by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info |
Spring brings warmer weather, plenty of sunshine, and new blooms. But it also brings its share of storms, road glare, and other driving hazards. Here’s how you can stay safe when driving this spring.
Tip #1: Drive slowly and use caution in the rain.
Roads are most slippery when it starts to rain. This is due to rainwater mixing with the oil and grease on the road. But whether the rain has just begun or it’s been coming down for a while, it still makes roads slick.
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- Keep your headlights on so that you are more easily seen.
- Slow down and increase your following distance from other cars. Remember that any amount of water could cause you to skid or hydroplane.
- Make sure your tires have enough tread and your wiper blades are in good condition.
- Avoid using cruise control in the rain.
- Avoid driving through water, which can damage your vehicle. If there’s too large a puddle, consider an alternate route.
Tip #2: Avoid potholes and puddles that could be covering potholes.
Freezing, thawing, and road salt in winter can help to create potholes. That’s why you may notice more of them in the spring. If you hit a pothole at too high a speed, or if it’s too deep, there could be problems. Potholes can lead to punctured tires, bent rims, suspension damage, poor alignment, or other expensive repairs.
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- You may or may not see potholes coming. It’s even harder when they’re covered by puddles. Slow down and drive around both potholes and puddles.
- Keep a safe distance when following another vehicle.
- Keep both hands on the wheel to avoid losing control if you do strike a pothole.
- If you encounter a pothole that is especially large or deep, try to find another route.
Tip #3: Be prepared for sun glare.
Spring is known for its bright sunshine that can temporarily blind you when you’re driving. The hours following dawn and preceding sunset are typically the times when the sun is the brightest.
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- Position the sun visor in your car to block the light.
- Sometimes moving the visors don’t do it. Sunglasses help reduce the sun’s intensity. Keep a pair handy in your car. Wearing a hat or sun visor can help too.
- Slow down. Give yourself plenty of distance behind the car in front.
- Keep your windshield clean. Dust, dirt, and pollen can make the glare worse.
- Pull over if you can’t see.
Tip #4: Share the road with construction, bikes, pedestrians, and kids playing.
Spring weather brings everyone out. That includes construction crews, bicyclists, pedestrians, and of course, children playing. Awareness is the first step.
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- Drive slowly in residential areas. If a ball goes bouncing into the street, chances are there will be a child chasing it.
- Stop and give the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks. Never pass vehicles that are stopped at crosswalks.
- Slow down and follow signs for new traffic patterns in construction zones. Solid lines in construction zones mean “stay in your lane.”
- Learn biking hand signals, and look for bicycles before you make turns. Allow plenty of space when passing bicyclists.
Tip #5: Be on the lookout for deer at dawn and dusk.
Deer migrate during the spring and sometimes venture too close to roads. A collision with a deer is not only fatal for them; it’s costly in terms of vehicle repairs.
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- Be especially careful during dawn and dusk when deer activity is at its highest.
- Look out for deer crossing signs. These are posted at locations where deer sightings are common.
- Use high beams at night as long as facing traffic isn’t coming.
- If a collision seems inevitable, do not swerve into the other lane. You could hit a vehicle and cause an accident that’s worse.
- Brake firmly, and try to graze the deer rather than hit it. Ease up on the brake just before you connect with the deer. It will cause your vehicle to lift a bit, which might keep the animal from hitting your windshield.
Tip #6: Know how spring allergies can affect your driving.
Spring is a time for allergies. Driving with sneezing, runny eyes and nose, and congestion can be a big distraction. But allergy medications that cause drowsiness could do greater harm.
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- Read the warning label on your allergy medication. If it warns against driving or operating heavy machinery, don’t do it.
- Replace your car’s air filters to ensure they are filtering pollen, mold, and other allergens.
- Consider washable car mats instead of cloth ones so you can clean them. Give your car a spring cleaning.
- Roll up your windows and turn your air conditioner to the recirculation setting. This minimizes the amount of fresh air coming in.
Tip 7: Make sure your vehicle is in good working order.
Keeping your vehicle in top condition will help you navigate the challenges of spring driving more easily. Follow a schedule for regular maintenance.
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- Check your vehicle’s headlights, turn signals, and tail lights to make sure they are working. Make sure your headlights are aligned.
- Check your car’s wipers and replace the blades if they are showing signs of wear.
- Check your car’s air conditioning system to make sure it’s working.
- Make sure your tires have enough tread and are inflated. As temperatures rise and fall, your car tires may expand and contract. This causes loss of air pressure. You will want your tires to be inflated to manufacturer specifications. Check your owner’s manual.
- Finally, make sure you have the proper car insurance. Coverage will give you peace of mind should anything happen.
