by California Casualty | Safety |
Fall is a great time of year to get on a bicycle for a weekend ride or even to commute to work. The weather moderates in most parts of the country and it feels good to pedal a few miles. You’ll feel like a kid again as you cruise through neighborhoods and paths.
However, as a bicyclist, I find riding for fun or commuting to work is getting a lot more nerve-wracking.
One reason is that so many of us treat the morning drive more like a car race than a pleasant drive to work. Many of those drivers are distracted and some are out-right hostile towards a person on a bicycle. I’ve had my fair share of close calls that have forced me into potholes and curbs, had things thrown at me and verbal abuse from angry drivers. I’ve also seen way too many distracted drivers either texting, toying with some form of electronic device or putting on makeup which caused them to swerve into other people’s lanes or into the bike lane – oblivious of the danger they present.
Bicyclists are very vulnerable as they circumnavigate roads and byways. In 2015, 818 were killed on US roads, an increase of 12 percent from the previous year. Government statistics show that on average, 50,000 bicyclists are injured each year.
As more people choose to ride a bike for economic or health reasons, it struck me that a little education and courtesy could go a long way to prevent auto-bike confrontations, close calls and injuries.
For Drivers
- Try your best to give cyclists room. Many states now require a three foot safety zone when drivers passing a bicyclist.
- It’s a good idea to slow down when you pass a cyclist (or pedestrian). Try to imagine that person is your grandmother in a wheelchair; you wouldn’t blow by throwing dust and debris at your grandmother, would you?
- Don’t honk your horn, please. Yes, we know we might be impeding you for a short distance, but honking the horn can be startling and cause a cyclist to veer into traffic or fall off their bikes. Keep in mind that most localities and states require bicyclists to ride in the street rather than the sidewalk.
- Put down the phone and other devices and concentrate on driving.
- Be aware of bicyclists. I know we can be hard to see, but how would you feel if you hit and injured one of us.
- Look before you open your vehicle’s door. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been grazed by a door or had to veer wildly around one as I cycled past a vehicle. Many bicyclists have been killed or injured by either colliding with an open door or by being pushed into traffic.
- Be extra careful when making turns or pulling out of parking lots. Cyclists may be moving faster than you think and can sometimes be hard to see.
For Bicyclists
- Always wear a helmet.
- Observe all traffic laws: never run a stop sign or red light, always ride on the right and never against traffic, and know bicycle turn signals.
- Always wear bright or reflective clothing and use lights when riding at dusk or dark.
- Don’t unnecessarily impede traffic or ride double or triple unless there is room.
- Try to avoid narrow streets, roads and high-speed expressways. Side streets and bike paths are much safer and much more pleasant to ride.
- Don’t engage or provoke an aggressive driver, instead, try to get a picture of video of the encounter and report it to authorities.
While the pleasant weather continues, I hope you get the chance to hop on your bike and take a ride, or even use it to commute to work. It will certainly help you understand how vulnerable being a bicyclist is, and maybe you’ll look at that two wheeled commuter in a different light.
by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info |
The flash of light and the crack of thunder can be scary and impressive, but it can also be deadly. Do you know what to do if a storm approaches?
Many of us still don’t know the danger posed by thunderstorms. The National Weather Service reports an average of 49 lightning fatalities per year, with 27 in 2015. Florida leads the nation in lightning deaths, followed by Texas. Many hundreds of others survive a strike, suffering varying debilitating injuries, some for the rest of their lives.
Lightning strikes the United States more than 25 million times a year. It is one of the most erratic and unpredictable elements of thunderstorms. Most victims aren’t struck during the most intense part of a storm; they are usually injured right before or after the main part of the storm passes. This is because a bolt can strike as far as 10 to 25 miles away from the parent thunderstorm and most people don’t seek shelter until the storm’s full fury. That’s why the lighting safety slogan goes, “When thunder roars, go indoors.” It’s recommended that you stay indoors until 30 minutes after the last thunderclap is heard.
Oh, and the myth that lightning never strikes the same place twice is false. Any tall tree, structure or tower that is isolated can be struck over and over. The Empire State Building is reportedly hit nearly 100 times a year.
