June 2010
3 posts
Dental Insurance Quote
Older Drivers Involved in Fewer Auto Accidents →
Fatal auto accidents involving drivers age 70 years and older declined by about 37% from 1997 to 2008, according to a report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Texting while driving. →
Adults are guilty of the dangerous activity of texting while driving more often than teenagers……….
April 2010
3 posts
WatchFlood insurance is often overlooked. If you have any questions about flood insurance, please ask us. As of 5-31-2010, the National Flood Insurance program (NFIP) is suspended (don’t worry- if you already have it, you are ok). Congress should get around to reauthorizing it soon. Check back here regularly for the latest, or give us a call. Please visit FloodSmart.gov to see if you are in a...
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We know that you can get insurance coverage from many different places. Thanks for trusting us as your personal agent. We will work hard to maintain that trust!
ABOUT US
As your personal insurance agent, I will assist you in determining the insurance and financial services that best fit your needs. It is my mission to keep you informed and help develop the right strategies to meet those needs as they change. Whether preparing for life events or the unexpected, my knowledge and training provide my agency with the ability to make sure you get superior personalized...
March 2010
3 posts
USDA: What should I do to keep refrigerated and...
KEEP THE FREEZER DOOR CLOSED. Keep what cold air you have inside. Don’t open the door any more than necessary. You’ll be relieved to know that a full freezer will stay at freezing temperatures about 2 days; a half-full freezer about 1 day. If your freezer is not full, group packages so they form an “igloo” to protect each other. Place them to one side or on a tray so that...
USDA: Should a large pot of soup sit on the range...
USDA: Should a large pot of soup sit on the range until it cools, or should it be refrigerated hot?
Hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or it can be rapidly chilled in an ice or cold water bath before refrigerating. Cover foods to retain moisture and prevent them from picking up odors from other foods.
A large pot of food like soup or stew should be divided into small portions...
USDA: Is it safe to eat leftover food that was...
USDA: Is it safe to eat leftover food that was left out on the counter to cool at dinnertime, then forgotten until morning? Will additional cooking kill the bacteria that may have grown?
No. Bacteria exist everywhere in nature. They are in the soil, air, water, and the foods we eat. When they have nutrients (food), moisture, and favorable temperatures, they grow rapidly, increasing in numbers to...
February 2010
4 posts
USDA: How can I safely cook meat or poultry in the...
-Arrange food items evenly in a covered dish and add some liquid if needed. Cover the dish with a lid or plastic wrap; loosen or vent the lid or wrap to let steam escape. The moist heat that is created will help destroy harmful bacteria and ensure uniform cooking. Cooking bags also provide safe, even cooking.
-Do not cook large cuts of meat on high power (100%). Large cuts of meat should be...
USDA: Is Frozen Food Safe?
Food stored constantly at 0 F will always be safe. Only the quality suffers with lengthy freezer storage. Freezing keeps food safe by slowing the movement of molecules, causing microbes to enter a dormant stage. Freezing preserves food for extended periods because it prevents the growth of microorganisms that cause both food spoilage and foodborne illness.
Source: www.fsis.usda.gov
USDA: How can I safely transport perishable foods...
How can I safely transport perishable foods to a picnic site, community supper, or family gathering?
If taking food away from home—on a picnic, for example—try to plan just the right amount of perishable foods to take. That way, you won’t have to worry about the storage or safety of leftovers.
Items which don’t require refrigeration include fruits, vegetables, hard...
USDA: What is a safe internal temperature for...
Following is a chart of safe minimum internal temperatures:
-Beef, veal, and lamb steaks, roasts, and chops may be cooked to 145 F.
-All cuts of pork, 160 F.
-Ground beef, veal and lamb to 160 F.
-All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 F.
Source: www.fsis.usda.gov
January 2010
5 posts
USDA: What Can You Freeze?
You can freeze almost any food. Some exceptions are canned food or eggs in shells. However, once the food (such as a ham) is out of the can, you may freeze it.
Being able to freeze food and being pleased with the quality after defrosting are two different things. Some foods simply don’t freeze well. Examples are mayonnaise, cream sauce and lettuce. Raw meat and poultry maintain their...
WatchCar Seat Instructions - Booster with No Back.
USDA: Easy Lessons in Safe Food Handling
Did you know that in the United States each year… …76 million cases of foodborne illness occur. …more than 325,000 people are hospitalized for foodborne illness. …5,000 people will die from foodborne illness.