Now go enjoy the warmer weather. 😊
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.
by California Casualty | Safety |
The power’s out and your phone is dangerously low. What can you do to keep its charge for as long as possible, and how can you possibly recharge it when there’s no electricity? Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and we’ve researched the top ways to do so.
After all, your smartphone is more than just a fun accessory and helpful convenience. It can give you access to local emergency updates and severe weather alerts. It also is your primary way to communicate with family and friends during an emergency.
Follow these tips to keep your phone charged during a power outage.
#1. Plug into your laptop.
Your laptop has USB ports that can charge cell phones. If your laptop is fully charged, you can power a phone for hours. Turn on the laptop but don’t unlock your screen. Plug your phone into the laptop USB port. (Note that if you have an iPhone, you may need a USB-C to USB adapter to match the port.)
#2. Use a portable charger or power bank.
You may have one on hand, or if not, you can pick one up. Most drug store chains sell them in addition to electronics stores. The portable chargers and power banks do need to be charged to work but they hold their charge for months, so you can charge one and put it in your emergency kit. Solar chargers are popular options; the advantage is that they can charge with the sun. But they vary widely in power capability so do your research.
#3. Plug into your car.
Most newer vehicles have USB ports where you can plug your phone. If not, you can buy an inexpensive USB car adapter that plugs right into your car’s dashboard in the space commonly known as the cigarette lighter. Simply turn on your car, and plug in your phone. This works even if you’re out of gas.
#4. Use an inverter.
Another way to charge from your car is to use a power inverter. This tool converts the 12-volt direct current in your car’s battery to the 120-volt alternating current for your phone. It’s a process similar to jump-starting your car. Do this outdoors and not in the garage to avoid carbon monoxide fumes. You connect the inverter to your car’s battery using alligator clamps, with the positive red cable on the positive battery terminal and the negative black cable on the negative battery terminal. Then plug your phone into the AC plug on the inverter, and start your car. You’ll be drawing power directly from the battery, so you’ll need to run your car afterward to recharge your battery.
#5. Use your car battery jump pack.
If you have a car battery jump pack – considered one of the must-carry items for your car — you may have a way to charge your phone. These jump packs usually come with USB charging ports.
#6. Try a crank-powered phone charger.
Crank-powered chargers are mechanical devices that harness your own physical power. You turn a handle, which spins a magnet, creating a magnetic field. It takes a lot of effort to generate enough to power your phone, but it’s a low-cost alternative that can be very effective.
#7. Use a Biolite CampStove.
A Biolite CampStove is a portable wood stove that actually generates electricity. If you have this camping appliance, you can cook your meals and charge your phone.
#8. Go to a place that has power.
If it’s not a region-wide power outage, you can drive to a place that has power, such as a coffee shop, restaurant, or store where you can plug in your phone. If your office or your school has power, try those places.
#9. Conserve your phone’s battery.
You don’t know how long the power will be out. That’s why the first step is to ensure your phone isn’t using any more battery than necessary. Here are some ways to do that.
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- Dim the brightness of your screen. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Display & Brightness. Drag the slider to dim it. On an Android, swipe down from the top to see the Notification Shade. Depending on your phone, you may have to swipe twice. Tap and hold the brightness slider and drag it to the right level.
- Put your phone into Low Battery Mode. On an iPhone, go to Settings, scroll down to Battery, and select Low Battery Mode. On an Android, swipe down from the top menu for the Power Saving icon.
- Shut down any applications running in the background. On an iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, pausing in the middle. Then, swipe right or left to find the app you want to close. Swipe up on the app to close it. On an Android, go to Settings, then Apps. Choose the app that you’d like to stop and then tap Force Stop.
- Turn off your phone’s WiFi location services and Bluetooth. On an iPhone, you’ll find that at Settings and Wi-Fi, and at Settings and Bluetooth. On an Android, swipe down from the top, and look for the Wi-Fi icon below the date. Select it and then tap the toggle switch to turn it off. For Bluetooth, go to Settings, then Apps. Find Bluetooth and tap the toggle switch to off.
- Put your phone into Airplane mode, which may disable WiFi and Bluetooth. This will prevent you from calling or texting, and also receiving calls and texts, so you will need to take it off for communication. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Airplane mode, and enable it. On an Android, swipe down from the top of the screen two times to open Quick Settings. Look for Airplane mode and tap the toggle switch. (Pro tip: Phones being charged while they are in Airplane mode tend to charge faster.)
- Don’t use your phone to play music, podcasts, or games to pass the time. This will only drain your battery.
- If you won’t be using your phone for hours, shut it off to conserve the battery in the long run.
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.
by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info |
You’ve done it a hundred times – sitting in a cold car, watching your breath while you’re waiting for the engine to warm up. It’s a necessary part of winter driving, right? Experts would disagree.
It used to be that cars needed to be warmed up before you could drive them in cold temperatures. But that’s no longer the case with today’s vehicles. Whether you’re an experienced or a new driver, here’s what you need to know.
