Tag: Safety Tips

Off Road Vehicle Safety Tips

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Off road vehicles yield plenty of fun and an array of dangers at the same time. Off road vehicles allow you to enjoy areas that are inaccessible by car. However, if you will be enjoying the many benefits of off road vehicles, you must be prepared to follow the basic safety precautions. Compiled is a list of off road vehicle safety tips for you to remain safe during your travels:

  • If you will be taking on a local trail in your off road vehicle, it is important that you begin by researching the local laws and regulations. You will want to make an effort to preserve the local area by following all rules and suggestions.
  • Whether you are taking a short stroll around the neighborhood or embarking on a 23-mile trail, you must always be equipped with DOT-approved motorcycle gear. This includes a helmet, eye protection, leathers, over-the-ankle boots, and gloves. Without the right gear, you leave your most important asset vulnerable to harm.
  • No matter how many times we hear it, we somehow seem to always forget – Practice makes perfect. You should find a safe place to practice your braking and turning skills. The more you practice, the safer you will be during your 23-mile journey through the trails.
  • You may want to take a defensive driving course for the extra knowledge and to perhaps land an insurance discount.
  • As tempting as it may be, refrain from driving on paved roads. Your off road vehicle was not built for the paved roads and can prove to be a dangerous combination.
  • Most importantly, always be aware of your surroundings while on the roads or trails!

Contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency in Murrieta for all of your California off road vehicle insurance needs. We can help safeguard your most enjoyable ride with a unique off road vehicle insurance policy.

10 Summer Heat Safety Tips

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Rising temperatures can be enjoyable if you are lucky enough to spend it in the pool. Chances are, you’ll have to venture away from water at some point this summer. Consider these 10 basic safety tips to beat the summer heat:

  1. During the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm, the sun’s rays are strongest. Therefore, if possible, you should stay inside with the air conditioning and avoid direct sunlight.
  2. Switch your sheets and covers to lightweight, breathable ones to avoid overheating in the middle of the night.
  3. When you venture outside, be sure to put lightweight, breathable clothing of light hues.
  4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Many of us forget the importance of drinking water every twenty minutes throughout the entire day, especially when we are busy having fun. Bring a reusable water bottle with you everywhere you go so that you can constantly be reminded of the importance of hydrating.
  5. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and carbonated or caffeine filled drinks during extreme temperatures. These ingredients will only dehydrate you.
  6. Only exercise during the early morning hours or late at night to avoid overheating in the extreme temperatures.
  7. Avoid using the oven and stove during hot days. Using these appliances will generate heat that will rise and travel throughout your entire home.
  8. Before taking your dog on a walk, be sure to feel the ground and asphalt beforehand to determine if the hot ground would burn the pads of your pup’s feet.
  9. Keep blinds and curtains closed throughout the day so that your home doesn’t warm up from the direct sunlight.
  10. Most importantly, know your body and seek immediate medical attention if you are feeling the symptoms of overheating or heat exhaustion.

Stromsoe Insurance Agency is available for all of your California insurance needs. Contact us today and allow us to provide you with the peace of mind knowing your assets are adequately protected.

How to Prepare for an Earthquake

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Living in southern California comes with the possibility of experiencing an earthquake. Keeping these earthquake safety tips in mind can help make sure that you and your family stay safe in the event of an earthquake.

  • Make sure you have an evacuation plan for your home and that everybody who lives there knows it. Also make sure that you know the evacuation route of any building that you regularly occupy, such as where you work.
  • Keep a flashlight and protective shoes next to everyone’s bed in case of an earthquake at night.
  • Bolt any tall furniture, such as bookcases or china cabinets to the walls.
  • Do not hang any heavy items, such as pictures or mirrors above couches or beds.
  • Install latches or locks on all cabinet doors. Also make sure to store any heavy items in the lowest cabinet possible.
  • Know how to shut off gas and water valves in your home and make sure you have the proper tools to do so.
  • Have an earthquake preparedness emergency kit handy with emergency supplies. Make sure everybody in your household knows where the kit is located.
  • Bolt the water heater and any gas appliances to wall studs to stop them from moving around in an earthquake.
  • Brace all overhead lighting fixtures.
  • Pick safe places in every room of your house. These should be places that are away from windows or tall furniture like bookcases or cabinets that could possibly fall
  • Practice “stop, cover, and hold on” in all the safe places. If there is no sturdy furniture around, brace yourself against an interior wall and cover your head and neck.

