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Candle Safety

Candle Safety

The fall season is here and people everywhere are burning their favorite seasonal candles.

Before lighting your candles be sure to follow these 8 tips when using candles in your home.

1. Burning candles should never be left unattended.
2. Keep candles away from anything flammable.
3. If your candle is in a candle holder, it should be sturdy enough to avoid being easily knocked over.
4. Candles should be placed where children and pets can’t reach them.
5. Candlewicks should be trimmed to ¼ inch each time before burning. Long wicks can cause uneven burning and dripping.
6. Keep the pool of wax in the candle clear of debris such as wick trimmings.
7. Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for candle use. Most candles should be burned for only a couple of hours at a time.
8. Extinguish candles with a candle snuffer rather than blowing them out to avoid being burned by the hot wax.

Enjoy your fall season and your favorite candle safely this year!

Written by: Amanda Haase

Outdoor Safety

Outdoor Safety

campingCamping season is here and it’s time for fun for the whole family. Before you head out into the great outdoors, it is essential to know how to identify outdoor hazards as well as how to treat wounds from those hazards.

Poison Ivy:

How to Identify – Poison ivy plants have three pointed leaves that change colors with the seasons, reddish in the spring, green in the summer, and yellow, orange, or red in the fall. On most plants, the leaves have rough edges; on others, the leaves have smooth edges. poison-ivy

How to treat Poison Ivy rash – If you have an allergic reaction to poison ivy, use a cold compress or calamine lotion to relieve the itching. If the rash is near your eyes or covers a large part of your body, call a doctor immediately.

Insect Bites:

How to Identify – There are many different types of insects that bite or sting. Some bites and stings are painful and some can also spread illness. Bites from mosquitoes are itchy and uncomfortable, but are usually harmless. Identifying a bug bite by how it looks and feels will help you know whether to seek medical attention or treat the skin bump at home.

mosquitosHow to Treat an Insect bite – Try these methods for itch relief:
• Wash the area of the bite with soap and water.
• A cold compress or ice will help reduce itching and swelling.
• Calamine lotion or an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream will help soothe itching.

How to Prevent an Insect bite – Apply bug spray or use wearable bug repellent bracelets with DEET. DEET is the active ingredient that normally provides protection that lasts longer than others.

Mosquitoes with the West Nile Virus:
Mosquito bites can be a nuisance. But mosquitoes also can carry illnesses. In the United States, mosquitoes can spread West Nile virus. For about 80% of people who are infected, this virus causes no symptoms. But in some people, the virus can cause severe illness and even death. bug spray

In mild cases, symptoms may include:
• Fever
• Body aches
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Swollen glands

If you have any of the following symptoms contact your doctor immediately:
• High fever
• Muscle weakness
• Vision loss
• Neck stiffness
• Disorientation or stupor
• Tremors, convulsions, numbness, paralysis

Symptoms usually occur three days to two weeks after a bite from an infected mosquito.

Prepare yourself, as well as your family for your outdoors trip this year. Make sure to go over all the possible dangers of the outdoors as well as other safety rules while on your getaway.

For more outdoor safety information visit http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/safety/safety.shtml.

Written by: Amanda Haase

Tips To Staying Safe On Your Summer Road Trip Vacation

Tips To Staying Safe On Your Summer Road Trip Vacation

summer driving photoSummer is finally here and that means one thing – it’s road trip season! Whether you plan on following your favorite band around the country, taking a family vacation or diner hoping, it is important to stay safe while on your trip. Check out these seven tips to staying safe on your road trip vacation:

 

1. Before you go, check your oil, and any other fluids that may be low.

tires photo2. Make sure tires are properly inflated and inspect them for excessive wear.

3. If the battery in your vehicle is more then three years old, have it tested. You may even want to replace it.

(Please see our Summer Safety Driving Tips blog for more information regarding vehicle maintenance) https://www.chedwards.net/blog/summer-driving-safety-tips/#/

4. When you plan a trip, time your route so you drive through the busiest places during non-peak travel hours.

5. When you and your family take a break from driving to eat or sleep, either bring your pricey gadgets with you or hide them inside your locked car to avoid theft.

