Category: Safety Tips

Health Tips to Steer Clear of the Flu Virus

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) every state in the country is experiencing moderate to high levels of the flu outbreak.

This year’s flu virus seems to be targeting young and middle-aged adults. The Google Flu Trends chart estimates that nationwide over 9,000 people have tested positive (many people do not visit their doctor therefore, the reports are based solely on reported cases) for the flu already this year. Compared to the past nine years the 2013-2014 flu season has already surpassed the last nine years by 3,000 more cases.

The CDC recommends that everyone receive a flu shot, it is still early enough in the flu season for it to be beneficial. In the meantime here are a few health tips to help you from getting the flu.

  • Avoid contact with people who have the flu
  • Practice good hand washing
  • Eat a healthy diet to keep your immune system working well and take your daily vitamin
  • Get plenty of rest
  • If you start to experience flu symptoms go to the doctor and get a prescription for anti-viral medication – this will cut the duration and severity of the flu by at least half

 The flu should be taken seriously, it makes millions of people sick every year and it claims hundreds of lives every year. Get your flu shot now – it’s not too late!

For more health tips on avoiding the Flu virus contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency.

 

Safe Driving Tips for Rainy Weather

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Rain contributes to thousands of automobile accidents annually. Slick roads reduce tire traction and interfere with a driver’s visibility. Keep yourself and your passengers safe while driving in the rain with these safe driving tips.

Slow It Down: Rain mixed with dirt and debris on the road creates a perfect condition for skids. Avoid skidding on wet roads by driving at a slower pace, which increases traction.

Check Your Tires: Keep your tires properly inflated as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. This information can typically be found on the glove box door, door-post, fuel door, or vehicle door edge.

Don’t Get Distracted: Turn off any cell phones, the radio and ask that passengers sit quietly as you drive in hazardous conditions. Keep both hands on the wheel at all times.

Brake Earlier: In addition to driving slower, you should also break earlier and with less force than normal. Increasing stopping distance can eliminate many accidents.

For more information on how to drive safe in rainy weather in the Murrieta, California area, please contact your auto insurance professionals at Stromsoe Insurance Agency for safe driving tips.

Don’t Let Insuring Your Teen Driver Break the Bank

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As if you aren’t frightened when you see your teen take to the road in your vehicle for the first time, you’re in better shape than most parents experiencing it. However, that relaxed feeling certainly won’t remain once you realize how costly insuring your teen driver can be.

Of course, auto insurance doesn’t have to break the bank, even if you have more than one teen driver in the home. There are several approaches you can encourage your teen to take to lower those high insurance premiums.

Defensive Driving Course – Although not typically required to earn a license, a defensive driving course can reduce your teens chance of having an accident as well as lower your auto insurance.

Good Grades – Many companies will offer teen drivers a discount for maintaining good grades in school – A bonus for everyone!

Make & Model – If your teen is driving a sports car or flashy SUV, particularly a newer model, expect to pay extra for that. By choosing an economical car with a good safety rating, you’ll not only feel better about your teen’s safety on the road, but your insurance premium will reflect it through savings.

If you want more information about how to save money and get discounts for teen driver auto insurance, Contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency – the California insurance professionals.

Your Guide to a Fun and Safe Summer

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With summer here, there are many things you will want to keep in mind in order to keep your children safe. One of the biggest things to know is how to keep your kids safe around pools.

Keep Locks on Pool Fences

If you have a caged in patio for your pool, then you should make sure that the doors are locked. Even if you only have a fence around the outside, having a lock can help keep kids from ending up in the pool. With this, keep toys out of the pool so children do not want to chase after them.

Keep an Emergency Kit on Hand

It is also good to have an emergency kit on hand if there is an accident. Along with this, you should always have a phone by the pool so you can easily call for help.

Never Leave Children Unattended

One of the worst things you can do is leave while your child is in the water as this is one of the most common causes of drowning. You want to stay there with them in case they have any issues or are in need of helpl.

To find out more about pool safety, contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency.

Are you Taking all the Right Precautions While Off-roading?

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

If off-roading is one of your favorite leisure activities, you know the dangers involved. Prime off-road vehicles sit tall for good visibility, but also have higher centers of gravity, which make them prone to rollovers. Roads that are popular for off-roading are generally well off the beaten path, which means accidents can take a while to be discovered. Due to these known dangers, you probably put some effort into following off-roading safety tips, sticking to group ventures and going only for those paths you know your vehicle can safely handle.

You may be less prepared when it comes to off-roading insurance, though. The danger-prone hobby of off-roading may not be covered by many health and auto policies, which is why off-roading has its own specific insurance to cover accidents that may occur while you are out playing on the rocks or in the forest. Having specific off-road insurance ensures that you are covered in case of damage to either your vehicle or injury to yourself.

Find out more about off-roading insurance and insurance options for motorcross in Murietta, California by contacting Stromsoe Insurance Agency.

School’s Out for Summer! Be Sure to Keep your Kids Safe

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Summer is here and so are the kids. Keeping them safe is something easily neglected, especially when you are used to them being away at school for much of the day. Parents concerned with summertime safety can think in terms of four categories: sun safety, water safety, household safety, and traffic safety.

During all seasons, but especially during the hot summer months, keep a well-stocked first aid kit handy. Mosquitos and ticks can be carriers of serious diseases. If they are a problem in your area, be sure to remove standing water where mosquitos breed, and check the kids for ticks when they come in from outdoors. Keep your kids safe this summer with the following tips.

