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Cooling off in the pool is one of the most fun ways to beat the summer heat. But before you jump in, there are a few safety tips to keep in mind. Many of these suggestions are geared towards your children or young family members, but it is up to you to enforce them and keep everyone safe. Here are six pool safety measures to take that protect both you and your loved ones this summer.  

Secure Your Pool 

A vital first step in pool safety is building a barrier around the perimeter. A four-sided isolation fence reduces the risk of a child drowning by 83% compared to three-sided property-line fencing. Use fencing that is durable, tall, and self-latching with a latch that is out of reach for young children. For above-ground pools, remove the steps or ladder when an adult is not present.  

Designated Water Watcher 

When children are swimming, there should always be a designated adult within arm’s reach to assist if needed. If this adult is not in the water, they should be fully prepared to dive in at any time. Watching the water should also be their only task, especially if they are sitting poolside. That means no texting, reading, or playing games on their phone. A cell phone should still be within arm’s reach to call for help, but not kept in a clothing pocket to prevent water damage. 

Swimming Lessons 

If you plan to bring your infant into the pool, it is not necessary to have completed infant swim lessons (although classes are available). Be sure your baby has on safety-certified flotation attire, and hold them the entire time they are in the water. For older children who are going to swim or play in the pool without an adult holding onto them, it is a good idea to invest time in basic swim lessons. Teaching your children how to paddle with their head above water, float on their back, and safely exit the pool is imperative. As they become more confident, they can remove water wings and floats while learning different swimming techniques. 

Drain Awareness 

Children who are able to swim on their own should be educated on what to do when they approach the pool drain. If the drain is easily accessible, show your child how the drain uses strong suction to pull water from the pool. Teach children that if they get too close to the drain, their hair, swimsuit, jewelry, or limbs can become pulled down by the suction as well. While the drain is not something to be afraid of, children should not play with the drain or go near it in order to allow the pool to filter water properly. 

CPR and Emergency Plan  

It is always best to prepare for an emergency that may never happen, rather than to be unprepared if the unexpected occurs. Your family should have a plan for what to do if someone needs help or is drowning. Familiarize yourself with how to perform CPR on both infants, children, and adults. Courses and certifications are often available in your community. Recruit teens or older children to call 911, and make sure younger children know to clear the pool and wait for instructions. Practice your plan so each person knows their responsibility. 

Pool Insurance 

Your general homeowners insurance may offer some liability coverage, should a guest injure themselves while in your pool. Pool owners are also liable for injuries, whether the guest has permission to use the pool or not. Additionally, most homeowners policies only cover a certain percentage of the cost of non-residential structures on the property. If your pool becomes damaged by a guest or natural accident such as a tree falling on it, you would only receive a percentage of the cost to replace it. Keep your family and guests safe by maintaining the proper liability and damage coverage. Your local insurance agent can help determine what coverage is right for you.  

When you set the proper ground rules for pool safety, everyone is able to enjoy a fun and worry-free experience. Use these tips and maintain the appropriate insurance coverage so you can feel secure and safe this summer. 

As the days grow longer and warmer, you may find yourself soaking in the sunshine for a few more hours each day. This has many health benefits from improving your mood to increasing your vitamin D absorption, but there is a key caveat – you must protect your skin against sun damage. Here are four ways you can stay safe while enjoying the outdoors this summer. 

Apply Sunscreen (Even on Cloudy Days!)

While this may seem like the most obvious way to protect yourself from sun damage and skin cancer, you should ensure that you are using the appropriate SPF level and reapplying at the correct intervals. Sunscreen protects your skin from UV rays which cause burns and potentially skin cancer. Because UV rays are reflected off water particles, they can actually be even more harmful on cloudy or overcast days. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more for your face and body, and reapply often on days when you are outdoors. Make sure the sunscreen is not expired or more than three years old, as it will no longer be effective.  

A recent FDA study also revealed that many of the common ingredients in chemical-based sunscreens (which absorb UV rays rather than repel them) are also absorbed into the bloodstream at levels above what the FDA deems “safe.” Look for products that use minerals such as zinc instead. These minerals sit atop the skin and reflect UV rays like a mirror on your body, but they are not absorbed into your body.  