To find the perfect earthquake insurance for your home, contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency. As an independent insurance agency, they will do the research for you to make sure you get the best policy for all your needs.

How to Stay Safe in a Wildfire

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

With hot, dry weather fast approaching, it is important to keep fire safety in mind. Southern California is prone to wildfires, and knowing how to protect you and your property can help save you thousands of dollars and lots of potential heartache. Following these fire safety tips can help keep your home and family safe in the event of a wildfire.

To prevent wildfires:

  • Never leave a campfire unattended. Douse the ashes with water and stir them until they are cold before leaving a campsite going to bed.
  • Call 911 if you spot any fire that seems to be out of control.
  • Do not throw out cigarettes, matches, or any smoking materials from a vehicle.

If you need to evacuate:

  • Evacuate immediately if advised by authorities.
  • Know your evacuation route and make sure to have an evacuation checklist and emergency supplies ready.
  • Wear protective footwear and clothing to help protect yourself from and flying ashes.

Before you leave:

  • Remove any combustible materials from your yard, including firewood, fuel, and grills before leaving.
  • Shut off all gas supplies, such as natural gas or propane.
  • Slow fires by filling any large vessels with water, such as swimming pools, hot tubs, or garbage cans.

If you are caught in a wildfire:

  • Do not try and outrun the blaze. If near any water, such as a pond, crouch down in the water.
  • If there is no water around, find a clear area that is void of any vegetation and stay as low as possible. Cover your body with wet clothing or soil.
  • Try to avoid breathing in smoke. Breathe the air closest to the ground and breathe through a moist cloth if possible.

When it comes to insuring your home in case of a fire, make sure to contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency to get the best policy for all your needs.

Staying Safe on Graduation

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Graduation is an exciting time for both parents and children. No matter where you are graduating from, either high school or college, it is important to remember these safety tips to make sure everyone stays safe on this exciting day.

If your teen is graduating high school:

  • Have an itinerary. Make sure you know where your teen is going after graduation and what time. Get any contact information of anybody who will be with your teen.
  • No hotel rooms. If your teen wants to celebrate graduation with a party, consider having it at your own home so that your can supervise. If the party is happening at a different location, think about volunteering as a chaperone or get the contact information of any adults that will be there.
  • Know who is driving. Whether it is your teen or a friend, make sure they are not drinking and driving and that there are the proper amount of seatbelts.
  • No drinking or drugs. Make sure your teen knows the consequences of underage drinking and illegal drug use. Make sure to set your own penalties and share them with your teen if they are caught in these illegal activities.

If your child is graduating college:

  • Know who is driving. For those who are old enough to enjoy alcoholic beverages to celebrate graduation, make sure you have a designated driver. If there is not a sober driver, make sure to get a taxi so that everyone can arrive home safely.
  • Limit passengers. Limiting the number of distractions of the driver concentrate while driving and will help ensure that everyone has a seatbelt.

Stromsoe Insurance Agency would like to congratulate all graduates for their big accomplishment!

