, insects will quickly make a home in the decaying matter stuck in your gutters. This means mosquitoes, cockroaches, flies, and termites, all of which can also make inroads into your home. Finally, mold, parasites, mildew, and spores flourish in a damp gutter, posing a health risk to you and your family.
Avoidable Injuries
If you decide to tackle the gutters after winter has already arrived, you may be putting yourself at risk in trying to clean them. Icy and cold conditions make for poor ladder safety and the chances of injury increase. If you spot any structural damage or hard-to-remove ice dams, you may be tempted to fix it yourself, but at that point hiring a professional is much safer.
Gutter Cleaning Quick Tips:
The best time to clean is during autumn, after most of the season’s leaves have fallen (many of which will find a home in your gutters!). Here are 6 tips to get you started.
Use a safe and secure ladder, and practice ladder safety.
Rake debris and leaves off the roof before attacking gutters (be sure to wear rubber-soled shoes).
Wear safety eyewear and gloves.
Use a plastic gutter scooping tool.
Clear the downspouts.
Watch out for power lines.
Once fall gives way to winter, your window of opportunity for safely cleaning gutters closes until spring. Best to start early, before damage – and related repair costs – happen.
This article is furnished by California Casualty. We specialize in providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Mark D. Pitchford has been elected Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of California Casualty Management Company (“CCMC”) effective July 25, 2022. In this role, Pitchford will lead the marketing and sales efforts of the company.
Pitchford has more than 30 years of wide-ranging experience, including in marketing, service, and sales, as a senior executive in the insurance industry. He holds an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University and a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Harvey Mudd College.
Pitchford was most recently head of the insurance practice for Afiniti, applied artificial intelligence provider. Prior to Afiniti, Pitchford was the Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Esurance. In this role, he was responsible for Esurance’s advertising, sales and customer service operations, customer experience, and digital transformation. His other previous experience includes leading Allstate’s direct business and time in various senior-level marketing, sales/service, and product management positions at Lumen/Qwest and AT&T/Pacific Bell.
“I am excited about this opportunity,” Pitchford said. “The mission of California Casualty to serve those who are heroes in our communities is inspiring.”
Jonathan D. Adkisson, CCMC’s President & CEO, stated, “Mark brings incredible experience and capabilities which will strengthen our executive management team. I am looking forward to working with him again as we move forward.”
California Casualty is an affinity-based auto and home insurance provider with group partnerships across the nation, offering the highest level of care, service, compassion, and understanding, to people who make a difference for our communities – educators, education support professionals, peace officers, firefighters, and nurses.
Carl B. “Beau” Brown, CCMC’s Chair, commented: “Adding Mark to our team will help ensure that California Casualty can keep delivering on our promise to our members who serve our communities.”
About California Casualty: Founded in 1914 and headquartered in San Mateo, CA, California Casualty has service centers in Arizona, Colorado, and Kansas. The company provides auto and home insurance with special rates, generous discounts, and unique benefits not available to the general public to educators, education support professionals, peace officers, firefighters, and nurses across the country. To learn more about California Casualty, or to request an auto insurance quote, please visit www.calcas.com or call 1.800.800.9410.
If you’ve ever wrestled a wriggling, uncooperative toddler while trying to apply sunscreen, you’re not alone. It’s summer and the kids are excited, which means sun safety sometimes falls by the wayside. Even your older kids may ditch their hats and sunglasses to bask in the sun or they may “forget” to reapply sunscreen after a swim.
Yet it’s so important to protect young skin, which is especially vulnerable to the sun’s damaging rays. Just one or two blistering sunburns can double your child’s lifetime risk for melanoma, according to MD Anderson Cancer Center. Given the high stakes, how are you possibly going to get your kids to practice sun safety? Don’t worry. Unlike the sunscreen-on-the-toddler scenario, we’ve got you covered.
1. Get them into the habit of applying sunscreen.
Whether it’s cloudy or sunny, make sunscreen a part of your – and their — daily routine. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30.
Note that children’s sunscreens often have the same ingredients as adult versions. They’re just packaged in a cuter bottle. If that cute bottle gets your child to apply it, it’s worth the investment. The bottom line: the best sunscreen is the one your child agrees to wear.
