Prevent Scary Accidents This Halloween

Halloween is the time of year for some spooky fun. But as always, along with fun comes the need for safety to prevent scary accidents on your property.

If you plan to welcome trick or treaters, clear away any yard debris or clutter from your porch or walkway. Little ones love Halloween, but when their enthusiasm and a long or cumbersome costume meets debris, they could trip, fall, and get seriously injured.  Likewise, you wouldn’t want an adult taking their kids trick or treating to fall on your front steps or sidewalk, either. For this same reason, be sure your porch or walkway is well lit. And if your kids are trick or treating, be sure to check their candy when they get home. Any pieces that look suspicious (such as, the wrapper has been opened or it looks like it’s been tampered with in some way), should be thrown away immediately.

Carving pumpkins into scary or funny jack o’lanterns is a favorite holiday activity, but it can also be dangerous. If you’re not handling the knife correctly, or little hands are trying to carve their pumpkin by themselves, it could lead to a serious injury. Paint or decorate the pumpkins instead of carving them, especially if you’re working with kids. Jack o’lanterns are traditionally lit with candles, but open flames are another potential safety hazard. If the pumpkin is sitting on your front porch or in a high-traffic area, it could easily be knocked over.  Use a battery-powered LED candle rather than a live flame instead. Better yet, stick with an artificial jack o’lantern.  Sure, the genuine article always looks better, but the artificial version is much safer!

And of course, we can’t forget the Halloween party, whether it’s a traditional costumed gathering or not. If you’ll be serving alcohol, make sure your guests are able to drive or have named a designated driver.  Encourage them to stay over if they’re not able to drive.  

If you’re expecting a lot of visitors at your house this Halloween, whether for a party or the neighborhood trick or treat night, make sure you’re protected. Consider umbrella coverage for your homeowners’ policy, which can give you additional coverage should a visitor get injured on your property.  ETA Benefits Group works with several carriers that offer this valuable protection.  Please contact us to learn more.

How do you celebrate Halloween? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Quick Tips to Get Your Car Ready for Fall

Now that you’ve gotten your home ready for fall by using these tips,

it’s time to do the same with your car. Just like your home, fall is a great time to do some preventative maintenance on your vehicle before it’s tested by harsh winter weather. Depending on where you live, you may get snow and ice as early as October, so it’s important to have your vehicle ready.

Fill fluids. You’ll need wiper fluid to wash the nasty grime of road salt, slush, and moisture residue off your windshield. Make sure you use a fluid that is meant for cold weather conditions, otherwise it may freeze on your windshield and won’t be very helpful. As always, do routine oil, transmission, and HVAC fluid checks throughout the winter to ensure your car’s engine and electrical system runs smoothly.

Check tire tread. If you get a lot of snow and ice where you live, it’s critical that you have good tires on your vehicle. Make sure the tread is in good shape and not worn down so you have good traction.

Check and replace brake pads as needed. Good brakes are another necessity in bad weather. You need to be able to go downhill slowly and navigate safely if you skid on an icy patch.  You want to make sure your brake pads have enough “grab” so they can help you stop suddenly if you need to.

Check headlights. Visibility is essential when driving in snow and icy conditions, and if one of your headlights is out, it can be very risky to simply rely on one to see where you’re going.  Replace any burned out head- or taillight bulbs to ensure your visibility is good.

Assemble an emergency kit. Bad weather can strike at any time, so make sure you’re prepared. Pack an emergency kit to keep in your trunk that contains cat litter (to help with traction if you’re stuck), a flashlight with extra batteries, a blanket, and even some non-perishable food just in case.

Auto maintenance is essential all year round so your vehicle is in good working condition. Accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, but some preventative maintenance can go a long way towards keeping you and your passengers safe. ETA Benefits Group works with several auto insurance carriers and can shop around to find the best coverage for your needs. Contact us for a free, no obligation quote.

What else can you do to prepare your car for winter weather? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

"In Case of Fire": Safety Devices for Your Home

The threat of a house fire can be very scary.  But there are ways that you can be alerted in case of a fire and get yourself and your family out of the house safely.  Although each one of these protective measures are effective by itself, ideally you should have all of them in place.

Smoke detectors. Most homes have smoke detectors, and if yours doesn’t, your local fire department may be able to get one for you. Some models also come equipped with a CO detector which can give you added security.  Professionals advise checking the batteries in your smoke detector twice a year (switching the clocks is standard practice for many of us), but if it slips your mind, the device will start chirping like a bird or make another irritating noise signaling that it’s time for new batteries!

Fire extinguishers. You should have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen should a grease fire break out or you have electrical problem with one of your appliances, and it’s also a good idea to keep one in the basement in case something goes haywire with your washer or dryer. There are several different makes and models on the market; this site explains the different types available and how to use them.  

CO detectors. According to the National Fire Protection Association’s website, carbon monoxide is an “odorless, colorless gas created when fuels burn incompletely.  In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel are potential sources of carbon monoxide.” Carbon monoxide poisoning has been called a silent killer, and these fumes can be lurking in your home without you even realizing it. Fire safety professionals recommend installing detectors right outside of sleeping areas and testing them once a month.

   

Fire escape plan. It is important that your family establish an escape plan, and hopefully you never need to use it! Everyone in the family should know two ways out of every room, and you should agree on a meeting place outside should anyone get separated. Fire safety professionals suggest reviewing the plan every six months so everyone in the family gets a refresher and remembers what they are supposed to do and where they are supposed to meet.

Are all of the above components in your home fire safety plan?  Is there anything else you would add? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Fun Fall Activities for the Whole Family

For many of us, fall is a favorite time of year. There’s that slight nip in the air, football on the TV every weekend, and of course, pumpkin spice everything! Fall is the time to spend some real quality time outdoors before the harsh winter temperatures arrive and keep many of us inside.

From building a fire and toasting S’mores to tailgating before the big game, there’s no shortage of fun things for the whole family to enjoy this time of year. Below are just a few ideas:

Go on a hayride. Take a tour through a farm or the woods in a wagon and sit on an old-fashioned hay bale.  Bonus—there’s usually apple cider or hot chocolate waiting for you at the end.

Wander through a corn maze. Test out your navigational and problem-solving skills by wandering through a corn field and trying to find your way out.  

Pick apples or pumpkins (or both!) Nothing says fall like walking through a pumpkin patch and choosing just the right one to decorate your house or carve into a jack o’ lantern.  Or visiting an orchard and picking apples right off the trees. Both activities should preferably be done on a day that’s a bit chilly just to add some authenticity to the whole experience.

Baking. It’s time to trade the cool treats like ice cream for the warm, comforting ones like cakes and cobblers. Now that you’ve stocked up on plenty of ingredients at the pumpkin patch or orchard, it’s time to put them to use.  Think pumpkin bread, cookies, and brownies, and of course apple cobbler and apple pie. Baking is also a great way to get kids involved. They can help measure dry ingredients or gather the items you’ll need (and taste the finished product, of course!)

Leaf peeping. Here at ETA Benefits Group, we’re fortunate to live in beautiful northeast Pennsylvania, where people come from miles around to see our colorful foliage every year. Take a drive “up north” to check out the rich and vibrant red, orange, and gold leaves that peak for a few weeks in October, then the colors fade and before long the leaves are falling off the trees. (Jumping into a pile of leaves is another fun activity all on its own!) Some places offer steam train rides through the woods, which is a unique way to admire the changing colors.

Whatever you do, make the most of this beautiful time of year!

What are some of your favorite fall activities? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below!