As the nation begins to open its doors and more people get back on the road, it’s important — now more than ever — to make safety your number one priority. Not only following all of the traffic laws, but also making sure your vehicle is clean and free of any harmful bacteria or viruses, like coronavirus.
Routine vehicle cleaning and disinfecting will ensure the safety of you and your passengers. So, whether it’s a few trips to the grocery store, getting a much-needed haircut, or returning to the office, as we head into our “new normal,” remember to consistently clean and disinfect your vehicle to help you stay healthy and safe.
Items You’ll Need
Disposable gloves
A bucket of warm water
Soap (preferably anti-bacterial)
Microfiber cloths
Disinfectant wipes (if available)
A portable vacuum
Cleaning Your Vehicle
Before you start, make sure to suit up in gloves and a facemask, as well as clothes that can be washed as soon as you’re done.
Next, thoroughly clean the most high-touched areas. These include:
Steering wheel
Gear shift
Turn signal/wiper lever
Navigation screen
Door handles (inside and outside)
Dashboard
Heating/cooling controls and vents
Radio dials
Seats and armrests
Seatbelts and latches
Mirrors
Locking/window controls
And don’t forget other places that you or someone else has touched, such as the seat adjustment controls, grab handles and cup holders.
Just as with washing your hands, you’ll need to (gently) scrub for at least 20 seconds to break down the virus. Disinfectant wipes and other automotive cleaning solutions are your best option for surfaces. If those are not available, use warm, soapy water and dry with a microfiber cloth.
For your seats, leather or upholstery, you can use disinfectant wipes, upholstery cleaner, or a small amount of warm, soapy water. To avoid damage, make sure you aren’t using too much water or scrubbing too aggressively. After washing leather seats, apply a leather conditioner/restorer to keep them from cracking, and let dry. When using any alcohol-based disinfectants, make sure they contain at least 70 percent alcohol.
Finally, make sure to regularly shake out and vacuum your floorboards and mats. These are frequently touched, yet overlooked areas of vehicles that have the potential to carry harmful germs from the bottoms of shoes.
DO NOT USE bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or any ammonia-based cleaning products in your vehicle.
Safely Riding with Passengers
It is always a good idea to keep safety and disinfectant items in your car, especially if you are transporting others. These include:
Sanitizer (at least 70% alcohol)
Disinfectant Wipes
PPE – gloves and face coverings like masks, bandanas, or scarves.
When you are riding with others or using a rideshare service, it may be impossible to maintain the CDC recommended social distance guidelines. So, when in a car with others, consider wearing your mask and roll down or crack a window. It’s important to let fresh air in because ventilation in cars is usually poor.
If you are riding with someone who is infected but asymptomatic, coronavirus particles can build up inside the cabin, increasing your chances of contracting the virus. Cracking a window will help disperse the particles and decrease your chances of infection.
How California Casualty is Keeping Vehicles Clean
Customer safety and satisfaction is our main priority. That is why California Casualty partners with Enterprise to handle the vehicle rental needs of our customers during the claims process.
All vehicles rented from Enterprise carry the Complete Clean Pledge– to follow best practices recommended by leading health authorities to ensure your safety. In addition to vacuuming and wipe-down cleaning, between every rental, Enterprise uses a disinfectant to sanitize key areas throughout the entire vehicle. View them here.
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.
During these trying times, it’s important to know that you are not alone. You have a community of people behind you, encouraging and fighting for you.
Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals are leading the fight on the frontlines against COVID-19, stepping up heroically in the face of incredibly long hours, heartbreaking care cases, and increased personal risk. Peace officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency personnel are on the frontlines risking their own lives to keep our communities safe and in working order during this public health crisis. While teachers, school administrators, and education support professionals have completely changed their teaching strategies to accommodate students so they can stay safe at home and finish out the rest of the school year virtually.
We have never been more thankful for our everyday heroes than we are right now.
The coronavirus pandemic has turned our daily lives upside down, but when we come together as a community- as neighbors, as family, as friends -we are unstoppable. We CAN get through this and we WILL. Together we CAN.
We’d like to extend an extra special thanks to the Firefighters, Police Officers, Teachers, and Nurses who took the time to participate in our Together We CAN video. It is a privilege to hear about your daily experiences throughout the pandemic, firsthand. We appreciate your courage and dedication to helping keep us safe now, more than ever. Thank you.
This video is brought to you 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. Be sure to check out our Heroes series at https://mycalcas.com/leoheroesvideo/ or visit California Casualty’s YouTube Channel.
The Heroes Video Series was filmed and produced by Wide Awake Films. If you’re not already following California Casualty, you can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and LinkedIn. At California Casualty, our mission is to provide trusted, personalized auto and home insurance protection. exclusively for educators, law enforcement, nurses and firefighters—those who protect, strengthen and enhance the quality of life in American communities.
We are proud to insure workers on the front lines during the COVID-19 Pandemic. As a policy-holder owned company, California Casualty is committed to providing for your insurance needs, now and in the future- whatever that may bring.
If you have questions about your policy please visit our website at www.calcas.com or contact a customer care representative at 1-800-800-9410.