It’s imperative that you and your family know what to do when a storm approaches. The National Weather Service has these important safety tips:
- No place outside is safe
- Seek immediate shelter inside a building or a vehicle (open-sided stands or vehicles like golf carts don’t offer any safety, neither do convertibles, even with the top up)
- Don’t seek shelter under trees
- Get out of and away from bodies of water immediately
- Stay away from objects that conduct electricity like metal towers, barb wire fences, power lines or windmills (these cows were killed when an electrical discharge traveled through the fence where they were lined up)
Even in your home, lightning can still be a danger. Here are safety tips for when you are indoors during a storm:
- Stay away from windows and off porches
- Don’t touch or stand near metal pipes and plumbing, don’t wash your hands, take a shower, do dishes or laundry
- Avoid using corded phones (most home lightning injuries come through charged phone lines)
- Stay away from electrical devices like TVs, washer/dryers
Lightning damage to property and homes can be costly. Make sure you 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.
by California Casualty | Educators |
Free, Quality Educational Websites
Looking for quality, free, educational websites? Here are several FREE websites some educators enjoy using. Get your browser’s bookmarking tool ready!
Brain Breaks
GoNoOdle
www.gonoodle.com
A variety of short, no-prep, desk-side physical activities.
HOPSports – Brain Breaks
https://brain-breaks.com/
Brain Breaks® are web-based 2-5 minute activity breaks designed for the individual classroom setting.
Spelling
SpellingCity
www.spellingcity.com
An award-winning, game-based learning program for vocabulary, spelling, phonics, writing, and language arts.
AAASpell
www.aaaspell.com
AAASpell features a comprehensive set of interactive spelling lessons, games, and exercises.
Reading
ReadWorks
https://www.readworks.org/
ReadWorks provides research-based units, lessons, and authentic, leveled non-fiction and literary passages directly to educators online, for free, to be shared broadly.
The ReadWorks curriculum is aligned to the Common Core State Standards and the standards of all 50 states. Most importantly, ReadWorks is faithful to the most effective research-proven instructional practices in reading comprehension.
Science/Health
KidsHealth
www.kidshealth.org
If you’re looking for information you can trust about kids and teens that’s free of “doctor speak,” you’ve come to the right place. KidsHealth is the most-visited site on the Web for information about health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.
On a typical weekday, KidsHealth gets as many as a million visits. One of the things that make KidsHealth special is that it’s really four sites in one: with sections for parents, for kids, for teens, and for educators.
Scholastic Science World
https://scienceworld.scholastic.com/
Science World connects current science news with essential biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics concepts. With dynamic digital learning features like videos, lesson plans, and games, Science World is your complete print & online science nonfiction program.
Current Events
CNN Student News
https://www.cnn.com/studentnews
CNN Student News is a ten-minute, commercial-free, daily news program designed for middle and high school classes. It is produced by the journalists at CNN. This award-winning show and its companion website are available free of charge throughout the school year.
Teacher Websites/Social Media
WIX
www.wix.com
Create a free website with Wix.com. Customize with Wix’ free website builder, no coding skills needed. Choose a design, begin customizing and be online today!
Weebly
https://education.weebly.com/
Weebly is a San Francisco, California based company that was founded in 2006 with the mission to help people put their information online quickly and easily. We now enable 3 million people to easily create personal sites and blogs or establish web presences for businesses, weddings, classrooms, churches, artistic portfolios, and more.
Edmodo
www.edmodo.com
Edmodo is an easy way to get your students connected so they can safely collaborate, get and stay organized, and access assignments, grades, and school information.
ClassJump
www.classjump.com
ClassJump.com provides teachers web sites free of charge, where multiple classes can be managed and updated using an easy to understand interface.
All Subjects
ABCya!
www.abcya.com
Online games for kids in K-5 sorted by grade level. Games incorporate areas such as math and language arts while introducing basic computer skills.
FunBrain
www.funbrain.com
FunBrain is the #1 site for online educational games for kids of all ages. (math, grammar, science, spelling, history)
Sheppard Software Online Games
https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/
Educational shareware, choose from our Prediction, subject learning, or math software.
KidsKnowIt
www.kidsknowit.com
Making education fun and free. Free educational Websites For the young, and the young at heart.
Khan Academy
www.khanacademy.org
Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. Subjects include math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more.
LearnZillion
www.learnzillion.com
See visual, conceptual explanations of the Common Core State Standards. 4000+ videos tailored for grades 2-12.
BrainPop!
www.brainpop.com
BrainPopJr!
https://jr.brainpop.com/
In classrooms, on mobile devices, and at home, BrainPOP engages students through animated movies, learning games, interactive quizzes, primary source activities, concept mapping, and more. Our award-winning resources include BrainPOP Jr. (K-3), BrainPOP,BrainPOP Español, and, for English language learners, BrainPOP ESL. They cover topics within Science, Math, Social Studies, English Language Arts, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Music, Health, Reading, and Writing. Content is carefully mapped to the Common Core, aligned to academic standards, and searchable with our online Standards Tool.