Why today’s cars don’t need a lot of warm-up time
A car’s engine works by igniting a mixture of gasoline and air. That used to be the job of the carburetor. But carburetors didn’t work well in cold temperatures because they couldn’t get the right mix with denser cold air. If you didn’t warm them up, you ran the risk of stalling your car. Starting in the 1980s, manufacturers stopped using carburetors in favor of new technology.
Today’s vehicles use electronic fuel injectors that can detect cold weather and release extra gasoline for the right fuel-air mix.
Warming up your car is a waste of time, gas, and money.
It’s a given that you could be using your time more productively than waiting for your car to warm up. As you idle, you’re burning gas, which is essentially wasting money, too. You’re also increasing wear and tear on your car’s engine. Plus, you’re adding pollution to the air. According to a 2009 study, idling your car contributes to 1.6% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. That’s nearly double the entire iron and steel manufacturing industry. States have begun to take notice and issued anti-idling fines beyond 3 minutes.
A one-minute warm-up
With your car’s onboard computer and fuel injection system, it takes just about one minute for your car to warm up. That’s regardless of the outside temperature. That doesn’t mean that the inside of your car will be warm, or that the windows will be defrosted, but it does mean that the oil has traveled from the bottom of your engine to the top.
7 Steps to quickly heat up your car
Follow these steps to quickly heat up your car this winter.
1. Turn on your ignition without starting the engine. After about 5 seconds, you should hear the fuel pump priming the engine. Then start the car.
2. Don’t turn on the heat right away. The air being pumped out from the heater core will still be cold. That air will keep the engine from getting hot quickly.
3. Also make sure you are not running the radio, your seat warmers or defroster initially as these put a strain on the electric system.
4. Idle your vehicle for about 30 seconds (or a minute if your car is older). You can go a little longer if your car is covered in snow or ice. This will allow your vehicle to produce warm air.
5. You do want to give yourself time to warm up that has nothing to do with the engine. It’s all about your visibility and your comfort. You want to be able to see while you are driving and you want to be comfortable enough so you can concentrate on the road. Turn on the defroster to help clear the windows. Wait until you can drive safely; don’t try to drive with a small portion of cleared window.
6. Cars will warm up faster if you are driving than if you are idling. Normal driving for 5-10 minutes should do the trick.
7. Once you’re driving, point the warm air at your chest. That will warm you as quickly as possible. Then point the heat at your feet. As heat rises, the whole car will stay warm.
Tips for the extreme cold
In some places in the U.S., such as the upper Midwest, temperatures can dip well below zero and stay there. Consider these additional steps to help your car weather the cold.
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- Once regular oil gets below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, it becomes thick. Use synthetic oil which holds its consistency.
- Battery heating pads and thermal wraps can keep your battery warm. A cold battery trying to hold a charge in frigid temperatures can harm your alternator.
- Oil heaters for the dipstick or magnetic heaters for the oil pan can help. There also are coolant heaters for antifreeze.
- Engine block heaters attach to your car and plug into an electric outlet. You can install a permanent heater, too.
Protect your car with auto insurance for peace of mind this winter and all year round.
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.
by California Casualty | Nurses |
Long shifts, overnights, and demanding workloads are all a part of being a nurse. But no matter if you’re a 10-year veteran or just starting out, it’s never easy to miss the holidays because you have a shift.
Whether it’s a Thanksgiving or Christmas with the family, a romantic New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s dinner with your significant other, or a fun Memorial or Labor Day weekend away with your friends; missing out on celebrations is just another part of working in a career dedicated to service.
But you don’t always have to miss out on the fun. You do have some control over when you work and you can also find creative ways to celebrate! Here’s what you need to know when the next holiday rolls around.
The schedule gets decided early. Make adjustments in advance.
Holidays are often divided up early in the year. Sometimes hospitals or nursing facilities follow seniority when assigning holidays. Other times, they are divided evenly among the staff. You can volunteer to work holidays that aren’t as important to you to get off for others that are. Talk to your co-workers. Put in any requests for switches early on. You’ll have the best chance of a schedule adjustment if you make it weeks or months in advance of that 12-hour shift.
Prepare your family for your holiday work schedule.
You will likely hear loved ones complain that you are missing important family gatherings. Help your family understand how important your job is, and plan an alternative celebration. For example, you may not be able to join the family for Thanksgiving dinner but you could make it for a pre-Thanksgiving Wednesday night gathering or Black Friday shopping. Be part of the celebration any way you can. Ask them to save you some leftovers so you can enjoy that famous green bean casserole after the fact.
Restructure your holiday routine to minimize commitments.
