As the weather gets cooler, there is nothing cozier than curling up next to the fireplace with a cup of hot up of coffee and a good book.
Millions of people in the United States have fireplaces that they primarily use during the fall and winter to create a comfortable environment and to warm their homes. However, without the proper maintenance, a fireplace can turn from cozy to deadly in a matter of seconds.
On average over 22,000 chimney fires occur in the United States every year. That estimates to about 125 million dollars in damage to homes. Chimney fires are can be caused by stray sparks and high temperatures, however, most are caused dirty, unkept chimneys.
To prevent a chimney house-fire from happening follow these Chimney Safety Tips:
Get your chimney cleaned yearly
Cut and trim all overhanging branches
Install a screencap on top of chimney
Monitor the flue temperature
Keep the fire screen closed
Let ashes cool down
Dispose of ashes far away from house
Never burn trash or debris
Only burn dry hardwood
Keep firewood at least 30 ft. away
Never leave chimney unattended
It is also important to make sure your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarms have batteries and are working properly. 2/3rds of fire deaths occur in homes with missing or non-functioning smoke alarms.
Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in every bedroom near doorways, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of your home near cooking devices and fireplaces.
Be safe this season, follow our chimney safety tips, and remember to have your chimney professionally cleaned and maintained before it’s first use to avoid a house fire.
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.
Protecting infants while riding in a car isn’t just a responsibility, it’s the law. Every state in the nation requires children less than three years of age to be secured in car seats, and most require booster seats and other appropriate devices even after a child outgrows their car seat.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children in the United States, but having your child strapped in a car seat can save their life. Properly installed seats reduce the risk of injury in a crash 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. There are numerous articles highlighting how properly restrained children have survived a terrible crash.
That means every day, parents, grandparents and other caregivers are accidently risking the safety of their most precious cargo.
Tips on Which Type of Car Seat to Use:
Never buy a used car seat or booster seat, always purchase a new one.
All car seats and boosters should only be installed in the back seat
Infants should always ride in rear-facing car seats as long as possible
Use a forward-facing safety seat when your child outgrows the rear-facing one, and use it until they are at least seven years old, or they get too big for a car seat
Children should continue to ride in a booster seat until 12 years of age, or until they are big enough to fit properly into a seat belt
Always do so in the back seat, using the center most position
Make sure to use the correct seat for your child’s age and size
Keep infants in rear facing seats
Secure the seat so it moves no more than one inch from side to side
Anyone who is just not sure if they have the proper car seat, or if it’s installed correctly, can find a list of child passenger safety technicians and car seat safety check events in their area at the Safe Kids website.
And if you need help finding a car seat that will work best with your children, here are some resources to find the device to fit your needs:
As colder weather approaches, there’s one last important piece of advice about car safety seats. Buckle in children without heavy jackets on, to make sure they are in securely. If you worry your child will be cold, put the coat or a blanket over them after they have been fastened-in.
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.
Our pets are precious members of the family. We take them on adventures and shower them with treats and love. However, when it comes to disaster situations, our fur babies are often an after-thought, and sadly, many suffer and are left behind when a natural disaster hits.
September is National Preparedness Month. Each year we are reminded to prepare ourselves for emergency disasters in our home and communities. So, while you get your emergency plans in place, don’t forget to include your animals!
Take these actions and precautions before a calamity strikes to put your mind at ease and save your pet’s life.
Have an evacuation plan that includes your pet and it’s necessities. Include food, leash, medications, a blanket (with your scent), water, and copies of vet records and vaccinations.
Bring your pet inside. If you need to evacuate, have a crate or duffel on hand that you can easily transport them in.
Place a rescue alert sticker on home door or window. This should be visible to rescuers, in case you are unable to get home. Available online, at pet stores, veterinarians, or from theASPCA.
Microchip your pets and update collar tags. Make sure the microchip is registeredand up-to-date with your current information.
Keep in mind many evacuation shelters do not take pets. Research pet-friendly hotels, shelters, and family/friends who will take in you and your pet in a disaster.
Carry recent pictures of your pet. In case you get separated, keep a good photo of them sitting and standing for size/coat reference.
Having a disaster preparation plan in place for your pets will play a key role in saving their life in the event of an emergency. If you need help putting a plan in place, contact BringFido’s Canine Concierge. They will contact hotels and shelters across the nation to help you find somewhere for your pet. Plus, they will even give you advice on disaster preparation for pets!
Remember, pets can sense anxiety and become nervous, especially during high stress times like emergencies. It is important to give them TLC and let them know they will be ok.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. In the event of a disaster know you and your pet are taken care of by adding Pet Insurance by Pets Best to your existing California Casualty policy and save up to 90% on all emergency vet bills. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
It’s officially the best time of the year. Football season!
Everyone knows that football is not the same without watch parties and tailgates! You’ve got the cold drinks, the savory BBQ, and the big screen ready for friends and family to come over and watch your favorite teams all season long. However, there could be one thing missing. Homeowners or renters insurance.
