by Flagship Staff | May 1, 2017 | Blog
While the greatest number of tornadoes occurs in April, May, and June, tornadoes can occur at any time of the year, day or night. Fortunately everybody has the chance to survive a tornado. The keys to survival are preparedness and action. If you and your family are prepared ahead of time, you’ll be able to take the necessary action steps to survive a tornado and its aftermath. Here are some tips and resources to help prepare you and your family for a tornado and keep you all safe.
While we rely heavily on technology and weather alerts today, there are some signs that Mother Nature provides before a tornado. They are:
1. Green sky/clouds;
2. Hail;
3. Flying debris;
4. Low-lying cloud with a rotation;
5. Stillness and quiet; and
6. The sound of a freight train coming toward your neighborhood.
Tornado safety tips before the storm
1. Be prepared – Tornadoes can strike at any time, 365 days a year, with or without warning. Make sure your family knows your plan of action if a tornado warning is issued for your community. Some things to consider include discussing the best place to take shelter in your home, the difference between watches and warnings, the county you reside in, steps you will take during and after the storm, and creating a safety kit.
2. Practice, practice, practice – Being prepared for a tornado is just the first step in keeping your family safe. If you don’t practice the steps you put in place, panic and injury could occur.
Throughout the year, we have several practice drills at West Bend. We practice for fires, severe weather, and other life-threatening events. Our event disaster team does a good job of changing up the situation to make us think about what we’re doing. Take the opportunity to practice with your family. If you know your child’s school is conducting a tornado drill, take the opportunity that same day to practice at home. Also, ask your family questions about your plan and different aspects of a tornado, such as the signs of severe weather and where to take shelter.
3. Protect important information – Consider storing important information in your safe, storm shelter, safety deposit box at your local bank, or electronically. Important information could include your insurance policy, loan/mortgage papers, medical information (i.e., allergies, regular medications, or a brief medical history), important telephone numbers, a personal home inventory, birth certificates, and social security cards.
Tornado safety tips during the storm
1. If your home has a basement, seek shelter there immediately. If there’s a sturdy object in your basement, like a workbench or pool table, crawl under it to protect yourself from falling objects. If your basement has windows like mine, consider a place away from the windows. The safest spot in my basement is in the closet under the stairs.
2. If your home doesn’t have a basement, seek shelter immediately in an interior room like a closet or bathroom.
3. If you live in a mobile home or are camping in a camper, consider finding a designated safety shelter.
4. If you’re driving, seek shelter immediately or drive away from the tornado at a right 90-degree angle because tornadoes usually travel from west to east. Also, parking under an overpass will not protect you from a tornado. We’ve all seen pictures and TV footage where vehicles, including semi-trucks, are thrown around like toys. Find a ditch, culvert, or other low-lying area and cover your head. Be cautious of water flow if lying in a ditch or culvert.
5. If you’re watching your children performing at a concert in a school auditorium or watching them participate in their favorite sport in a school gym, be aware of your surroundings and identify a safe area where you could seek shelter.
6. If you live in a dormitory or apartment building, find safety at the lowest place you have access and the most interior part of the building. Use stairwells to get there and, like fires, avoid using the elevator.
Tornado safety tips after the storm
1. If you’re away from your home at the time of the tornado, try to return safely. Listen to news reports to see if you can get up-to-date information about your neighborhood. Watch for fallen debris and power lines, and heed the advice of local authorities.
2. If your home has been damaged, consider turning off your main utilities, including your natural gas, electricity, and water main. If you smell natural gas, do not enter your home and call 911.
3. Only consume food or water that was not damaged by the storm.
4. If your home has minimal water damage, consider cleaning the area with bleach. Make sure you wear rubber boats, gloves, and eye protection. The area should be properly ventilated so open windows and use fans.
5. If you lost power, protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning by using generators, grills, and other fuel-burning devices in a well-ventilated area.
6. If your home was not damaged, contact your friends, family, and neighbors to make sure they’re safe. Ask them if they need a safe place to stay.
7. If possible, review your insurance policy and follow the necessary steps to contact them and file a claim.
by Flagship Staff | Apr 24, 2017 | Blog
Summer is officially here! Unfortunately, for teen drivers, this is the deadliest time of year.