Lead by example and apply sunscreen yourself at least 30 minutes before you go outside. Depending on your child’s age and ability, help or encourage them to do the same.
For younger kids, make it fun.
Put “cheetah” spots of sunscreen and have them rub them in.
Pretend the sunscreen spray is a dragon’s breath.
Set a timer and count down together. Sing a song that lasts as long as the application.
Ask them to stand in front of a mirror and watch to see if you’ve missed a spot.
For older kids, add sunscreen to their daily chore chart.
If your child is sensitive to the feel of sunscreen, try different types. Sunscreen comes in spray, stick, and lotion and can be thick or thin, scented or unscented.
Pro Tip: Check the active ingredients, and look for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These sunblock ingredients are less irritating if your child has sensitive skin.
2. Teach your child when to reapply sunscreen.
If you’re out in the sun, you’re going to want to reapply your sunscreen to avoid burning. A good rule of thumb is to reapply when kids are wet and sweaty, after swimming, or before the timeframe stated on the sunscreen label. Remember to use a waterproof sunscreen that won’t come off in the pool or when they sweat and that sunscreens need about 30 minutes to absorb into your skin so account for the overlap time.
For older elementary kids and teens, have them set a timer.
For younger kids, give them a few minutes warning. Then ask where he or she wants to be when you reapply. Having a choice gives them some control and encourages cooperation.
Schedule reapplication right before a break for a favorite snack. (Snacks after sunscreen!)
3. Let them choose their sun protective wear.
Sun protective clothing, hats and sunglasses help keep dangerous rays away from sensitive eyes and skin. Involve your child in the choice so that they are more likely to wear the item.
Go shopping with your child for hats, sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing. Let them pick out an ensemble…. even if it doesn’t match (sorry, moms!).
Consider UV blocking shirts that provide added protection. Avoid tank tops that expose kids’ shoulders.
Find a pair of sunglasses that fit your child well. Add a strap that will keep them in place during energetic play.
Model wearing your own protective sun gear. Young children might enjoy a matching set! Older kids may be more likely to enjoy “trendy” sunglasses or hats. So, look for ones that have their favorite character or celebrity on the package.
4. Know when to go out and when to seek shade.
The sun’s rays are strongest during midday. Encourage your child to stay out of the sun during the hottest times. Sun safe hours are before 10 am and after 4 pm; that’s when you can offer unlimited outdoor play. During other times, you will want to limit your child’s time in the sun and encourage them to seek shade when possible.
Play the shadow game. If your child’s shadow is shorter than he/she is, it means it’s time to find shade. Challenge your child to find all of the shady spots nearby.
Set up a shady play area. Include drinks, snacks, games, chalk, balls, dolls, and even a water table to entice children to stay there. For the beach or places where there is no shade, play tents and sun canopies can protect from UVA and UVB rays.
Summer rides in the car can also expose your child to dangerous UVA rays which pass right through glass. Add transparent window films to your car windows or provide a light blanket to cover your child’s exposed legs.
5. Explain sun safety in an age-appropriate way.
You want your child to understand why sun safety is important. That ultimately will help them to practice it. Do it in a way that your child can understand and not be frightened.
For preschoolers, you can share that the sun can burn you and that will hurt.
For elementary school students, share the basics and say that sunburns can damage your skin.
For teens, you can go into detail and share the long-term damage that can occur later in life.
And for those young adults looking to get a “healthy summer tan,” let them know that there is no such thing. Even tans will damage their skin, and cause wrinkles. Encourage them to use tanning lotions with sunscreen instead.
Be consistent with sun safety precautions and you and your family will enjoy the summer sun that much more!
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Anyone who has ever dropped off at soccer practice, then zoomed to dance, and back again to school, knows the reality of parenting today. We live in our cars. In fact, we can’t live without them, which is why it’s more than just an inconvenience when our cars are in the shop.