Food handling safety risks are more common than most people think.
Follow These Easy Steps To Help Your Family Be Food Safe.
Clean. Bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get...
USDA: Does Freezing Destroy Bacteria & Parasites?
Freezing to 0 °F inactivates any microbes — bacteria, yeasts and molds - - present in food. Once thawed, however, these microbes can again become active, multiplying under the right conditions to levels that can lead to foodborne illness. Since they will then grow at about the same rate as microorganisms on fresh food, you must handle thawed items as you would any perishable food.
...
December 2009
4 posts
USDA: Are canned goods still safe after a year?
Store canned foods and other shelf stable products in a cool, dry place. Never put them above the stove, under the sink, in a damp garage or basement, or any place exposed to high or low temperature extremes. Store high acid foods such as tomatoes and other fruit up to 18 months; low acid foods such as meat and vegetables, 2 to 5 years.
Canned meat and poultry will keep at best quality 2 to 5...
WatchCar Seat Instructions - Booster with Back.
Safe Car: Rollovers - Use Caution on Rural Roads
Rollovers are more likely to occur on rural roads and highways—particularly undivided, two-way roads or divided roads with no barriers. When a vehicle goes off a rural road, the vehicle can overturn when it strikes a ditch or embankment, or is tripped by soft soil. Nearly 75% of all rollover crashes occur in rural areas, so practice caution when driving on rural roads.
Source: www.safecar.gov
Safe Car: Rollovers - Causes
There are many causes of rollovers, however, below are 3 of the most common:
VEHICLE TYPE
All types of vehicles can rollover. However, taller, narrower vehicles such as SUVs, pickups, and vans have higher centers of gravity, and thus are more susceptible to rollover if involved in a single-vehicle crash.
SPEED
Fatal rollover crashes are speed-related more often than fatal non-rollover crashes....
November 2009
7 posts
Safe Car: Tire Maintenance
Tire Size To maintain tire safety, purchase new tires that are the same size as the vehicle’s original tires or another size recommended by the manufacturer. Look at the tire information placard, the owner’s manual, or the sidewall of the tire you are replacing to find this information. If you have any doubt about the correct size to choose, consult with the tire dealer.
Tire Rotation...
WatchCar Seat Instructions - Rear Facing Convertable.
Safe Car: Checking Tire Pressure
It is important to check your vehicle’s tire pressure at least once a month for the following reasons:
-Most tires may naturally lose air over time.
-Tires can lose air suddenly if you drive over a pothole or other object or if you strike the curb when parking.
-With radial tires, it is usually not possible to determine under inflation by visual inspection.
Purchase a tire pressure gauge...
Internet Protection - Wireless Security
Wireless Internet access can offer convenience and mobility. But there are steps you should take to protect your wireless network and the computers on it.
-Use encryption to scramble communications over the network. If you have a choice, WiFi Protected Access (WPA) is stronger than Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP).
-Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a firewall.
-Most wireless routers...
Internet Protection - Spyware
Spyware is software installed on your computer without your consent to monitor or control your computer use. Clues that spyware is on a computer may include a barrage of pop-ups, a browser that takes you to sites you don’t want, unexpected toolbars or icons on your computer screen, keys that don’t work, random error messages, and sluggish performance when opening programs or saving...
October 2009
4 posts
WatchCar Seat Instructions - Normal Car Seat.
Internet Protection - Social Networking Sites
While social networking sites can increase a person’s circle of friends, they also can increase exposure to people with less than friendly intentions.
Here are tips for helping your kids use social networking sites safely:
-Help your kids understand what information should be private.
-Explain that kids should post only information that you – and they – are comfortable with others...
Internet Protection - Malware
Malware, short for “malicious software,” includes viruses and spyware to steal personal information, send spam, and commit fraud. Criminals create appealing websites, desirable downloads, and compelling stories to lure you to links that will download malware – especially on computers that don’t use adequate security software. But you can minimize the havoc that malware can wreak...
Internet Protection - Laptop Security
Thinking of taking your laptop on the road? It’s a great way to work and stay in touch when you’re out and about, but you need to take some steps to keep your laptop safe–and in your possession. Here are some things you can do to keep track of your laptop:
-Treat it like cash.
-Get it out of the car…don’t ever leave it behind.
-Keep it locked…use a security cable.
-Keep it...
September 2009
4 posts
WatchLead Foot? Lighten Up. A funny reminder for all of us.