Wear Protective Clothing

On days that you plan to be in the sun for a few hours or more, choose your attire carefully to ensure you are protected from UV rays. If your job requires you to be outside, try to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants or skirts. For those days at the beach or pool, bring a t-shirt or cover-up to wear when you are not in the water. Dark clothing provides more protection from UV rays, and many manufacturers are now creating clothing with an SPF 30 rating or more.  

Cover Your Head

It is easy to overlook caring for our scalp on days spent outside, but your head actually needs to be covered as well! Look for a wide-brimmed hat in a woven fabric without holes. Straw hats are often popular in the summer due to their breathability, but a wide weave will still let UV rays through. Wide-brimmed hats are a great choice because you benefit from your entire head and shoulders being shaded. A baseball cap is another good option, but be sure to apply a mineral-based broad spectrum sunscreen to your neck and ears.  

Don’t Forget Sunglasses

Sunglasses do more than simply prevent you from squinting on a bright day – they also help protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the chance of developing cataracts. Any pair purchased in the U.S., regardless of the price point, will most likely include UV-blocking lenses. Pairs with larger lenses, wrap-around sides, or wider arms will also block rays that can creep in from other angles. Similar to sunscreen, you should wear sunglasses even on overcast days.  

 While each of these practices is good to implement on its own, it is ideal to combine sunscreen, protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses for full-coverage UV protection. As you make plans to spend days outdoors, be sure you are caring for your skin. If needed, don’t be afraid to look for shade or bring a portable shade tent for extra protection. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, but it is also one of the most easily prevented if proper sun safety measures are followed. Reduce your risk today by following these steps this summer!  

When starting a business, you always have the goal to continue growing in mind. The last thing on your mind would be the types of insurance coverages you would need to have your business running at full efficiency. But how do you know what insurance to get for your business size? What happens when your company succeeds and sees growth? Not to worry, we have compiled a bit of information on what to do when it comes to insurance coverages for your growing business below. The types and amount of insurance that you need for your small business are based on several factors. First things first, you need to ask yourself: What type of business are you in? Where is it located? Do you have employees?  

Small Sized Businesses 

How can you classify your business as a small business? Ask yourself these two questions: Do you know all your employees by name? Does your business make less than a few million dollars a year? If you were able to answer yes to both of these questions, it’s safe to say you are operating a small business. If you prefer to see numbers to decide the business size, many insurers consider businesses with 50 or fewer people a small business. Now onto insurance, you need to have when you are a small business. A business owner’s policy, typically referred to as a BOP, is available only for businesses with fewer than 100 employees and revenues of up to about $5 million or less. You have the option to purchase customized insurance to cover specific aspects of your business, but obtaining a BOP is a pretty standard business insurance policy that all small businesses should have in their coverages.  

Policies You May Need: 

• General Liability 
• Professional Liability 
• Worker’s Compensation 
• Cyber Liability 
• Commercial Auto 
• Employment Practices Liability 
• Directors & Officers 
• Business Owner’s Package 

Medium Sized Businesses 

Typically, if you have seen a growth in your business that has resulted in your company having between 50 to 1,000 employees and annual revenue between $10 million and $1 billion, you’ve moved into the medium-sized business category. Insurers usually have special policies set aside for businesses within this category that may combine property and liability coverages. If your business owns expensive equipment or business locations in more than one state, you can seek special customized policies.  

Policies You May Need: 

• General Liability 
• Professional Liability 
• Worker’s Compensation 
• Cyber Liability 
• Commercial Auto 
• Employment Practices Liability 
• Directors & Officers 
• Business Owner’s Package 
• Commercial Property 
• Commercial Liability 

Large Businesses 

If your business has at least 500 employees, we can safely categorize your business as a large business. These forms of businesses usually consist of multi-million-dollar risks and commercial insurance that is customized to meet a company’s specific needs. Larger companies usually will have dedicated employees who maintain and practice risk management for your company.  

Policies You May Need: 

• General Liability 
• Professional Liability 
• Worker’s Compensation 
• Cyber Liability 
• Commercial Auto 
• Employment Practices Liability 
• Directors & Officers 
• Business Owner’s Package 
• Commercial Property 
• Commercial Liability 
• Property Solutions 
• Casualty Solutions 

 It is important to keep in mind that these insurance policies may not all apply to your specific business. Keep in mind that you may require special forms of coverage depending on your business. For more information on what types of insurance your business needs, reach out to your local insurance agent today.  