Enter the rental car, the savior helping us to navigate our hectic lives, pun intended. Rentals can be a necessity when our car is in the shop for repairs after an accident, and it would be nice if we didn’t have to pay too much for them. That’s where rental car reimbursement coverage (also called transportation expense coverage) can help. A basic amount of this coverage is included with collision/comprehensive coverage in your auto policy. It helps cover the cost of a rental car after a car accident, but the basic coverage may not be enough these days. Optional higher coverage levels are available and can help to cover more of the cost of a rental car.
Things are changing—which could impact your budget.
Today’s world is not the same as pre-pandemic. The changes that have happened in the last year or longer are impacting the repair and rental car industries. This could cause you to pay significantly more out-of-pocket even with rental car reimbursement. Read on to find out why, and what you can do about it.
Parts are taking longer to get.
We’ve been spoiled with free, fast shipping, getting items in a couple of days from the time we order them. That’s no longer the case. Just as you probably had to wait for the hottest toy for the holidays (or that elusive Sony PlayStation 5), repair shops have had to wait…and wait…and wait…for parts. There’s a global supply chain shortage. Parts that used to arrive in a day or two are now taking weeks or longer. Ships carrying supplies are being held at docks. There’s also a global semiconductor shortage, which especially affects the advanced electronics in our cars.
Shops are doing partial repairs or keeping your car indefinitely.
With parts delayed for weeks or longer, some shops are making partial repairs on drivable vehicles, sending them home, and finishing the job later. They are keeping undrivable cars for weeks or even months while waiting for parts.
When there’s no one to work on your car, it sits for longer.
The labor shortage has hit the automotive industry. There are fewer truck drivers transporting parts, fewer dock workers unloading them, and fewer mechanics working. The pandemic prompted many people to reevaluate their career choices, and leave their jobs. If you’re lucky, your body shop is fully staffed. If not, you’re likely in for a longer repair.
Your car could be in the shop longer than your rental coverage.
Normally, you’d expect to have a rental car for a couple of weeks. It might surprise you to learn that the average repair time at the end of last year was 17 days, according to Enterprise Rent-A-Car. That means that many people had their cars in the shop even longer than that. The length of rentals has continued to increase in 2022. If shops are waiting on parts and workers, chances are that your rental car coverage will run out before repairs are done. Not only that but the rental bill can be even more than the repair bill, and you’re hit with any expense that insurance doesn’t cover.
Longer collision repair times are just part of higher costs. Rising inflation rates and greater demand for vehicles have increased rental car prices. AAA is seeing car rental prices trending higher in 2022 than in the previous four years.
It makes sense (and cents) to bump up your coverage.
The typical auto policy includes a basic amount of coverage that reimburses up to $20 a day with a $600 cap per accident. That means your $20 per day coverage lasts for 30 days. Luckily, you’re not limited to those numbers. Consider expanding your coverage to $30/$900, $40/$1,200 or $50/$1,500. Selecting a higher amount will help you cover today’s higher cost of rental cars, especially for longer repair times.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
This month we celebrate the successful career of Lisa Almeida, AVP- Key Account Manager of territories- National (UMP), California (CTA & ACSA), Arizona, Nevada, Utah NEA Affiliates, and Administrators. Lisa started with California Casualty back in February of 1993 and will retire in April.
We recently had the pleasure to sit down with Lisa and discuss her life and her career at California Casualty. Here’s what she told us:
“I was born in Redondo Beach, California. If you listen carefully to the Beach Boys’ “Surfin USA”, you’ll hear a brief shout out to my hometown. I grew up in many beachy areas of Southern California until I got married and moved to Miami. During my time in Florida, I finished college at Miami Dade, started a family, and began my permanent 37+ year career in the insurance world. That’s when I moved back to SoCal and started working for California Casualty in 1993.”
California Casualty was actually a client of Lisa’s when she worked for American Bankers Insurance Group. That is where she met Linda Anderson and Mary Wilson (both retired from California Casualty Agency Services). She loved working with the California Casualty and the Agency Services team so much she was encouraged to apply for a Field role with the company. “Honestly, it was not only their support of the company that inspired me to apply,” says Lisa, “but it seemed that everyone that worked for CalCas had just an extraordinary amount of tenure. And, being in the insurance industry, I heard nothing but praise for the company’s sterling reputation and excellent customer service.”
