Smoke Alarms Save Lives! How to Install a Smoke Alarm Properly
When properly installed and maintained, smoke alarms save lives by alerting residents of smoke and fire thereby reducing fire deaths and injuries. In fact, having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire in half. Almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
How do I install a smoke alarm correctly?
For many years NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, has required that at minimum a smoke alarm be installed inside every bedroom, plus outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home including the basement. Homes with particularly large square footage should consider having at least two alarms on each level.
Read MoreTop 8 Early Fall Safety Tips
Fall is known for apples, pumpkins, colorful leaves, and cooler weather. The change in season tends to mean outdoor activities such as harvesting apples and pumpkins but also more time spent indoors with the heat on and the windows closed on cool, wet days. As a result, carbon monoxide poisonings tend to increase at this time of year. Setting up your home for safety in early fall can help to prevent a deadly accident.
Use these Early Fall Safety Tips to keep your family safe this season:
Read MoreTop 10 Off-Road Driving Safety Tips
Four-wheeling/off-road driving is a popular American pastime. There is fun and challenge in navigating terrain off the main roads. The truth is, however, that you can find yourself in a remote and very hostile environment in just a few hours. Don’t set out without following these important off-road driving safety tips!
Top 10 Off-Road Driving Safety Tips
Read MoreCurrent Distracted Driving Laws
Cell Phones are Primary Cause of Distracted Driving
- A driver talking on a cell phone is as impaired as a driver with a .08 blood-alcohol level; the legal limit in most states.
- A driver who is texting is as impaired as a driver with a .16 blood-alcohol level!
- Drivers talking on cell phones have slower reaction times. Tests have shown that drivers talking on cell phones hit the brakes half a second slower in an emergency and miss more than half the visual cues seen by drivers who are giving their full attention to the road.
Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles
When purchasing a new or used car, you may want to consider the list of most stolen vehicles before choosing a model. Because there are many motivations for stealing a car, the most stolen vehicles are not necessarily the nicest or fanciest cars. In fact, the 1994 Honda Accord was the most stolen vehicle in the United States in 2010, followed by the 1995 Honda Civic and the 1991 Toyota Camry.
The top 10 most-stolen vehicles
- 1994 Honda Accord
- 1995 Honda Civic
- 1991 Toyota Camry
- 1999 Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size)
- 1997 Ford F150 Series/Pickup
- 2004 Dodge Ram
- 2000 Dodge Caravan
- 1994 Acura Integra
- 2002 Ford Explorer
- 1999 Ford Taurus
Top 7 Ways to Get Your Car Stolen
A car is stolen every 40 seconds in the United States; rates vary by city and urban versus rural areas. Many car thefts could be prevented, however, if the owner thought more like a car thief. Think about what a potential thief sees when he walks past your car.
3 Questions to ask yourself before walking away from your parked car:
Is your car parked in a quiet area that might be an attractive theft target?
How easy would it be for someone to break into your car?
Have I used an anti-theft device?
Read MoreSaltwater Fishing Safety Tips
Saltwater fishing has its own set of challenges and rewards. Understanding the nuances of saltwater fishing as well as some basic saltwater fishing tips will help ensure that you have a successful and safe trip. Planning a trip with experienced fishermen or hiring a fishing guide who will walk you through each step of the process is a great place to start. You are more likely to avoid fishing accidents if you understand what to do when a fish bites and how to clean it. Also, familiarize yourself with the equipment and know how to set up your bait, line and reel correctly.
If you or a loved one has experienced an accident while saltwater fishing, call a personal injury lawyer right away.
Saltwater Fishing Safety Tips
Read MorePet Safety Tips in Hot Weather
Pets do not handle hot weather in the same way as humans. When we are hot, we sweat to release heat; dogs hang their tongues out of their mouths. As a result, pets do not have as easy of a time cooling off and need our protection and care to stay safe in the heat.
Follow these Safety Pet tips to help your family stay cool and safe this summer:
Never leave your pet alone in the car on a warm day (let alone a hot day)
Read MoreThe Dangers of Wood Smoke
Many people associate camping with fresh air, stars, and a great campfire but what about the dangers of wood smoke? Campfire wood smoke is actually full of dangerous toxins and it is almost inevitable that you will get some smoke in your eyes, throat, and lungs. Items such as newspaper, plates, and plastic serving ware are commonly thrown into campfires but they are full of chemicals that release toxins into the air before they fully disintegrate in the flames.
The Dangers of Wood Smoke
Read MoreCampfire Safety Tips
Hot, dry weather brings the risk for wildfires, particularly when people are lighting campfires in dry, wooded areas. Although Washington State has implemented a campfire ban due to the recent dry weather, it is good to understand campfire safety in case the ban is lifted in the future. These campfire safety tips can help you to avoid a campfire accident.