We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
This edition of the Employee Spotlight will feature our Learning Instructor, Rachel Waddell.
Rachel has been with us for 8 years now and is based in our Kansas City office.
Let’s get to learn Rachel!
Where are you from?
Lane, KS (you’ll definitely have to Google it)
What made you want to be a Learning Instructor California Casualty?
After almost 10 years in claims, I had become a go-to person for newer employees. In a field of never-ending “if this, then that” scenarios, claims can be challenging when you’re just starting out. Even the first few years in claims can be a challenge for some. I enjoy helping others gain knowledge to do their jobs properly, so becoming an instructor was just an ideal fit. Now I am able to continue helping others gain the confidence to do their jobs correctly and efficiently inside the classroom and out.
I was also given the opportunity to take on sales training, and I’m excited to use my expertise there as well.
What is your favorite part about your job?
Well just to name a few, I have an awesome manager who encourages growth and values continued development. I also work with a wonderful group of individuals who strive for excellence every day.
There is a lot of variety in the job I do. When I am not training a class I have several other projects that I give my time to. Keeping the learner in mind, we constantly look at ways to improve so we can provide the best learning experience for others. I also enjoy doing one-on-ones with individuals who might be struggling in some areas. This helps for employee growth which I feel is very important.
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
I enjoy spending time with my 7-year-old son, friends, and family. Also, going to family-friendly events and vacationing with some of my favorite people. I enjoy doing small home projects. Although, that’s usually after DIY YouTube videos have convinced me I can do the work myself.
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
I love to dance and used to be a member of a semi-pro hip hop dance squad.
I once played in a softball tournament in Holland, representing the USA.
I grew up in a tiny town of 250 and loved it!
If you want to learn more about Rachel or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with her on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
This edition of the Employee Spotlight will feature our Talent Aquisition Specialist, Kelly DeSousa.
Kelly has been with us for 3 years now and is based in our Colorado Springs office.
Let’s get to learn about Kelly!
Where are you from?
Originally Massachusetts, but I’ve been in Colorado for 27 years now and I’m absolutely loving it.
What made you want to work in Human Resources at California Casualty?
The people, the company and the groups we serve (police officers, firefighters, teachers, and nurses). I have a friend who works here and she would talk about how great of a company California Casualty is, and I thought I have to work there, and now here I am!
What is your favorite part about your job?
My work family, in the human resources department, is the best! I work with people that I truly care about and I know they care about me. We all work so well together and have since day one. They make work fun.
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
Anything with adventure and travel. Hiking, biking, etc.
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
I have a teacup Chihuahua “Benny” that loves to bike and hike with me.
I went skydiving last year.
A really fun fact about me is I love to travel, so much so that I did a mystery vacation where I had no idea where I was going until I got to the airport and had a blast!
If you want to learn more about Kelly or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with her on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
We have amazing employees at California Casualty. The Employee Spotlight is a new series aiming to highlight those talented individuals that make up our successful company culture and community. From human resource recruiters and learning and development trainers to claims adjusters, marketers, customer support specialists, partner relations, sales representatives, and beyond; each week, we’ll highlight a new team member, so you can get to know us better and see how our employees make us who we are as a company.
Our very first Employee Spotlight will feature our Talent Aquisition Specialist, Cal Turner.
Cal has been with us for 17 years now and is based in our Colorado Springs office.
Let’s get to learn Cal!
What made you want to work in Human Resources at California Casualty?
I wanted to work in this position because it makes such an impact on the company. Finding and selecting the right employees for all of our different positions is very challenging yet very rewarding. When you work hard with a candidate, build relationships, get them engaged in our organization and then watch them grow into their role and become a success, it is very rewarding.
What is your favorite part about your job?
I have many favorite things about my company. I am a proud employee- in staffing, you have to be. A HUGE part of your job is selling the company to candidates who have never had any contact with us what-so-ever, and you have to truly love the organization you represent. Luckily, I work for the BEST business and it is very easy for me to do.
One thing I love about my company is all the different levels of management and how there is no division within the rest of the company. Everyone from the CEO to Executives to Upper Management are all warm and approachable people. We are all on the same playing field and it becomes obvious as we get to know each other. It is great to be in a company where everyone is connected that way.
I love the people I work with and the audience we represent. All of them. These are some of the best people in the business, and I love to see all the positive attitudes and appreciative people that I interact with each and every day.
What are your favorite activities to do outside of the office?
I like to run, do yoga, watch movies and cook!
Anything else you would like the audience to know about you?
I have two awesome daughters who are also brilliant. One was passionate about becoming a lawyer and has recently passed the bar. She is now a Public Defender for the State of Colorado. She also has a heart to help those less fortunate and this has been her passion for many years.
My oldest daughter is a CPA for a respectable firm in Downtown Denver. She has grown and developed into a senior role and she is beyond successful. I am very proud of both of them. They are the best thing I have ever done in my life.
If you want to learn more about Cal or are interested in a career at California Casualty, connect with him on LinkedIn! Or visit our careers page at https://www.calcas.com/careers
