Tag: Helpful Home Tips

Heater Safety

On By Western Mutual BlogIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Heater safety is important to follow at home. This winter season, and all year long for that matter, be sure to remain vigilant and follow safety recommendations. If your home does not have a heater unit, Do NOT use the stove as a heat source. Instead, use extra blankets, dress in layers, light a fire in your fireplace or use a portable space heater. Note that you should not leave children unattended near a space heater and the units should never be placed on top of furniture or near water. In fact, keep heat sources at least 3 feet away from furniture or drapes. Remember to always have a chemical fire extinguisher handy, working smoke alarms and up-to-date carbon monoxide detector.

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Cold Weather Prep

On By Western Mutual BlogIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

It is beginning to look a lot like winter!  In order to prepare you and your families for cooler weather, we have created a cold weather checklist! Check it out below and please add any ones we missed in the comments below!

  • Close off unneeded rooms and place towels or rugs over cracks under the doors to keep the warm air in and cool air out
  • If you have a fireplace, make sure you have a good supply of firewood that can keep you and your family warm in the event of power outages
  • Have flashlights and batteries available for blackouts and avoid using candles as they can become a fire hazard
  • Provide shelter for pets and the elderly
  • Bring plants inside to protect them from the elements
  • Use blackout curtains as they prevent heat loss
  • Reverse your ceiling fans to make them spin clockwise and create an updraft that pushes warm air around the room without creating a wind chill
  • Clean the gutters off of your roof as when clogged, rain and melted snow can cause leaks and damage to your home’s infrastructure
  • Maintain tree limbs and brush because wind, rain, snow and ice can cause them to break and fall

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Thanksgiving Day Fire Safety

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Did you know that the greatest number of home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving Day? According to the National Fire Protection Association, the top causes range from leaving equipment unattended and having a heat source too close to flammable materials to misuse of products and accidentally leaving cooking equipment on. This week, please be mindful of this information and remain aware of what can happen if appliances turned on and left unattended.

We wish you a happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving Holiday.

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Rainy Season

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Rainy season is just around the corner and there are some tasks we all need to add to our fall to-do list in order to be ready for the upcoming winter season! When is the last time you cleaned out your rain gutters? What about checked for signs of leakage in your home from the foundation or roof area? Are windows sealed, preventing warm air from escaping and cool air from entering? Do you have sandbags on hand to help protect your home in a downpour? When is the last time someone inspected your heater for carbon monoxide emissions to prevent deadly gasses from circulating in your home?

It looks like we all have our work cut out for us! Please share any tips and tricks or things we have missed in the comments below! Happy Fall, Ya’ll!

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Great ShakeOut

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Established ten years ago, the Great American ShakeOut has encouraged children, adults and the community to be aware of new earthquake safety procedures! Today, millions of California residents will practice how to Drop, Cover & Hold On! Living in California, we have a greater risk of earthquakes…but it is smart for everyone to know what to do in the event of an earthquake.

Earthquakes can happen instantly and without warning. Do you know what to do? For example, if you are indoors, you should DROP to the ground, take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or furniture, and HOLD ON until the shaking stops! Additional safety tips can be found at Ready.gov and ways to participate in this day can be found at The Great American ShakeOut website.

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Fire Prevention Week

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Created in 1925 by President Calvin Coolidge, Fire Prevention Week aims to disperse helpful information on fire safety and prevention.  The National Fire Protection Association dedicated a special theme for this year: “Look. Listen. Learn. Be Aware – Fire Can Happen Anywhere.” These simple tips are quite important when trying to be aware and prevent an emergency situation in your home. If anything, please remember the three tips below:

  1. Look for places a fire can start.
  2. Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm.
  3. Learn two ways out of each room.

We urge you to check out more fire safety tips on their official website by clicking here.

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Preparedness Month

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Are you prepared to jump into action in the event of an emergency? We discussed becoming CPR/First Aid certified in our post from last week, but are you prepared to evacuate your home in the event of a fire or earthquake? Do you have an emergency checklist of items to have handy so you can quickly leave your home? Check out tips and ideas promoting preparedness at Ready.gov. We hope it helps you create an emergency plan along with a supply kit packed with necessities such as personal items, important documents and enough food & water to tide you over for up to three days.

Do you have an emergency plan or checklist?  Please share with us below!

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First Aid Awareness

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Emergencies happen every day in communities like yours. Do you know what to do in the event of an emergency? Spread knowledge and awareness to your family and throughout your communities to be able to assist and respond while facing emergency situations. Have you taken a CPR or First Aid class? Would you know what to do in the event of an emergency? Check out some trainings and certifications in your area provided by the American Red Cross. The Red Cross has classes for Pet CPR . Who knows, it could even help save a life!

Are you CPR/First Aid certified?

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Back to School Prep

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How is it already back to school time? Wasn’t it just March? As we approach the end of Summer, the students in our lives look towards starting the next chapter of their academic endeavors!  Summer has brought with it warmer weather, excuses to stay out late, travel and partake in activities out of our normal day-to-day routines. In order to properly prep for the coming academic year, we recommend starting to get back into your daily school time groove. Whether that is shopping for school supplies, planning a first day of school outfit or getting back to your regular sleep schedules, we know you will feel better the more organized you are!

The entire Western Mutual team wishes you a happy start and great success in the new school year!

What are your back to school rituals? Please share them below!

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Summer BBQ Ideas

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Grilling season has officially commenced!  Longer summer days bring many more opportunities for us to dine alfresco! Do you and your family have any barbecue favorites to grill this season? Before you host your next backyard soiree, review the infographic below which shares some best safety practices for the season ahead.

Do you have some go-to BBQ recipes? Please share them with us below!

BBQ-Safety-Infographic_6.25.18

 

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