by Flagship Staff | Dec 22, 2017 | Blog
Currently, many of us are frantically buying and wrapping presents in time for Christmas. When Christmas morning arrives, our kids are filled with anticipation and excitement. That can all come to a screeching halt if you forgot to buy batteries.
When I was a kid, C and D batteries along with trusty 9 volts took care of running a lot of my toys. Fast forward to today, and our homes are filled with electronic devices that use many different types of batteries.
Button batteries are commonly used today and can be dangerous to children. Button batteries are round small batteries that are used in a variety of devices such as:
-Remote controls;
-Games;
-Toys;
-Hearing aids;
-Calculators;
-Bathroom scales;
-Musical greeting cards;
-Key fobs;
-Ornaments; and
-Electronic jewelry
If these small batteries are swallowed or are placed in the nose or ear, serious injury can occur. Once placed in the body, these little batteries send out a current that begins to burn the body.
Because I don’t have small children, I wasn’t aware of the dangers these little batteries possess. If your child swallows a button battery, watch for:
-Fever;
-Irritability;
-No interest in eating or drinking;
-Throat pain; and
-Vomiting
If it appears your child may have swallowed a button battery, go to your local Hospital’s emergency department or contact the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. The American Association of Poison Control Centers supports 55 poison centers across the nation. The Poison Help Line offers free, confidential, medical advice 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Here are some battery safety tips to keep your family safe this holiday season.
1. Adhere to manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations.
2. Periodically check toys for leaking batteries or corrosion around the battery posts.
3. Don’t mix and match batteries. Replace all batteries in a device at the same time with like batteries.
4. Don’t do what my brother and I tried when we were kids. Don’t crush batteries with a hammer or try and light them on fire.
5 . Store batteries out of reach from small children.
Rechargeable battery safety tips
1. Don’t overcharge. Before charging the batteries, read the instruction on how long batteries should charge. Also, try to figure out if the charger you’re using has an automatic shutoff when the batteries reach full charge.
2. Charge nearby. If you’re re-charging batteries for your Xbox controller, plug in the charger near you. This way you can keep an eye on them. A battery fire could occur very quickly if for some reason the batteries overheat.
3. Good ventilation. Plug in the charger in a place that allows for appropriate airflow around the charger. Also, keep the charger out of direct sunlight.
4. Don’t mix and match. Don’t use different rechargeable batteries in your devices or charger. When it is time to change the batteries, replace them all at once with new batteries of the same type. Also, don’t put a variety of batteries in the charger. Each charger is made for a specific battery type.
5. Recycle. When your rechargeable batteries reach their end of life, don’t just throw them in the garbage. Electronic stores near you may collect them and dispose of them properly. At West Bend, we have a place where we can drop off batteries, eyeglasses and old cellular phones so that they get disposed of safely.
Smart phone charging safety tips
1. Genuine Parts. Charge your phones with genuine parts or reputable alternative brands. A cheap cord may not be the best for your phone.
2. Stay out of bed. Avoid charging your phone between your blankets. This can lead to a fire.
3. Don’t drain your phone. To prolong your battery life, try to keep your battery between 50 and 80 percent. Don’t let your phone drain down to zero. Charging your phone often from 0 percent to 100 percent is hard on the battery and could reduce its life expectancy.
I hope these tips help keep your family safe during the holiday season.
![Vehicle warning lights and their meanings [Infographic]](https://flagshipinsuranceservices.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Warning-Lights.jpg)
by Flagship Staff | Dec 19, 2017 | Blog
It’s happened to all of us at one time or another, whether we’re in a hurry to get to work or on a family road trip. All of a sudden, a vehicle warning light turns on.
Depending on the light, it can bring instant panic. Thoughts of being stranded and what to do next can fill our heads. Hopefully some help from roadside assistance can resolve serious issues. On the other hand, some lights can simply be a notification that something is working, but not 100%. With winter right around the corner, now is a good time to become acquainted with some of these warning lights.
Warning lights and what they mean
If you see a light appear on your dashboard, don’t panic. Symbol lights can appear in different colors.