6. Avoid speeding and rapid accelerations to conserve your gas. Remember, hauling heavy cargo is bad for fuel economy as well.

7. Pack emergency supplies of food, water, tools, a cell phone charger, and a flashlight. You may not need them but it never hurts to be safe rather than sorry.

Make sure when you plan your summer road trip you follow these driving photohelpful, safety tips to protect your loved ones. If you are interested in receiving a free, no obligation Automobile quote please give C.H. Edwards a call at 516-249-5200, and let us help you get covered!

Drive safe this summer season!

Written by: Amanda Haase

10 Swimming Pool Safety Tips

10 Swimming Pool Safety Tips

Suinground pool photommer time is here and it’s time to “dive in”. Whether you have a luxury in-ground pool, or plan on installing one in the near future, it is essential to consider the safety effects that come with this special feature of your home.

Before you and your family jump in to cool off, consider taking the following steps:

 

1. Contact your town or municipality to make sure you comply with your local safety standards and building codes.

2. Call your insurance agent or company representative to advise them that you have a pool and speak to them about an umbrella liability policy for additional liability protection.

3. Install a four-sided barrier such as a fence with self closing gates to completely surround the pool.

4. If the house forms the fourth side of the barrier, install alarms on doors leading to the pool area to prevent children from wandering into the pool or spa unsupervised.

children swimming photo5. Never leave small children unsupervised—even for a few seconds.

6. Keep children away from pool filters and other mechanical devices as the suction force may injure them or prevent them from surfacing.

7. Before allowing your company access to your pool or spa, ask them if they know how to swim. Learners should be accompanied by a good swimmer.

8. Check the pool area regularly for glass bottles, toys or other potential accident hazards.

9. Limit alcohol use around the pool. An impaired family member or friend can put themselves in great danger while under the influence and near the pool.

10. Clearly post emergency numbers on the phone, in the event of an accident.

Consider taking these steps this pool season and go the extra mile by purchasing an umbrella policy to protect you above and beyond what your homeowner’s policy would normally.

Give C.H. Edwards a call today at 516-249-5200 for a free no obligation quote on an umbrella policy.

For more information visit our website at www.chedwards.net or email us at info@chedwards.net.

Swim Safely this Summer Season!

Written by: Amanda Haase

Photo by Decorative Concrete Kingdom

Photo by Lars Plougmann

Summer Driving Safety Tips

Summer Driving Safety Tips

summer driving 1Summer is finally here and it’s time to start preparing your vehicles for long summer trips. Ensuring that your vehicle is safe and ready to drive is imperative when keeping you and your loved ones safe. If you haven’t done so already, these are the top five things you should begin checking on your vehicles:

 

1. Tire Tread – make sure theresummer driving 2 is enough tread on your tires to guarantee an efficient grip on the pavement when driving and braking.

2. Suspension – if your car dips or rocks when you go over bumps, or drift around corners (even at low speeds) it may be time to replace your vehicle’s shocks or struts.

3. Alignment – potholes and rough road surfaces from winter weather don’t just make for a bad ride, they can affect the alignment of your wheels. Misaligned wheels can cause a multitude of problems, including uneven tire wear.

4. Under-inflated Tires – make sure your tires have enough air in them to prevent them from going flat.

Turning on the AC in a hot car5. Air conditioning – make sure your air conditioner is working properly to prevent heat exhaustion when taking long trips. This is especially important when traveling with young children and the elderly.

If you have not already, make an appointment with your local Auto Care Facility, so they can properly inspect your vehicle to determine any existing or future problems.

Remember, if you are involved in an automobile accident and need to report a claim, make sure to contact your Insurance Agent as soon as possible so the claims process can begin and you and your car can get back on the road safely.

If you are interested in receiving a quotation for automobile insurance, give C.H. Edwards, Inc. a call at 516-249-5200, and one of our automobile specialists will be happy to help you find coverage while saving you money.