Let’s face it, accidents happen. Especially when you have a rowdy crowd on your hands and your team is deep in the 4th quarter. Homeowners and renters insurance protects you if one of your guests stumbles into your flat screen and it falls to the floor. Or, if someone trips and crashes through that glass table in the living room. With the proper coverage, you won’t be penalized.
If something in your home gets broken or stolen while you have people over, yourpolicy will cover it. But, if you have high-value items that could get damaged or go missing like jewelry, antiques, collectibles, or furs, you will need to add extra coverage – scheduled personal property.Accidents are inevitable, but the best way to avoid losing or having to replace your collectibles is to put them in a safe place, away from the crowd when you are hosting events. Think locked room or basement.
What if Someone Gets Hurt in My House?
Any time you are a host, especially for a high energy crowd, there’s the risk that someone may accidentally get injured. Whether it’s from a touchdown dance celebration or tripping on a rug, homeowners and renters insurance with personal liability coverage will cover it.
If you are serving alcohol, be aware, the Insurance Information Institute (III) warns that hosts can be liable if others are hurt by anyone driving from your party while intoxicated. It’s called the social host liability law. Personal liability coverage will also help in this situation by covering payments of medical bills and lawsuits from someone who was hurt on or off (leaving) your property. There are limits, so you talk to your insurance advisor about an umbrella policy, which will provide much greater coverage.
What Else Can I Do?
Here are some important hosting safety tips you can use during football season:
Talk with your insurance advisor about any policy exclusions or limitations before you throw a party
Install proper lighting inside and outside of your home
Remove valuable items and objects that could cause tripping or falling
Consider holding your getting together at a restaurant or bar instead
Have someone sober in charge of monitoring guests
Encourage the use of Uber and designated drivers
Lock up pets in a separate location or outside
Make guests who’ve had too much to drink turn over their keys
Make sure you’re on the winning team if you are hosting a football party. Contact a California Casualty advisor today to make sure your homeowners or renters insurance will protect you in a liability blitz. Call 1.866.704.8614 or visit www.calcas.com.
When an emergency or natural disaster strikes, it’s important to have an emergency preparedness kit stocked and ready to go with basic items that meet your family’s particular needs. Building an emergency kit is quick and easy. Plus, it could save your life.
It is recommended that you pack enough items to last you (and each member of your family) at least 72 hours. Start with a sturdy backpack or duffel bag that can hold days worth of supplies. Be sure to put non-waterproof items going into your kit in air-tight plastic bags before putting them in your backpack or duffel. Below is a complete list of basic items that should be in your emergency kit and additional items that you could add based on your families needs.
Basic Items for Your Emergency Kit:
Non-Perishable Food Items
Toilet Paper
Bottled Water
First Aid Kit
Personal Medications.
Flashlight
Cash & Credit Cards
Multi-Tool with a Can Opener
Wrench or Pliers Kit (to turn off gas/water lines)
Pet Food & Supplies (food, litter, collars/leashes)
Baby Supplies (formula, diapers, rash cream).
Non-Prescription Medication
Liquid Bleach (to disinfect water and/or cuts).
Paper/Plastic Cutlery
Books & Board Games
Rain Gear (umbrellas, ponchos, jackets)
Work Gloves.
Extra Set of Glasses
Extra Shoes
Scissors
Maps.
Once you have your emergency kit assembled, put it in a secure, easy to reach spot inside your home. Be sure other members of your household are aware of the location of the safety kit. You should check your kit every 6 months to make sure all of your items are up-to-date and not expired.
This article is furnished by California Casualty. Get a quote by calling 1.800.800.9410 or visit www.calcas.com.
Disaster can strike at ANY time during ANY season. So, each year we are here to remind you to prepare for disaster situations in your home and communities.
BE PREPARED: Before an emergency or natural disaster strikes, here are 10 things you can do:
Have a safe location planned for shelter if your town is evacuated.
Plan for your pets and know where they will stay if you are evacuated. Hereare some pet-friendly hotels.
Have aplan where you and family members will meet and how you will communicate if you become separated.
Create an emergency kit, that meets your family’s particular needs.
Complete a homeinventory and document all of your belongings (clothing, mattresses, bedding, kitchen appliances, furniture, electronics, etc.).
Back up important phone contacts and photos physically or on The Cloud.
Check your insurance coverage with an advisor, to make sure you’re adequately covered or add protection (ex. Home, Renters, Auto, Flood, Earthquake, Floater, and Umbrella).
BE READY: If you need to evacuate:
To find local shelters download the FEMA app, text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 (ex. SHELTER 12345), or visit the American Red Cross’ website.
Contact California Casualtyas soon as possible and save all receipts for living expenses, such as hotels, meals and other essentials.
Monitor local media about conditions, further evacuations, or when it might be safe to return home.
BE SAFE: When you return home, there are many potential dangers, such as:
Though it is National Preparedness Month, it is important to remain prepared every month of the year. An emergency or natural disaster can strike at any time or place; and if it does, please remember, you are not alone. California Casualty is there when you need us most, to help make sure you and your family are covered.
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.