Summer is beginning to peek its head around the corner and it’s time to get your home ready for the summer heat! You should have maintenance upkeeps throughout the year, but summer is going to be our main focus in this blog. By starting your maintenance early, around mid to late May, you can bring down energy bills, improve the efficiency and life of the components of your home, and increase the overall safety of your property. Below are some ways you can help you help your home run at its best during the summer months.  

Home Exterior  

Over the course of a year, your home’s exterior can become covered with dirt, debris, dust, or even mold that makes your home lose its curb appeal. By using a power washer, you can clean off the dirt on all points of your home no matter how many levels it has. While inspecting the exterior of your home you may come across pieces of chipped, cracked, or faded exterior paint. If so, it is important to repair those quickly as fully painted homes are more protected against the elements. Inspecting your foundation is the most important task to undertake when doing your summer maintenance. If your foundation is cracked it can create an entryway for water that can lead to serious flooding.  

Gutter Cleaning  

Cleaning out your gutters is typically a job saved for the fall but when you experience high levels of rainstorms, they can knock some tree foliage down into your gutters. Gutters are designed to collect rainwater from the roof and steer it away from the foundation of the home. Clearing out your gutters is important to ensure that there is no water coming to damage the structural foundation. Did you know that foundation repairs can cost almost close to $10,000? Clogged gutters can also cause issues for your roof due to the increased weight on them. If your gutters become too full, there is a potential risk of the gutters being pulled off of your home, causing damage to the shingles of the roof and the exterior of the house.  

Windows and Doors  

It’s crucial to check your sealant on your home’s windows and doors. If there are any leaks in the sealant, you could be letting out cold air causing your energy bill to increase in the summer months and potentially letting in little bugs. When inspecting your windows, check the screens for any rips or tears. Replacing or repairing these screens will help keep debris, leaves, insects, and other animals from entering your home when you aren’t inside.   

Looking to add more home-related coverages to your policy? Talk to your local agent today for more information. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that 40 to 60 percent of small businesses never recover and re-open their doors after a disaster. It is in the best interest of your business to maintain both adequate insurance coverage and a disaster recovery plan so you’re prepared to bounce back when Mother Nature comes calling.  

In 2019, there were 14 major weather climate disasters that totaled community losses exceeding $1 billion in the United States. This included flooding, tornado outbreaks, hail storms, droughts, wildfires, and tropical storms. If you find yourself in need of rebuilding after a similar event, it’s important to: 

Stay On a Short Timeline 

If you’re a small business, you’ve got to communicate your closure to customers, employees, and stakeholders, then find a way to re-open within five days if you want to preserve the chance you will still be in business in a year. Penning a plan for a course of action if your business becomes nonoperational due to disaster is key. This includes a plan to protect assets and access important documents such as insurance policies, and hardware inventory including serial numbers, business contracts, and employee records.  

Document All Damage  

Your disaster response plan should indicate which individual within the company is responsible for photographing, videotaping, and documenting physical damage to property to assist with an insurance claim.

Call Your Agent  

If a natural disaster impacts your business, contact your insurance representative immediately. A delay in communication can mean a delay in financial assistance, and a timely reopening is crucial to protecting the odds of your business making it long-term.

Look Into Loans 

Take advantage of offerings from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA). The SBA Office of Disaster Assistance offers low-interest loans for repairing or replacing real estate, inventory, machinery and equipment, and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed in an event that has been declared a disaster. 

Check Your Air Quality 

Mold can grow anywhere oxygen and moisture are present. If your building hasn’t had the humidity under control for a few days, you haven’t had maintenance services, appliances haven’t been properly vented, or your roof has been leaking, you’ll want to make sure your work environment is safe for employees to return. 

Find a Temporary Location 

If necessary, move to an alternate location with access to duplicate data. It’s more important that you continue operations than it is you wait to re-open operations at your current location. The more contact you can maintain with your customer base and employees, the better. Operating on a virtual server (also known as cloud hosting) or having access to a back-up of all company data off-site can make this possible when necessary. This will allow your company data to be accessible from anywhere, rather than only at your original location. 

Communicate your priorities to your employees. First and foremost, take care of your people. You want your employees to hear that their safety is of utmost importance, whereas computers and carpet can be replaced. Keep in mind the financial strain a lapse in pay can cause an individual, and work to create a team mentality that despite the current struggle, the goal is to continue operations–or re-open as quickly as possible–for long-term success. The state may provide temporary assistance for employees who need support during the transition.  