For more information visit our website at www.chedwards.net
Please don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our Youtube channel.

Drive safely this summer!

Written by: Amanda Haase

Tips to Staying Safe, New Years 2015!

Tips to Staying Safe, New Years 2015!

With the New Year approaching, you might be planning on celebrating with friends and family. Whether you are celebrating at a house party with friends and family, or out at a city-sponsored event, taking some precautions will ensure that everyone enjoys their celebrations safely.

Traveling: If you are traveling, don’t drink and drive. If you have a friend who does not drink, ask them to be the designated driver. When you are driving be alert and aware of your surroundings. New Year 2015 formed from sparking digits over black background

Celebrating with Alcohol: If you are going to be celebrating with alcohol it is important to have a full stomach before drinking. Alternate drinks to stay hydrated, such as drinking juice, water or soda in between consuming alcoholic beverages.

Being in a crowd of people: If you are going to be in a crowd of people it is important to distant yourself from people who are being out of control or are intoxicated.

If you are hosting a party: If you are hosting a party call a cab company and book rides for your guests in advance. Knowing that all your guests got home safely leaves less stress and responsibility on you.

If you have pets: If you have pets it is important to show them extra attention. Loud noises can scare pets and make them panic and run. Keep pets in a comfortable room with soft music playing too drowned out any unusual noises.

Start 2015 of right and be safe while celebrating. C.H. Edwards, Inc. is here to answer any questions about any possible claims. Just give us a call at (516) 249-5200.

Happy New Years from the management and staff here at C.H. Edwards!

Written by: Amanda Haase

It’s Hunting Season on Long Island. Are you prepared?

It’s Hunting Season on Long Island. Are you prepared?

As the weather gets colder, many hunters on Long Island are searching for property on which to hunt. At the same time, landowners are asking themselves, should they allow hunters access to their land.

If you are a landowner and plan on allowing hunting access on your property, it is essential to know the importance of obtaining a Hunting lease.

A typical hunting lease will draw up the following agreement terms:

  • Whether or not the hunter will pay a fee or exchange a service in exchange for the use of land
  • What time of day is the hunter permitted to use the land
  • What section of the property is the hunter allowed to use
  • Whether the hunter is allowed to bring along friends and family to hunt
  • If there are any restrictions regarding firearms or bows that may be used on the property
  • Whether or not the hunter may use a tree standwhite-tail-deer

All agreements that are shown on a hunting lease are valuable things to have down in writing. Not only is it protecting the landowner, but the hunter as well.

In addition to obtaining a hunting lease it is important to know what the hunter’s intensions are after killing an animal. Make sure that the hunter is not killing “just to kill” but will use the animal for some means of use. (Not that they leave the animal on your property) Maintain a good relationship with the hunters using your land. It is best to communicate and be aware of the activities going on, on your property during hunting season.

Protect yourself and your land this hunting season. Review your Homeowners and property coverage with your insurance agent to find out what is covered in case of a mishap. If you are not satisfied with your current insurance coverage, call C.H. Edwards, Inc. and our personal lines representative will be happy to help find you coverage that fits you.

Written by: Amanda Haase

Pumpkin Carving Safety Tips

Pumpkin Carving Safety Tips

It’s finally here, Pumpkin carving time! Kids, teens and even adults wait all year to carve their spooky Jack-O-Lantern’s for Halloween night! Although carving pumpkins can be fun for the whole family, it can also be dangerous and turn Halloween into a nightmare. Pumpkins can be both slippery and tough, a recipe for accidents.

pumpkin carving 1

Follow some of these helpful safety tips when you’re carving your pumpkin this year:

Use the right tools: Consumer Reports tested pumpkin-carving kits a few years ago and observed that one advantage of the specialty tools was that they can saw through rinds, poke holes, and scoop out innards without being razor-sharp. The instruments were also generally small, which made them easier to control than knives and easier to use when making intricate cuts.

Carve before taking off the top of the pumpkin: Carving the pumpkin before cutting the top off will help you avoid accidentally sticking your hand in the pumpkin while cutting inwards.