BBQ Recipe and Safety Tips

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

With summer just around the corner, it is time to pull out the grill and give it a good clean to get ready for barbecue season! Barbecuing may be one of your hobbies, but it is still a good idea to update yourself on the safety precautions that should be taken in order to keep your family fun memorable for the right reasons. The last thing you want is for someone to get sick with food poisoning, or even worse, a fire to happen. Keep these barbecue safety tips in mind when planning for your next family barbecue:

  • Having a fire extinguisher and knowing how to use it is one of the most important parts of grilling. You should also know how to cut fuel supplies in case of an accident.
  • When handling foods, it is important to remember to follow all safety precautions. Having a guest get sick with food poisoning is not going to make the RSVPs for your next BBQ flow in.
  • The smoke that is released from the grill contains harmful toxins that can cause cancer and get you sick. It is important to try and avoid those toxins whenever possible.
  • When lighting the charcoal on the barbecue, be sure to follow the instructions manual as to avoid a fire.
  • Location, location, location! Be sure to have your barbecue out of the walk way and far from children’s play, and away from combustibles such as picnic tables and wooden play sets.

Sample this amazing BBQ Steak after all the preparation of your grill! All you’ll need is a 2 pound tri-tip steak, onions, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, soy sauce, freshly chopped rosemary, Dijon mustard, salt and black pepper. This amazing BBQ recipe will surely have your guests begging for more and looking forward to your next big event!

Contact the Stromsie Insurance Total Protection Team for all of your insurance needs. The Stromsie Insurance Total Protection Team works from Murrieta, California but serves 18 states.

Weekend Trip Home Safety Tip

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Weekend trips are supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable, but all that fun can easily be ruined or overshadowed by a burst or leaking hose on your washing machine! Before you leave, don’t forget to turn off the water for your washing machine. You can avoid the inconvenience of turning off the water by upgrading your washing machine hook-ups to braided stainless steel hoses. These types of hoses won’t burst.

Other safety tips include:

  • Tell a neighbor or friend that you’ll be away and ask him or her to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
  • Put away the spare key you keep under the mailbox or in the flower garden.
  • Stop your mail and newspaper subscription. Mail and uncollected packages are a tip-off to intruders that you’re out of town.
  • Unplug your television, computer and other appliances to protect them from electric surges.
  • Update your homeowners insurance policy. Should anything happen, you’ll want to know you’re protected. 

Stromsoe Insurance Agency can help you with this! Contact us today for a quote.

Getting into the Holiday Spirit!

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle all the way!

Now if that does not get you in the Holiday spirit, maybe hanging up your Christmas lights will. It is impossible to say "Bah Humbug" when you see a row of homes all decorated with twinkling lights. However, hanging lights is not as easy as it sounds. It takes time and planning to safely get your home decorated.

Bob Vila suggest everyone who hangs up Christmas lights, indoors and outdoors, work with a partner. However, if you cannot work with someone, make sure to follow a few simple safety tips to help ensure your safety when decorating for the Holidays.

  • Gather all supplies before getting started.
  • Check power strips and lights for any frayed or nonworking equipment.
  • Replace any broken or nonworking lights and equipment.
  • Unplug lights when changing bulbs.
  • Keep both feet flat on the ground.
  • Never stand on the top rung of the ladder.
  • Never extend beyond your normal reach.
  • Watch where you step and make sure all cords are secured.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!!

For more information about your homeowners insurance options in California, contact the Stromsoe Insurance Agency.

Holiday Shopping Tips

Posted on by butlervetinsurance

Holiday shopping can be a pleasant time to buy gifts for family, friends, coworkers and neighbors who have made your life more enjoyable throughout the year. Stay safe while you hunt for those last-minute bargains with these holiday shopping safety tips.

Make a List: To get the best deals on Black Friday or whenever you tackle your holiday shopping, be prepared. Create a list of what you want to buy and stick to a budget.

Compare Prices: The Internet is the best place to compare prices before your holiday shopping. Sign up with your favorite retailers to score extra discounts and deals.

Opt for Gift Cards: Don’t know what to get your Great Aunt Martha? Skip the hassles and purchase gift cards or give a monetary gift to hard-to-buy-for recipients.

Avoid Scams: If you plan to do your Black Friday or holiday shopping online, be wary of scams. A golden rule of online shopping is if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

For more holiday shopping and safety tips in the Murrieta, California area, please 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.