Red – indicates a potentially serious problem or safety issue and should be taken to your dealer as soon as possible.
Yellow/Orange – something needs to be serviced or repaired soon.
Green/Blue – indicates that your system is operating. You may see this color scheme when your headlights are on.
If a light is flashing, contact your local dealership or trusted mechanic.
1. Check Engine or Malfunction Indication Light: There are a number of reasons that light may appear. Some of them are:
-Your Oxygen (O2) sensor needs replacing;
-Your gas cap is loose, damaged or lost;
-Your catalytic converter needs replacing;
-Your mass airflow sensor needs replacing; or
-Your spark plugs or wires need replacing.
These items all affect how efficiently your car runs. The light does not mean your engine is going to explode or is low on oil.
2. Coolant Temperature Warning: This warning light indicates that your engine is overheating due to lack of coolant. If this light comes on, pull over immediately and turn off your car. An overheated engine can cause significant damage. Before checking your coolant level, let your car cool down 30 – 60 minutes before removing the radiator cap to prevent burns from steam buildup inside the radiator. While you’re waiting for the engine to cool down, look under your car to see if there are any leaks. Your car may be fine but the coolant is low based on the intervals in which the coolant has been filled up last.
3. Oil Pressure Warning: This light identifies a loss of oil pressure. Immediately and safely, pull over and turn off your car. Low oil pressure could lead to serious engine problems. The easiest check is to pull out your dipstick and wipe it with paper towel or cloth. Then reinsert the dipstick and remove it to check oil level. If your oil is low, you could be over the recommended oil change interval or have a leak. Don’t drive it until you put more oil in.
4. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS): This light signifies that a tire pressure is low. It could be low due to a change in temperature, or damage to the tire. Maintaining appropriate tire pressure is important. Driving with under or over inflated tires can be dangerous. If your car begins driving poorly, pull over immediately. Driving on a flat tire can damage your rim and lead to more expense.
5. Battery/Charging Alert: This light indicates that your battery’s voltage level may be below normal level. This could be the result of an old battery or other deteriorating parts such as the starter, corroded battery terminals, or an alternator.
6. Traction Control or ESP: This light illuminates when your vehicle is experiencing slippery or treacherous conditions. Systems in use could be your traction control, anti-skid, or electronic stability control. If you notice this light on please slow down and drive appropriately for the conditions Mother Nature is throwing at you.
7. Brake System: This light indicates that your parking brake may be on, or there is a problem with your braking system such as low brake fluid or issues with your ABS. One of the most important feature on your car is your brakes. Make sure to get this checked out right away.
For additional information on your car’s warning lights, please review your owner’s manual.
by Flagship Staff | Dec 12, 2017 | Blog
The holiday season is officially here! Now comes the hustle and bustle of the season, as well as fun family traditions. Families are venturing into the wilderness to cut fresh trees. Neighbors are spending time on their roofs trying to win the neighborhood-decorating contest.
Unfortunately, there are thousands of holiday related injuries every year! While there are plenty of funny holiday mishaps in the movies, remember that’s Hollywood. In real life, these mishaps could lead to a visit to your local hospital.
Holiday injuries can include:
-Lacerations;
-Strains and sprains;
-Bruises and abrasions;
-Fractures;
-Internal injuries; and
-Concussions.
Below are a number of resources that can prevent you from becoming a holiday statistic.
Six ladder safety tips to keep you safe during the holidays
Nine tips to stay safe in busy parking lots this holiday season
Tips to make your pet’s holiday travel enjoyable and safe
Five tips to keep your Christmas tree from going up in flames
Seven tips for getting your Christmas tree home safely
Winter holiday safety
by Flagship Staff | Dec 5, 2017 | Blog
Each year in November, I receive my home and auto insurance renewal policy. In my house, my wife looks at how the premium changed and then leaves it on the counter or nightstand for me to review. Because I have been in the industry for over 20 years, I do take a peek.
What do you do when your policy arrives? My guess is if you’re like most people, you take a quick glance and then file it away until it’s needed.