Take precautions: Carve in a clean, dry, and well-lit area, keeping your hands and tools clean and dry. Most important, take your time. Remember, this is a fun activity and fun shouldn’t be rushed!

Don’t let kids carve: It is important to not let young children carve by them selves. Instead, have children draw markings on the pumpkin and help clean the innards out with a spoon or their hands. If you have a young teen and they are trusted with a knife, be sure they are using a short knife and supervise as they are carving.

Halloween and fall activities are fun for everyone. Make sure you are enforcing safety this year while you share these activities with the ones you love. Practicing safety can help prevent you from having your own “Nightmare before Halloween”.pumpkin carving 2

At C.H. Edwards, Inc., we take pride in offering you helpful information so that you can make the most of the time you spend with your family. Call us if we can be of assistance with any of your Halloween related claims.

The Management and Staff at C.H. Edwards, Inc. wish you a Happy and Safe Halloween!

 

School’s Open-Please Drive Carefully!

School’s Open-Please Drive Carefully!

Summer is over and the kids are back at school. We are sharing the roads with school buses again. These buses carry our students to and from school in a safe and timely fashion. Let’s do our part by making an effort to share the road safely.school bus

Keep some simple safety tips in mind.
• When a school bus stops and the red lights are flashing, traffic in both directions must stop. This rule even applies on a divided highway or school parking lot.

• Students should always cross the street in front of the bus. Pay careful attention for this. Bus drivers will as well.

• Lights will continue to flash until the student has reached the other side of the road or if staying on the same side, is 15 feet from the bus.
This is not just a courtesy, it’s the law. New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law (Section 1174) states that an illegal passing penalty for first time offenders carries a fine of between $250-$400, plus 5 points on your license and even the possibility of jail time. Points on your license can make it difficult to obtain new automobile insurance coverage or may increase the rate on your current policy.
We often drive to and from in a hurry to get to our destination. Make some extra time to practice safety.

Some areas of Long Island have installed School Zone Speed Cameras. These cameras were tested over the summer and warnings were issued. These cameras became activated on the first day of school and the violation now carries an $80 fine. Observe and Obey the speed limits in school zones.

Now you have the facts. Make this a safe and happy school year from your friends at C.H. Edwards, Inc. We offer all the insurance your family needs. Give us a call!

Written by: Denise Visco

 

Are you Insuring a new teen driver? Have you discussed Cell Phone Safety with them?

Are you Insuring a new teen driver? Have you discussed Cell Phone Safety with them?

textingHas your teen recently passed their road test? You know what that means; “Mom can I have the keys?”. As a parent this is a good time to enforce rules regarding Cell Phone Safety, also referred to as Texting and Driving.

11% of all drivers under the age of 20 years old are involved in some sort of fatal car crash due to being distracted at the wheel. Before handing over the keys it is important do go over some specific pointers with your new driver :

Out of Sight Out of Mind – Explain to your teen that before getting behind the wheel put their phone on silent and either put it in the back seat or tucked away in a bag. This will decrease the chance of them wanting to respond to a message.

Designated Texter – It may sound funny but have your teen set a designated texter who can read the messages and respond to them. You won’t miss a beat with your Best Friend helping you respond to important text messages.

Setting a Good Example – If your teen sees you texting and driving, what do you think they will do? Text and drive! Set a good example while your driving with them in the car. Do not take out your phone and show them that it can wait!

Texting at a Stop Light – Make your teen aware that texting at a stop light is also unsafe and illegal! Texting at a stop light causes you to loose focus on what is going on around you.

Before letting your teen go out for their first drive alone, enforce these rules and go over these important safety tips to ensure their safety.

Call C.H. Edwards, Inc. and we can help you protect your teen with one of our Automobile policies. Our Personal Lines Representatives will help you find coverage that best fits you and your new driver! Call us toll free at 877-420-6918 or at 513-249-5200 during our office hours of Monday – Friday 8:30-4:30.

Play it safe! Call now!