Summer Safety Series: Pool Safety

by California Casualty | Safety | 1 comment

Brush off your barbecue grills, stock up on popsicles, and get yourself a new swimsuit because…

Summer has officially arrived!

After a winter with too many snows and a Spring with too much rain, I am ready for summer. If your neighborhood is anything like mine, then the arrival of summer means:

Pool Season!

In the excitement of summer, it’s tempting to throw on a suit and jump on in…

but wait!

For most of us, it’s been about a year since we dipped our toes in the water. Before you and your family cannonball in, make sure you review these Pool Safety Tips to be sure you enjoy your summer safely!

Did you know: A child can drown in the time it takes to answer a telephone. More than 200 young children drown in backyard swimming pools each year.

Swim Safety Basics:

1. Swim only in designated areas
2. Make sure a lifeguard or responsible adult trained in CPR and first aid is present and attentive at all times
3. A child who is drowning may not look like the ‘drowning’ we see in TV and movies. Before you swim with a child, please read this article about what drowning looks like and how to spot it. Read it by clicking here. 
4. Maintain constant eye-to-eye supervision with children in and around the swimming pool
5. Stay in arm’s reach of young kids
6. Establish and enforce clear pool safety rules (ex: No diving, Stay away from drains, no running, etc.) Post these rules where everyone using the pool can read them
7. Never leave a young child unattended in or near water
8. Do not trust a child’s life to another child
9. Teach children to ask permission before going near water
10. Issue the adult supervisor an item such as a whistle, bracelet, etc. to reinforce which adult is in charge of the safety of the children
11. Make sure young or inexperienced swimmers are wearing US Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Floaties or other inflatable flotation devices are not life jackets and should never be substituted for adult supervision.
12. Avoid distractions when supervising children around water. Remove children from the swimming pool for any distraction such as a telephone call, use of restroom, etc.
13. Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments. Here are some tips to review in case someone becomes entrapped.
14. If a child is missing, check the water first– every second counts!
15. Never permit any person to swim alone
16. Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit, within a reachable distance- not inside!
17. Know how and when to call 9-1-1
18. Keep your pool clean and clear by maintaining proper chemical levels, circulation and filtration. This way, you can clearly see what is happening in the pool and minimize risks of earaches, rashes or diseases
19. Make sure everyone in the home knows how to respond to water emergencies by having an emergency plan in place with your children
20. Protect your skin! Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and wear sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15
21. Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine
22. If it’s your pool:
    1. Have a fence enclosure that isolates your pool from the home, play areas, front and side yards and the neighbor’s yard
    2. Make sure all gates in the isolation fence are self-closing and self-latching
    3. All chairs, tables, large toys or other objects that would allow a child to climb up to reach the gate latch or enable the child to climb over the isolation fence should be removed or kept inside the fenced area
23. Keep the following items away from the water:
    1. Tricycles or riding toys
    2. Electronic devices
    3. Any and all pool toys when the pool is not in use

Resources:

• The American Red Cross
• ABC’s of Pool Safety
• Tips from the Chicago Tribune
• HealthyChildren.org
• PoolSafety.gov

Hurricane Sandy Emergency Resources and Information

by California Casualty | Safety | 0 comments

As Hurricane Sandy whirls her way ashore–teaming up with winter storm conditions and a full moon as she does so–it’s becoming more and more clear that this storm has the potential to be extremely dangerous and damaging to communities all along the East Coast. 

Late last week, we posted tips on how to prepare your family, self, and home for Hurricanes and Winter Storm conditions. To access that information–including checklists, preparation plans and pet and business info–click here.

As Sandy begins to make landfall, we want to make sure all those affected know where to get up-to-date, reliable information regarding evacuations, weather updates, and other emergency information.

Here are some emergency resources:

1. This Google Crisis Map tracks Sandy’s progress, providing forecast tracks, current locations and active emergency shelter locations. Access the map here: Google Crisis Map.
2. For the latest updates on Hurricane Sandy from the National Hurricane Center, click here.
3. For a map of the latest warnings and advisories from the National Hurricane Center, click here.
4. For state-specific information, click on YOUR state below:
   1. CT
   2. DE
   3. MA
   4. MD
   5. ME
   6. NC
   7. NH
   8. NJ
   9. NY
   10. New York City
   11. PA
   12. VA
   13. VT
5. If you lose power or Internet signal and need to access Twitter to get Emergency Information, click here for tips on how to do so with your phone. For the Huffington Post’s suggestions on the Best Storm Tracker Apps, click here. We recommend following @FEMA to stay informed.
6. It can be difficult to stay in touch with or reach family members during an emergency. The American Red Cross Safe and Well website allows you to register your current status or check on the status of your loved ones.
7. To download the Free FEMA app for disaster safety tips, emergency meeting location information and a map of open shelters, click here.

