Tag: Pets

Home Safety Tips for the Christmas Season

On By jchasewesternmutualcomIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Ensuring the safety of your home during the holiday season is important. Here are some Christmas home safety tips to help you create a secure and enjoyable environment:

Christmas Tree Safety:

If you have a live tree, water it regularly to prevent it from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.

Keep the tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, and heaters.

Lights and Decorations:

Use lights and decorations that are labeled as flame-resistant. Check lights for frayed wires, broken bulbs, and loose connections before putting them up. Avoid overloading electrical outlets and use extension cords wisely.

Candles:

Keep candles in stable holders, away from flammable materials and out of reach of children and pets.

Never leave candles unattended and extinguish them before going to bed or leaving the house.

Fireplace Safety:

Use a screen in front of the fireplace to prevent sparks from escaping. Keep flammable items, such as decorations and wrapping paper, away from the fireplace.

Cooking Safety:

Stay in the kitchen when cooking, especially if using the stove or oven. Keep flammable items away from the cooking area. Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it.

Child and Pet Safety:

Place small decorations and ornaments out of reach of children and pets to prevent choking hazards.

Be cautious with holiday plants, as some can be toxic to pets if ingested.

Secure Decorations:

Anchor Christmas trees securely to prevent them from tipping over. Avoid placing decorations on unstable surfaces or near the edges of tables and countertops.

Emergency Preparedness:

Ensure your smoke detectors are working properly and replace batteries if needed. Have an emergency evacuation plan in case of a fire or other emergencies.

Gift Wrapping Safety:

Dispose of wrapping paper in a safe manner to avoid fire hazards. Keep scissors and small objects out of the reach of young children.

By following these Christmas home safety tips, you can create a festive and secure environment for your family and guests during the holiday season.

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First Aid Awareness

On By Western Mutual BlogIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

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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Dog Bite Prevention Week 🐶

On By Western Mutual BlogIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

​This week marks National Dog Bite Prevention Week and is dedicated to educating people on how to prevent it from happening. Dogs are lovable furry friends but it is important to know how to conduct yourself around them or an unfamiliar pup. There are many ways to prevent negative encounters with dogs and we would like to share a few with you:

• Be polite and never approach an unfamiliar dog—especially one who is tied up or confined behind a fence or a yard—as they might see you as a threat or intruder
• Do not pet a dog without letting them see and sniff you first
• Do not disturb a dog while they are sleeping, eating, chewing on a toy or caring for puppies

Also, it is important to be aware of a dog’s body language. A pup who is backing away from you, has his or her ears pulled back, teeth drawn and/or is growling is not one to pet. Make sure you put a safe amount of space between yourself and a dog if you notice these signals which indicate a dog is uncomfortable and feeling threatened. Sometimes small children do not know any better and are often the victim of these unfortunate events. Make sure to educate your family on how to properly interact with furry friends in order to prevent them from occurring.

*Dog bite prevention tips were found on the website of the Humane Society of the United States.