More teens are now on the road going to their summer jobs, visiting friends, and travelling to summer attractions. This means more cars driven by inexperienced drivers.
Here are a few reasons why summer is more dangerous for teen drivers:
1.Inexperience. Instead of going back and forth to school, teen drivers are spending more time cruising around. Unfortunately, their lack of experience makes them unable to recognize hazardous situations and underestimate dangerous situations.
2.Increased road congestion. Road congestion increases significantly this time of year. Orange construction barrels litter our roadways. In addition, families are making their annual vacation treks. This extra congestion can lead to erratic driving, road rage, and sudden stops.
3.Distracted driving. Obviously, texting and driving is dangerous. So is loud music and conversations with friends.
4.More likely to engage in risky behaviors. Driving with a car full of friends not only causes drivers to become more easily distracted, they may also feel pressured to participate in risky behaviors.
5.More time is spent driving at night. According to the National Safety Council, vehicle death rates at night are three times higher than during the day. Later curfews make for more cruising time on potentially unfamiliar roads. Adding darkness to the mix could cause them to underestimate a curve or run a stop sign. In addition, darting animals could cause them to swerve out of control. Lastly, they could be sharing the road with drunk drivers or drivers falling asleep at the wheel.
Tips for keeping your teen driver safe:
1.Seatbelts save lives. I’m amazed at the number of fatal accidents in the last few months in which occupants weren’t wearing seatbelts. Wearing a seatbelt is a basic concept. According to the CDC, people who wear seatbelts cut their chances of being seriously injured or killed in a crash in half. Every time I hear about an accident in which a fatality occurred because of an ejection, I tell my kids about it and explain how important a seatbelt is.
2.Talk to them about warning lights. Again, as cars become smarter, more systems are being monitored. Go through your owner’s manual and explain to your child what each warning light means. Pay particular attention to tire pressure. Underinflated tires are more dangerous than overinflated.
3.Educate your kids on different driving conditions. Did you know you shouldn’t use cruise control in the rain? Do you know what to do if your vehicle hydroplanes? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, how can you expect your kids to know? Cruise control shouldn’t be used in rainy conditions because it could cause your car’s tires to lose contact with the pavement.
4.Make sure headlights work properly. Headlights should be properly adjusted for nighttime driving. In addition, the headlight lenses should be clear of debris. If your lens covers are cloudy and it’s difficult for light to pass through, clean them or order new ones.
5.Make sure your teen’s car has good tires. Tires are the most important part of your car. We rely on four tires with a contact patch the size of our hands to keep us travelling down the road safely. So keeping your tires in good shape is important!
6.Limit the number of friends in the car.
7.Establish open communication. If your teen is going to a party that may involve underage drinking, have an honest conversation and share your expectations. While you don’t want to condone underage drinking, you shouldn’t pretend it doesn’t exist. Let them know it’s okay to call you for a ride home. Mixing alcohol and driving can be a deadly combination, especially with inexperienced drivers.
8.Don’t let your teens drive if they’re not in good physical or mental condition. If your teen works a late shift and is too tired to drive, make alternative plans. If your teen is upset over a break up or a fight with a friend, consider doing the driving.
9.Drive the speed limit. Encourage your teen drivers to drive the speed limit. While speeding could get them to their destinations a few minutes faster, is it really worth the increased risk and the potential speeding ticket? Probably not. How many times has a car passed you and a few minutes later you see it just in front of you at an exit ramp or stop light?
Do you have any tips or information on tires you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them; please share them in the box below.
Source
http://www.autotrader.com/car-news/5-safe-summer-driving-tips-for-your-teen-170002
http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/night.php
by Flagship Staff | Apr 17, 2017 | Blog
Brush up on basic fire pit safety before you build your next fire. Discover what steps you should take to keep your family safe.
Whether you already have a fire pit or are planning to add one, invest some effort in reviewing fire pit safety. This is especially important if you’re new to using a fire pit. It only takes a second for a cozy fire to burst into a blazing inferno. Ensure you get the most enjoyment from your fire pit by keeping family and friends safe.