Because life is constantly changing, it’s wise to review your policy more frequently. Here are some times when you should review your policy.
1. Policy Renewal.
When you receive your renewal, ask yourself the following questions. Is there any documentation from the insurance company that indicates a coverage change?
Does it make sense to increase my deductible in an attempt to save money?
Do I need additional policies such as flood, earthquake, or an umbrella policy?
Do I qualify for discounts? At West Bend, we offer discounts for
Safe and accident free drivers;
New and updated homes;
Multi-car families;
Resident students; and
Anti-lock brakes.
2. Do it yourself projects (DIY).
If you’ve lived in your home for a while and decide, it’s time to make some upgrades to your home, don’t forget about how those changes could affect your insurance. Kitchens and bathrooms are often the focus of many DIY home remodeling projects. Expanding the size of them or installing materials that are more expensive could cause your home to be underinsured if it’s a total loss.
In addition, don’t forget about improvements outside your home. In my neighborhood, gazebos, pergolas, and hot tubs are popular. In addition, a new shed may be needed so you have room to store new toys in your garage such as a boat or motorcycle.
Lastly, a new roof is a big investment. Many insurance carriers charge more for homeowners insurance if a roof is older. Replacing the roof could change your coverage from actual cash value to replacement cost. Replacement cost provides the coverage you need to replace your roof, while actual cash value provides coverage for the value of the roof at the time it’s replaced; it takes into account depreciation of the shingles.
All these changes should be reported to your insurance agent.
3. Other improvements made to your home.
If you’ve updated any major home systems i.e. heating, plumbing, or electrical, contact your agent. In addition, if you’ve installed a fire/burglar alarm system that’s monitored by professionals in a call center, discounts may be available.
4. Lifestyle changes.
Is life throwing curve balls your way? Kids leaving or returning home after college or elderly parents moving into your home can affect your insurance policy. In addition, so can a recent marriage, divorce, or sudden death of a spouse.
by Flagship Staff | Nov 28, 2017 | Blog
As Thanksgiving approaches, holiday decorations will begin lighting our neighborhoods. With the dark days of winter here, I enjoy the extra light. It may also be the last time of the year to clean out leaves from your gutters.
No matter what the job may be, ladder safety is important. Every year, thousands of people are injured and hundreds killed while using a ladder. Every time I go on my ladder, I remember falling off my parents’ ladder as a young boy and breaking my collarbone.
If you’re getting ready to hang your outdoor decorations or you’re putting up a tall Christmas tree, here are some safety tips to make sure your holiday season is spent safely with family and friends.
Six Ladder Safety Tips
1. Check your local weather report. While Black Friday may be the day you choose to put up your decorations, it’s important to pay attention to your local weather forecast. Standing on a ladder in high winds could cause you to lose your balance. In addition, light drizzle can cause your ladder to become slippery. Make sure you pick a dry day with calm winds.
2. Properly inspect your ladder. Before using your ladder, make sure it’s in good working order. My ladder isn’t very old, doesn’t get much use, and is stored in my garage so I know it’s in good shape. If you store your ladder in a shed or outside, make sure you double-check it.
3. Select the appropriate ladder size for the job. Different jobs require different-sized ladders. If the only way you can get to your gutter to remove leaves or to hang lights is to step on the top step of the ladder, you need to buy a longer ladder. Standing on the top is very dangerous and can cause the ladder to become very unstable. One wrong move and you could be in a world of hurt. If you plan on going on your roof, make sure the ladder extends three feet above the roof elevation.
4. Don’t stretch. While stretching is good for you before using the ladder, stretching or reaching while on a ladder can lead to injury. Over-stretching on a ladder could cause it to kick out from under you and leave you hanging on the gutter.
5. Be cautious by doors. If you’re working by a door that can open toward the ladder, let your family know you’re working there. The last thing you want is for a family member to open the door to grab the newspaper so they can check the holiday ads. A good idea is to tape a note on the door reminding your family you’re working.
6. Make calculated movements. Before making your next move, think about what you want to do and move slowly. Sudden jerks can cause you to lose balance.