And, for educators looking for personal learning networks that offer great resources at NO Cost, check out these four recommendations from Graphite:
- The Teaching Channel, teachingchannel.org – Chock full of video resources on classroom practices as well as ways to provide feedback
- Digital Is, digitalis.nwp.org – Created by the National Writing Project to provide grassroots professional development for teachers
- KQED Education, https://blogs.kqed.org/education/ – full of resources to help teachers share best practices for teaching and learning with public media resources and New Media Storytelling on line courses
- Twitter, https://twitter.com/education_com or https://twitter.com/education – which teachers can use to tap into personal learning networks and participate in education-focused chats and find resources to further their classroom practices
California Casualty has been standing with teachers and educators for over 60 years. We understand the hard work you do and we want to be a resource you can count on. That’s why we created the $2,500 Academic Award, to help you pay for the classroom supplies and materials you need. Give your wallet a break and apply today at www.calcasacademicaward.com.
While you are at it, don’t miss the chance to have your school lounge turned into a soothing, desirable area with California Casualty’s $7,500 School Lounge Makeover® contest at www.schoolloungemakeover.com.
by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info |
Your budget may already be on life support if you are getting married. The average cost of a wedding in the United States is now over $30,000 and climbing. I cringe to think of what tying the knot will cost when my daughter finally meets the man of her dreams and there is a proposal.
The costliest weddings are in in Manhattan, where the average bill soars to over $88,000. The average where I live (Colorado) is around $32,000.
Renting the venue and paying for the reception was the biggest expense, averaging almost $15,000. The wedding ring and other jewelry came in at $5,800.
If you are planning a wedding (or a father taking a loan to pay for one), here are some ideas for reducing the stress and the expense of saying, “I do.”
- Pare down the guest list. The average cost per guest is around $200. Times that by 100 and you’ve already hit $20,000. It’s a hard task cutting the invites but it could save you thousands of dollars.
- Pick a less expensive place for the reception. Instead of a fancy downtown hotel, consider a meeting hall. Having it at a restaurant will also save tons on catering, rental and alcohol. You can really cut your costs and use a friend’s or relative’s home.
- Reduce your flower costs. Fresh flowers are beautiful, but like memories, they fade and wilt. Choose flowers that are local and in season. Even though you might have fewer flowers, most people won’t notice.
- Simplify your menu. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails cost less than a five course sit-down meal. A nice compromise is a buffet luncheon or dinner.
- Schedule your wedding in the off season or on a weekday. Weekends from June through September, when most weddings occur, will cost more. You’ll find better deals if you plan a wedding for the fall or winter months, except on Valentine’s Day.
- Create your own invitations. Instead of frilly paper and multiple ink colors, go simple to cut production, printing and mailing costs.
- Hire a DJ instead of a band. Many couples on a budget also make their own mix-tape or iPod play list.
- Let your guests help with wedding photos. Hire a photographer for the special portrait and family shots, but purchase some low end digital or disposable cameras for capturing the reception. You will be amazed at the pictures your friends and relatives will take for you.
- Get a smaller cake. Forget expensive tiered cakes with fancy frostings, order fabulous sheet cakes that can taste just as good but cost much less and are easier to serve. Some couples have opted for cupcakes, pies, or desert bars with chocolate fountains instead of the cake.
Here’s one final money savings tip: don’t mention you are taking estimates for a wedding. Many vendors charge more for weddings than other events. Instead, say you are planning a family party and you could save anywhere from 20 to 40 percent.
Tie up your insurance.
Once the rings are exchanged and the honeymoon is over, there’s another important step – getting your auto and home insurance in order. Here’s a checklist for newlyweds that can also save you money.
- Combine Your Insurance
If you have separate cars with different insurance companies, now that you are married you can find discounts by putting both vehicles on the same policy. It will also ensure that both drivers are covered no matter which car they use. Get extra savings by bundling your autos with your home or renters insurance.
- Marriage Discount
Make sure to inform your insurance company that you got married – most auto and home insurance companies offer important discounts for newlyweds. Men under the age of 25 are usually considered high risk drivers. However, once they marry they often see a big drop in insurance premiums. The lower rates can also apply to those in domestic partnerships.
- Increase Homeowner or Renters Coverage
Wedding presents are wonderful. You now have a new set of china, expensive new appliances and other things for your home. These assets need to be covered. Talk to an insurance advisor to make sure you have enough coverage to protect all the things you own and to increase your liability protection. It’s also a great time to create an inventory of your possessions to help you purchase the right insurance protection and make filing a claim much easier.