Internet Protection - Internet Auctions
Thinking of bidding in an online auction, or selling some of your stuff? Internet auctions are a great resource for shoppers and sellers, but you need to watch out for some pitfalls. Here’s how:
-Evaluate how soon you need to receive the item you’re bidding on, and whether you can tolerate it being delivered late, or even not delivered. Many complaints about Internet auction fraud...
Internet Protection - Identity Theft
It’s important to protect your personal information, and to take certain steps quickly to minimize the potential damage from identity theft if your information is accidentally disclosed or deliberately stolen:
-Place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports, and review those reports carefully. Notifying one of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies is sufficient.
...
Internet Protection - Email Scams
Some email users have lost money to bogus offers that arrived as spam in their in-box. Con artists are very cunning; they know how to make their claims seem legitimate. Some spam messages ask for your business, others invite you to a website with a detailed pitch. Either way, these tips can help you avoid spam scams:
-Protect your personal information. Share credit card or other personal...
August 2009
5 posts
WatchWatch out for the Jury Phone Scam. Helpful video.
Internet Protection - Kids’ Privacy
Your kids’ personal information and privacy are valuable — to you, to them, and to marketers. Fortunately, there are ways you can safeguard that privacy when your kids are online.
-Check out sites your kids visit, and see what kind of information the sites ask for or allow kids to post.
-Talk to your child about the risks and benefits of disclosing certain information, especially in a public...
Keeping Kids Safe - Vehicle Rollaway
Problem: With the key in the ignition, automatic transmissions may be shifted “out of park” even if the vehicle’s engine is off and the driver’s foot is not on the brake. If you leave the key in the ignition and turned to the accessory mode (to listen to the radio, open/close the windows, etc.), your vehicle’s automatic transmission may be shifted out of “Park” if you or a child...
Keeping Kids Safe - Trunk Entrapment
Problem: Children are naturally curious and love to explore their surroundings. Beware; inquisitiveness can end in a tragedy. If you leave your kids unattended, in or near a vehicle, it won’t be long before they are playing in it. Hide and seek can turn deadly if they get trapped in the trunk, where temperatures can rise very quickly - resulting in heatstroke or asphyxiation.
Prevention...
WatchA warning about Identity Theft in the store.
July 2009
4 posts
Keeping Kids Safe: Seat Belt Entanglement
Problem: A child within reach of a seat belt may become entangled if he or she pulls the seat belt all the way out and wraps the belt around the head, neck, or waist.
The majority of seat belts have a locking mechanism that is activated when the seat belt is pulled all the way out from the retractor. This feature is designed for child seat installation. In instances when the locking feature...
Keeping Kids Safe: Power Windows
Problem: Children can hurt themselves with power windows. Many kids are injured when a window closes on their finger, wrist, or hand. Some kids have been strangled by power windows.
Prevention Tips:
-Never leave your children alone in a vehicle for any reason.
-Teach your children not to play with window switches.
-Teach your children not to stand on passenger door arm rests.
-Properly...
Keeping Kids Safe: Hyperthermia and Heat Stroke
Problem: Children die each year from heatstroke, after being left alone in a vehicle.
You live by your daily routine and it helps you get things done. Be extra careful, though, if you have to change any part of that routine. This is more likely to happen when you, or caregiver who helps with your children, forgets that a child is in the back seat. This can and does happen when you break a...
WatchA warning about Identity Theft in the workplace.
June 2009
6 posts
Emergency Preparedness: Shelter in a Workplace
The appropriate steps depend on the emergency situation. If you hear a warning signal, listen to local radio or television stations for further information. You will be told what to do, including where to find the nearest shelter if you are away from your “shelter-in-place” location.
Check with your workplace to learn their plans for dealing with a hazardous materials emergency. Their...
Emergency Preparedness: Shelter in a School
The appropriate steps depend on the emergency situation. If you hear a warning signal, listen to local radio or television stations for further information. You will be told what to do, including where to find the nearest shelter if you are away from your “shelter-in-place” location.
Check with the school or day-care center to learn their plans for dealing with a hazardous materials...
Emergency Preparedness: Shelter in a Car
Admittedly, taking shelter in a vehicle may be an uncomfortable experience, particularly in very hot or very cold weather. Still, such discomfort is safer than possibly exposing yourself to chemical or radiological contaminants in the outside air. Having a portable disaster supplies kit in your vehicle could make the experience less unpleasant.
The appropriate steps depend on the emergency...
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