As Sandy makes her way onto land, all those affected are in our thoughts. Please be smart and safe.

Not in Sandy’s path but looking to help those who are? Click here to head to the American Red Cross Donation page.

Frankensafety

by California Casualty | Safety | 0 comments

Halloween is less than a week away… but on the East Coast, something far scarier is brewing.

As Hurricane Sandy sets her sites on our shores, meteorologists warn that the hurricane conditions could mix with a winter storm to create a hybrid superstorm.

Due to the storm’s hybrid nature, and its Halloween-timed landfall, news agencies have dubbed it…

The Frankenstorm.

but for every Frankenstorm, we of course need…

Frankensafety.

But… how exactly does one prepare for a storm that is an unprecedented mix of both winter and hurricane conditions? 

We thought you might ask.

Since reports are all over the map–with some saying the storm will be a dud and others calling it the storm of the century–we’re going with the prepare for all possibilities plan.

Frankenstorm is a two-headed beast. So below are some safety and preparation tips to tackle both hurricane safety and winter storm safety ‘head on.’

Hurricane Safety Tips:

1. Build an emergency kit. Tips for building the kit can be found here
2. Learn the elevation of your property and whether it is flood-prone
3. Study community hurricane evacuation routes
   1. Know where you would go if a hurricane hit
   2. Make a plan on how to evacuate. A downloadable Family Emergency Plan can be found here. Print it off and complete it.
   3. Practice your plan
4. Develop a plan for your pet. A great list of steps and supplies from the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) can be found here.
5. Don’t forget about your business. Hurricane preparation does not end at home. Here is a great Business Survival Plan from the National Hurricane Survival Initiative
6. Pay attention to the news. Know the guidelines of when you should evacuate and when you should stay. A good guide from the National Hurricane Survival Initiative can be found here.
7. Cover all your home’s windows.
8. Brush up on your watches and warning terms. That way, you’ll understand the risk and can better make safety and evacuation decisions. A good review from FLASH can be found here.
9. Install straps or clips to securely fasten your roof to your frame structure to reduce wind damage
10. Keep trees well-trimmed
11. Clear loose or clogged rain gutters
12. Reinforce your garage doors
13. Bring in ALL outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and similar items that are not tied down
14. If you live in a high rise, prepare to take shelter on or below the 10^th floor
15. Print out and LAMINATE (to protect from water), tips for what to do during and after a hurricane and put them with your safety kit. You can find “during and after a hurricane” tips here.
16. Check your property insurance policy for appropriate coverage. Here’s some information on California Casualty’s coverage and here’s some information on flood insurance-an important factor in Hurricane recovery.

Winter Storm Safety Tips:

1. Prepare an emergency kit. Click here for tips.
2. Add these winter-storm specific items to your existing kit:
1. Rock salt or other products to melt ice on walkways. Here’s a list of recommended products from the EPA.
2. Sand to improve traction
3. Snow shovels and snow removal equipment
4. Heating fuel in case you lose power. Be sure to store good, dry wood for your fireplace or stove
5. Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm
3. Read, print off, and laminate this Red Cross Storm Safety Checklist. Make sure you have a safety plan, and that you review it with your children
4. If it gets cold and you want to use a heater, be SURE to read these safety tips! Portable heaters cause fires!
5. Review these tips for pet safety during a winter storm
6. Minimize travel. One of the most dangerous places during a snow storm is roadways. If you can, stay inside.
7. Listen to the radio and be aware of changing weather conditions. To brush up on your winter snow storm terms, click here.

This Frankenstorm has the potential to be dangerous and deadly. Please protect yourself, your family and your home. Review your safety and preparedness plan BEFORE the storm hits.

(And in the meantime, we’ll hope it’s just like all those bad horror movies: All hype, no scare.)