Fire pit safety starts with selecting the right site. Make sure the ground is level, especially when using a portable fire pit. Keep fires located at least 10 to 20 feet away from surrounding plants, as well as from nearby buildings, including your home. Check with your local city and county authorities to make sure you observe the distance required by law.
Never operate your fire pit beneath a building overhang or in a partially enclosed space. Use special caution related to overhanging trees, which can easily ignite from flying wood-fire sparks. In fire-prone areas, surround your fire pit with non-combustible materials, like crushed stone, brick, or sand.
In wood-stoked fire pits, safety begins with fuel. Only burn wood that’s been seasoned at least six months. Avoid using construction materials, such as plywood or composite woods, which can release toxic fumes when burned. Softwoods, like pine and birch, tend to produce more crackles and sparks than seasoned hardwoods, like oak or hickory. For wood-burning fire pits, cut logs so their length is less than three-quarters the diameter of the pit. Never use lighter fluid or gasoline to start a fire in a fire pit.
If your fire pit has a screen, use it whenever you’re burning. It’s also a good idea to have a bucket of sand or garden hose handy to deal with wayward sparks from wood fires. Attach a hose-end multi-pattern nozzle to the hose, setting it to “spray.” A shower-type spray douses a flare up, while a direct stream of water can spread sparks. Keep fire gloves nearby to handle hot parts of the fire pit safely.
Position chairs so folks can rise and move about seats without risking tumbling into the fire. Built-in seating prevents seats from being drawn too close to the flames; so do heavier chairs. Keep an eye on children whenever a fire pit is being used. Don’t allow them to get too close to the blaze.
Invest in a fire blanket to help extinguish sparks, the fire, and, if necessary, anyone who might catch fire. Also have a fully charged, dry-chemical fire extinguisher on hand with a Class B and C or multipurpose rating. Make sure you understand the effective range, which is typically 6 to 10 feet, and know how to use it properly. On gas fire pits, turn off the gas before attempting to extinguish a fire. Avoid lighting a fire in windy conditions.
When you’re done enjoying your fire for the evening, douse it properly. Most manufactured fire pits offer specific instructions for extinguishing a fire. Review the instructions before it’s time to put out your fire. Water can crack ceramic fire pits and some metal ones.
by Flagship Staff | Apr 10, 2017 | Blog
Now that spring is here, neighborhoods are starting to come back to life. More people are walking, kids are riding their bikes and scooters, and some have even started yard work.
Another sign that spring has arrived is neighborhood kids playing on trampolines. Trampolines have become a popular addition to many back yards. Trampoline parks are also popping up in larger cities. While they’re fun and provide our kids with exercise, they can be dangerous if safety guidelines aren’t followed.
Between 2002 and 2011, more than one million people visited emergency departments for injuries sustained while using trampolines. These visits totaled $1 billion in expenses.
On the flip side, there are benefits of trampolines.
Trampolines:
Improve your balance
Firm and tone muscles
Offer a low impact exercise
Provide a great cardiovascular workout
Get kids off video game systems, computers, and smartphones
If you have a trampoline or are considering one for your kids, here are some things to keep in mind.
1. Talk to your insurance agent. Before spending any money on a trampoline, talk to your independent insurance agent. They can tell you if your current homeowner’s policy provides coverage for it.
2. Avoid letting young kids use it. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends limiting access to kids age six and under. Remove ladders and other things around the trampoline that would allow them to get on it by themselves.
3. Adult supervision. No matter how old your kids are, they always need adult supervision. Age and maturity of your child may determine how much supervision is necessary. Always be aware of what’s happening on your property, especially if you have a swing set, trampoline, or swimming pool. Occasional glances can ensure rules are being followed and kids are safe.
4. Establish written rules. My neighbor has a trampoline. Before my daughters could use it, they had to agree to the written rules. Written rules:
Limit the number of kids on the trampoline
Prohibit food or drink
Enforce no rough housing
Enforce no aerobatics or risky tricks (i.e., somersaults, backflips).
5. Talk to other parents. If neighborhood kids are using your trampoline, talk to their parents to make sure it’s okay with them.