Don’t offer to host the annual family holiday gathering or RSVP to many parties. Know that you have to work during the holidays and your free time is valuable. Scheduling too many commitments can easily cause you to burn out. Practice self-care during the holiday season. Do your best to reduce and relieve stress so that you will be there for your patients, your family, and most importantly, yourself.
Some holidays are busier than others at work. Prepare accordingly.
If you are an emergency nurse working a holiday like the 4th of July, prepare for an active night. Celebrations that include fireworks and sparklers could lead to injury. Also in July, you might experience the July effect, the time when new residents begin treating patients. As a nurse, you will want to support them to ensure there are no mistakes.
Expect senior leadership coverage to be lighter.
Most senior leaders will be at home, celebrating with their families on holidays. But they will be accessible. Make sure that you know how to reach them if there is a need.
It pays to work on holidays.
Many employers offer overtime or double time to work a holiday shift. Some also provide a free holiday meal. Enjoy those holiday perks and save that extra pay for something fun. You deserve it!
Technology can keep you connected.
If there is anything we learned from 2020, it’s how to celebrate holidays virtually. You can check in on your family celebrations while on your break via video chat or by sending photos back and forth.
Remember that you’re not the only one working the holiday.
Up to a quarter of all Americans work at least one holiday in the winter, according to the Daily Nurse. This includes your coworkers as well as restaurant staff, retail workers, police officers, and firefighters.
Your patients are also missing the celebration.
You can spread cheer with some holiday-themed scrubs and a conversation about your patients’ holiday traditions. Encourage families to bring in holiday decorations for their loved one’s room. If you have the time, help patients to video chat with their loved ones. It will make everyone feel great!
Just because you are working over the holidays doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate with your work-family. You have an automatic guestlist for any holiday gathering at work. Plan a pot luck dinner where everyone brings a favorite from their family’s Thanksgiving celebration. Arrange a Secret Santa gift exchange with your co-workers. Toast to a New Year together and share your resolutions. Deck out in red, white, and blue for the 4th of July. Decorate the nurses’ station, etc.
If you start to get down about missing another holiday – remember your “why.” “When a person decides to become a nurse, they make the most important decision of their lives. They choose to dedicate themselves to the care of others.” – Margaret Harvey
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.
by California Casualty | Auto Insurance Info |
You let them get their license, and you’ve handed over the keys. But are they truly ready?
Sure, you set rules for when they drive, where they go, and who rides with them. You also taught them the dangers of distracted driving. But, have you taught them about the 3,000lb piece of machinery that they are now handling?
Driving responsibility doesn’t stop with passing the driver’s test, turning down the radio, adjusting the mirrors, and using the turn signals. Before they get behind the wheel, young drivers should know basic vehicle care, maintenance, and warning signs.
Wiper blades and washer fluids – if they can’t see where they are going, how will they get there safely? Get your young driver in the habit of checking their wiper blades and washer fluid levels. There are super easy fixes to help correct wiper blade problems. And be sure they also know how to refill washer fluid (where it goes and what product to use).
Lights – it’s important to always have clean headlights and working rear lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights. These are the ways other drivers know what actions to expect from your teen’s vehicle. Show your teen how to check them regularly. Remind them of the importance of properly functioning lights. Teach them how to change them or how they can contact the dealership to have them changed by a technician.
Tire pressure, tread, and rotation – show your teen driver where the PSI rate is listed on the sticker of the driver’s door jam. Teach them how to check their tire pressure. Show them how to fill their tires with air or reach out to the dealership if they need more nitrogen. Be sure to explain that tire pressure can change with cooler and warmer weather, so it’s smarter to check more often. Show them, the quarter test, not the penny test to check tire tread. Explain the importance of tire rotations to help tires wear evenly. Share with them the notion that rotating and balancing tires should be done on a routine schedule that makes the most of their tire investment.
Check fluids and change the oil – have your young driver get in the habit of checking their oil levels, brake fluid, antifreeze, and transmission fluid. Explain what products go where and how to maintain the right levels as needed. Teach them how to change their oil, or how often to schedule an oil change on a regular basis.
A car battery can fail at any time, but there are usually warning signs. If new drivers know how they function and what the signs are for replacement, then they can be more proactive when a new battery is needed. A completely dead battery is a safety issue if they are stranded.
Knowing the dashboard warning lights can make a world of a difference for the safety of your young driver and their passengers. There are 15 common warning lights on your dashboard that hold significant meaning. Have your new driver review them with you!
And in case of a roadside emergency, give your teen a list of contacts to call, do a run-through of how to change a tire, gift them an emergency roadside kit.
It’s a lot to digest, but the responsibility of becoming a driver is worth the time invested in sharing the knowledge above. It’s another layer of protection to keeping your driver safe.
Want more tips for teaching your young driver the rules on and off of the road? Click here for more teen driver safety tips and here for the driving experiences your teen needs.
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.