Throughout her career with California Casualty Lisa has held many positions, but it’s her love for Group Marketing/Partner Relations that has kept her in the department her entire tenure.
“I started as a Field Representativeive (now Field Marketing Manager) and within a year I was promoted to Senior FMM. After that, I was fortunate enough to earn an Associate Account Manager role, then Team Supervisor followed by about 10 years as West Region Manager. For about the last six years, I’ve been the Key Account Manager for the California Teachers Association. I will say that this position has been my absolute favorite. Not only have I had the privilege of working with some of the most influential and inspiring educators in the state, but I’ve also learned more about the operations of California Casualty than in any other role that I’ve had during my 29 years.”
When asked about her most memorable accomplishments she said, “Oh gosh, back in the day, I did achieve Presidents/Pinnacle Club status multiple times and that is always an honor.
Most importantly, I think working as the California Teachers Association (CTA) Account Manager has been quite an achievement, especially when you look back historically at how few of us there have been in the role since 1951. It’s humbling to be a part of such a distinguished group of individuals. Also, as the spokesperson on behalf of California Casualty for the California School Recognition Program, it has been such a privilege to work with the Department of Education and CTA in that unique capacity. The opportunity to represent this wonderful company and speak in front of thousands of educators throughout the state was just amazing!
Additionally, our partnership with United MileagePlus has been rewarding, and having the opportunity to act as the National Manager for that group for the last few years was a true learning experience.”
Looking back on her career and all of her achievements she says what she will miss most is the friendships she has made, both inside and outside of the company. She says, “I have been so fortunate to have gotten to know so many truly talented, generous, and kind individuals and it saddens me sometimes that I won’t get to see them as often. Still, they all leave me with some beautiful and fun memories…and thank goodness for Facebook.”
And her colleagues will certainly miss her! Lisa’s friends Brian Goodman, AVP-Partner Relations, Debbie Harris, Vice President Field Relations, and her direct report Inez Morales, Senior Field Marketing Manager, had a few parting words they wanted to say to, and on behalf of, Lisa.
“I’ve worked with Lisa for all 27 of my years here at California Casualty. I met her after just a couple of weeks on the job at a Group Marketing (now Partner Relations) department meeting in San Ramon, CA. That was December 1995. As a 30-year-old newbie just getting started with my California Casualty Field Marketing career, it didn’t take long before I knew this was the Field Territory Manager that I should emulate. Thank goodness I was smart enough to realize that right at the beginning! Eventually, Lisa became my boss. She offered me wise guidance countless times in my career, sometimes without even knowing it. Now, many years later, I consider Lisa a friend. I wish Lisa a sincere congratulations on her esteemed career and the new journey that is ahead. -Brian”
“Over her 29-year career, Lisa has established numerous successful partnerships and life-long friendships with group partners and CalCas employees from coast to coast. Wherever we go, she runs into someone who knows her and feels compelled to give her a hug. Lisa’s caring nature, professionalism, work ethic, and humor is alluring, as well as inspiring. I feel honored to have had the chance to work with Lisa for the past two decades and wish her the best in her retirement. -Debbie”
“I met Lisa 14 years ago at the Colorado Service Center during my new employee orientation. I remember it well because I had the worst altitude sickness ever. Lisa immediately asked, are you okay? Her voice was soft and comforting and instantly made me feel at ease. This is what makes Lisa so special. Her grace, words of encouragement, and guidance kept us sane while chasing goals. Lisa, you are a true professional who shows by example that excellence is something to aim for daily. It has been an honor and pleasure working with you. Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement! You will be truly missed!!! –Inez”
In retirement, Lisa plans to spend her days with her family and traveling. Only this time around, traveling for fun! She also plans to increase her ministry and attempt to get back into some of the activities (art, golf, gardening, etc.) that were pushed by the wayside due to all the travel that her positions have required over these many years.
Her parting advice to those also looking to have a long-lasting, successful career is to “Work hard. Play nice. Be grateful.”
Thank you for 29 great years, Lisa. We will all miss you and wish you the best. You’ll always be a part of the CalCas family!
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