6. Attach safety devices. Purchase and attach quality padding to the frame and springs of the trampoline and use quality netting around the perimeter to help prevent kids from falling off. Avoid buying cheap protective gear.
7. Place it on a flat clear surface. When setting up your trampoline, make sure it’s on a flat surface away from trees, fences, swing sets, swimming pools, etc.Place it on sand or bark chips that can provide some cushioning. Never place it on a concrete surface.
8. Periodic inspections are necessary. Periodically inspect the trampoline looking for tears, broken springs, loose bolts, and worn safety pads and netting. The different weather patterns in the Midwest can cause the equipment to deteriorate.
Additional Resources
Trampoline Safety
Installing safety net on your trampoline
Set up trampoline enclosure
Do you have any tips you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them; please share them in the box below.
Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/29/trampoline-injuries-fractures-broken-bones_n_5227768.html
https://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/137868/085.pdf
by Flagship Staff | Apr 3, 2017 | Blog
Isn’t technology great? Every day we see new technology that makes our lives better, more efficient, and safer. Cellphones have facetime capabilities and great cameras. Fitbits track our active lifestyles. Hover boards … who wouldn’t want one? Back-up cameras in our vehicles help us see things we normally wouldn’t.
But sometimes you have to wonder if all of these great inventions really DO make our lives better and safer. Take the back-up cameras in our cars. While they’re helpful in providing a view we normally can’t see, they can lead to more accidents because drivers may rely too heavily on them.
Back-up cameras were introduced as early as 2003. At that time, just three car models, out of 278, offered the cameras. By 2017, it’s estimated that all but 20 of 362 car models will have back-up cameras! In fact, the federal government has mandated that all new vehicles sold in the U.S. have back-up cameras by 2018.
The primary purpose of back-up cameras is to prevent “back over” accidents of young children who are not otherwise visible to the driver. That said, the cameras are typically located on the back of the car at about waist level. The camera provides a great view of objects immediately behind the vehicle, as well as 50 to 70 feet behind the vehicle. The camera view typically extends to 8 to 10 feet on each side of the vehicle.
Despite the quality of the image and size of the screens in the car, back-up cameras only provide a limited view of what’s going on behind and around the vehicle. In fact, most cameras only provide an 80-degree field of view behind the vehicle. That leaves 280 degrees of view around the vehicle not accounted for if the driver only views the back-up camera while backing. That’s why it’s critical, for their own safety and the safety of those around them, that drivers do not become overly dependent on back-up cameras.
Using the back-up camera only limits your view to 80 degrees of your surroundings.
Even with the significant increase in the number of vehicles with back-up cameras, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that back-over accidents have gone down by only 8% (statistics from 2008 to 2011).
Backing is the most difficult maneuver in a car and yet we perform it when we usually first get into the car and aren’t yet in the “driving mode.” When you’ve been out driving a while and are in the driving mode, practice backing into parking places whenever practical. It allows you to drive past the opening before you back into it and get a complete view of any obstructions like children’s toys, etc.
This is why you see UPS trucks and Wisconsin State Patrol cars backed into spaces when parked. They park while in the driving mode so when they leave, they’re not backing out which, again, is the most difficult maneuver to perform when they’re not in the driving mode.
To prevent property damage and personal injury, every driver should practice these steps to safe backing:
1. Whenever possible, park so you avoid backing altogether.
2. Walk around the vehicle before backing up to make sure your path is clear of people and obstructions. Remember this acronym: G.O.A.L. – Get Out And Look.
3. Back slowly, watching for people, vehicles, or objects entering your path of travel.
4. Frequently check mirrors and blind spots, scanning from left to right. Check the left blind spot by looking over your left shoulder, check the left side view mirror, check in front of the vehicle, check the rear view mirror, check the back-up camera screen, check the right side view mirror, check the right blind spot by looking over your right shoulder. Repeat this frequently while backing.
Back-up cameras can be convenient by providing a view you normally wouldn’t have. They should not, however, be the only view you use when backing up.
Turning your head while using the side mirrors, review mirror, and back-up camera, greatly improves visibility and reduces the potential for accidents.
Do you have any tips or information you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them; please share them in the box below.