In the Sun:

  • Have fun without sunburn by using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more.
  • Hydrate before and regularly when playing outside.
  • Wear a hat and sunglasses.
  • Limit time spent in the direct sun between 10 and 4, and frequently check for signs of overheating.

In the Water:

  • Wear floatation devices if boating.
  • Non-swimmers should never be left alone in the water, no matter how shallow.
  • Use extra sunscreen as the water will wash off some or all of its protection.

Around the House:

  • Kids on school vacation are home all day and frequently get into things they otherwise might not think about. Make your home safe by keeping toxins out of reach and out of sight.
  • Make sure wet feet don’t mean slips and falls by providing a place to wipe them on entry.

In Traffic:

  • As always in any season, but especially with the kids outside all day, make sure you review the safety tips for kids in traffic situations: Stop, Look, and Listen. The three words that save children’s lives.

For more information about summer safety and your insurance needs in Murietta and the surrounding communities, please contact the insurance professionals at Stromsoe Insurance Agency.

Stay Safe this Summer with These Safety Tips

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

As summer draws near, it is important that you stay safe while having fun. There are a few aspects of summer safety that you should know about.

Pool Safety

If you have a pool, then you are responsible for the safety of others. It is best to have a fence or enclosure around the pool with a lock to keep children and unwanted guests out. You should also keep a first aid kit with a flotation device near the pool. However, you should be sure all toys are out of the water when it is not in use as children may want to go after the toy, which can pose a serious drowning hazard.

BBQ Safety

Nothing says summer like enjoying food off the grill. There are some aspects of grill safety you will want to keep in mind. For instance, make sure that the grill is not too close to the house or near any flammable objects. With this, make sure children are not allowed near the grill so there are no accidents. Be sure to limit alcoholic beverages while grilling as this can be dangerous.

Personal Safety

Wearing sunscreen is important during the summer. Sunburns can lead to skin cancer and are also quite painful. You may also find it helpful to dress yourself and children in UV blocking clothing. You should also make sure you are well hydrated during the summer as dehydration and heat stroke are very dangerous.

To find out more about summer safety and how to protect yourself, contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency today.

Workplace Safety Tips

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Keeping your employees safe at work is the responsibility of every employer. Although you might not be able to control every situation and possibility, you can take measures to reduce the risks and prepare for the potential dangers before any problems can occur.

Workplace safety tips start with identifying the possible dangers that your employees might face. For example, in a construction site your workers might face falls, injuries with heavy equipment or dropped objects. The best way to prepare for the possibilities is taking a moment to imagine the dangers that might occur with different equipment, items or tasks your employees must accomplish.

Getting appropriate workers compensations insurance will also add a layer of protection. The insurance will pay for medical expenses or other necessities if one of your employees is injured on the job.

The final part of making your workplace environment safe is taking the appropriate training measures and responsibilities to keep your employees as safe as possible. Give your employees proper training and make sure any risks are hedged with appropriate safety measures.

It is hard to recognize every possible problem that can arise, but it is also important. To learn more about the safety measures you can take in Fallbrook, contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency.

BBQ Season is Coming Up, Are You Staying Safe

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Now that the days are growing longer and rain is subsiding many of us will return to a favorite summer activity – outdoor cooking. Whether you fuel your grill with gas or charcoal or even electric it is important to remember the following BBQ safety tips.

Always follow the grill manufacturers instructions for BBQ safety.

Make sure your grill is not close to a combustible wall.

Set the BBQ up in a place that is open and free from blowing leaves and other debris.

Set the BBQ grill up so that it is level and away from hanging branches, deck walls or rails, siding or any other material that can catch fire.

Always have a fire extinguisher in reach just in case a flash fire from grease gets out of control. A bucket of sand is a good alternative to a fire extinguisher.

Use long handled barbeque tools with wooden handles for cooking tools.

Never wear loose fitting of flowing clothing when around a BBQ, it could blow into the grill area and catch on fire.

Children should never be unsupervised around a grill that is in use or still hot.

Follow these easy safety tips and have a wonderful BBQ season!

For more safety tips from the Stromsoe Insurance Agency click here.

Bailee Insurance, Anyone?

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Let’s face it, we live in a “service economy,” more and more businesses (such as auto body shops, dry cleaners, and parking lot owners) are taking temporary responsibility for property or equipment owned by others. Any damage or loss to any property under the care, custody, or control of your firm could cost thousands of dollars — unless you have Bailee insurance.

This Inland Marine policy covers the liability of a business (the “bailee”) for the property of customers under its care, custody, or control. Most Property policies don’t provide coverage for this type of exposure, unless it’s included specifically. You can also purchase Bailee insurance on a no-fault basis to protect customers’ property against any loss or damage and subsequent liability, regardless of negligence.

You should buy enough coverage to pay for the total value of other’s property that might be in your control at any one time. Many types of Bailee insurance are tailored to the specialized needs of a particular type of business (Jewelers Block policies, Furriers Block policies, etc.).

As an alternative to Bailee insurance, you can obtain coverage as part of a comprehensive Property policy that includes a “property of others” clause.

We’d be happy to help you evaluate your needs and find a solution to insuring property under your care, custody, and control. Just give us a call. 877-994-6787