- Get Extra Protection for High Value Items
That beautiful new wedding ring and special gifts like fine art or silverware may need scheduled personal property protection, often called a “floater,” to make sure they are covered for their full value. Most homeowners and renters policies will provide limited coverage for those items. Scheduled personal property coverage will also pay to replace a ring, without a deductible, even if it was misplaced or damaged in the disposal.
by California Casualty | Firefighters |
The job of a first responder is very challenging. In an earlier article I stressed the importance of mental health. I am now turning my focus to the physical aspects we face at work. It is imperative that we stay in the best shape possible. We owe it to the community we serve and our fellow brothers and sisters.
It’s not as easy as one would think. Many firefighters have turned to CrossFit, which is good for some but not for everyone. One of the best things your department can do is provide time and equipment to stay in top physical shape. We need to be cardiovascular fit, strong, flexible and keep our minds in shape. Shift work can make it difficult to train so we must train at work.
I have never been one who loves the gym or working-out inside. With our jobs we need to find balance and learn to cross train. With this said, most of us need to hit the gym at work. Some of us work 24s and others work 48s; my dept is on a 48 hour shift. Working shifts means you have to utilize whatever workout your dept. offers. We have a gym we can go to and exercise equipment in our station. I choose to utilize our station equipment.
We have stationary bikes, elliptical machines, free weights and a nautilus weight machine. Personally I like to spin. Cardiovascular training is just as important as weight training. Some departments use cross fit, which is good but be careful jumping into this if you are out of shape. Cross Fit is something you should and can work up to. Some departments are using firefighter specific workouts. Whatever you do it should include cardio.
Cardiovascular training, in my opinion, is necessary. When you are working a structure fire you are only as strong as the weakest link on your team. We go in as a team and come out as a team. If one of the members of your team is not up to par with the others, you can only stay interior as long as the weakest link. It is detrimental to the unit if one of your members burns through a bottle of air at twice the rate of the others. You may be doing an interior attack or a search. If one member is low on air we all must exit the building. This is non-productive. It is one of the reasons cardiovascular training is so important. Of course the main reason is our heart is a muscle. If we don’t exercise it we will be at risk of a cardiac event. This could lead to what is called an incident within an incident. This incident can cause your brothers and sisters a great amount of stress, PTSD, and may even lead to a suicide in your dept.
While I push the importance of cardio, weight training is also essential. You don’t have to lift heavy weights, in fact it’s better to lift light with high reps. Going with light weights will increase your strength while elongating your muscles, which reduces the chance of injury on the job.
Core body strength and strengthening your back is imperative. With this said, you need to work your stomach and back. Next to heart attacks, back injuries are probably the number one reason firefighters and EMS personnel miss work. Cardiovascular training, weight training and core body strength can be achieved by making sure you train while on shift. If you don’t have equipment, find a workout program specific to the job. I encourage all chief officers to allow at least 1 hour of part of a day; 2 hours is optimal. You should always start and end your workout with stretching or yoga. On your days off, make your workouts fun.
You can run, bike, ski, hike, swim, paddle, climb, row or find something else to do outside. Personally I like to cross train with climbing, biking, skiing, stand up paddling and swimming. Find something that is fun in your area. It can be something different; in fact a great option is organized sports. At the very least, walk swiftly for 3 miles.
Personally, climbing is my favorite past time. I find climbing is the one sport that lets my mind rest. When I climb I can only think about the climb. This frees your mind by allowing it to focus only on the task of making it to the top. Climbing also increases strength and flexibility. I am fortunate to have the mountains and dessert as my playground. The last thing I would like to discuss is TRE therapy or meditation.
I find it difficult to meditate as my mind wanders. TRE therapy is taught in 35 countries. It stands for tension and trauma release therapy. I recently learned this and it is very easy and can be done at work or home. TRE includes a series of 7 steps. These steps end with the TRE tremor position. TRE uses the body’s innate process of controlled shaking to reduce stress and trauma, including PTSD. This revolutionary approach is doing wonders for me.
In conclusion, we are public servants. With this comes a responsibility to keep in shape. As we get older the stress of the job and life’s stressors can lead us to cope in unhealthy ways. I encourage you all to make a commitment to your community and fellow brothers and sisters. Of course we can’t control our genetic makeup, but we can make a commitment to physical and mental health. Let’s turn the tide towards less injury, death, PTSD and suicide of first responders. With a commitment we can turn the tide.
Jeff lost his right leg below the knee at the age of 50 as the result of a skiing injury. Instead of wallowing in pity, Jeff rebounded physically and mentally through physical therapy and exercise. He returned to work as firefighter/EMT a year later and is now back on the job fulltime. He strives to be the best firefighter/EMT he can be, and also to be an inspiration to others. Jeff welcomes your thoughts and comments at jeffbryan50@yahoo.com.