When it comes to automotive insurance, you may find yourself faced with multiple decisions to make. Should you choose a high or low deductible plan, minimum or maximum coverage, or pay premiums monthly versus an annual lump sum? Although there is truly no wrong answer, it is important to ensure you have the best possible coverage for your budget, driving habits, and lifestyle. Your local insurance agent can guide you toward the ideal policy for your needs, but this may still leave you questioning the frequency of your payments.  

Depending on your budget, it may be harder for you to pay your insurance premium up-front. However, this is still the most cost-effective way to purchase coverage. Insurers may offer what seems like a discount when you pay annually, and this absolutely benefits you as the consumer. However, what this also means is that those who elect to pay monthly or quarterly are actually being charged added fees as a penalty for delaying payments. These fees cover the insurer’s “carrying cost” of delaying collection, the back-office expense for processing multiple transactions, and the risk of consumers terminating payments earlier than expected. If you are able to pay annually without causing financial strain, this is a great option for you. 

Of course, the most ideal payment schedule remains one that you can manage. Paying annually in a lump sum could leave you strained to cover other bills such as a car payment, or you could find yourself facing significant late fees if you aren’t able to make the next year’s annual payment. Should you choose to pay monthly, a major benefit is being able to maintain a consistent budget schedule without falling behind or incurring late fees.  

One additional payment preference is using either a personal debit or credit card or setting up automated electronic funds transfers (EFT). When using a card to make a payment, you may run into additional card processing fees from the insurer. Some providers will offer an incentive discount should you choose to pay via an EFT, which comes directly from your bank and does not charge the insurance provider additional fees.  

Overall, there is no incorrect method for making payments toward your auto insurance premium. Keep your budget in mind, and be sure to speak with your local insurance agent to obtain the appropriate level of coverage. Once you understand the policy that is best for you, you can make an informed decision regarding how often to pay. Your agent can help provide clarity around the price differences between paying monthly and annually, so contact your local insurance agent today.  

One of the most beautiful aspects of nature is that it is ever-changing. You and your family may visit a National Park in the summer, only to return in the winter and discover completely new surroundings. This can be exciting, but it also means nature presents its own unpredictable challenges.  

When traveling and planning outdoor adventures, uncontrollable forces such as weather or wildlife can potentially damage your personal property and belongings. Recreational insurance provides both liability and property coverage, ensuring that you are protected on both fronts. While you hope to never encounter dangerous animals or damaging circumstances, you can still be prepared for anything. Here are ways you can practice responsible outdoorsmanship and leave nature exactly as you found it.  

Secure Your Stuff 

One of the best ways to be sure you will not have any uninvited wildlife guests at your campsite is to secure all your possessions and food. Should you leave food or other “attractive” items within reach of animals, they may wander into your site and cause unintended damage to your vehicle, belongings, or motor coach. Recreational insurance can help you recover the cost of this lost or damaged property, but your immediate safety is always a higher priority.  

To prevent bears, wolves, or even simply raccoons from causing campsite damages, double-bag your garbage and secure food in a locked cooler at least 20 feet off the ground and eight feet from the trunk of a tree. If you are having trouble hanging your food on one tree, look for ways you can tie a rope around two trees that are at least 16 feet apart. 

Take Your Trash 

In addition to using two thick garbage bags and storing these off the ground alongside your locked cooler of food, it is vital that you remove all trash from the campsite, park, or hiking trails when you depart. The scent can still attract dangerous wildlife, and hungry animals are not known for being careful. They could cause damage to your personal property or harm you and your guests. It is also simply the responsible thing to do, and it ensures the natural scenery is just as enjoyable for the next group who comes across it.  

Using renewable or eco-friendly products while outdoors is another way to minimize waste and leave the land how you found it. This could include using biodegradable soap for bathing and cleaning cookware, compostable plates and utensils, and solar lighting to reduce the use of gas.  

Prepare Your Plan 

When taking long road trips, prepare a plan for your stops, driving schedule, and how you will handle potential changes or roadside emergencies. By knowing where you will stop to sleep, you can remove the stress of late-night accommodation searches and potential driving hazards as your group grows tired. A dedicated driving schedule also sets expectations and allows everyone to get the rest they need. Additionally, with an emergency plan in hand, your group can travel confidently knowing they are prepared for a number of automotive incidents that can take place.  

Recreational insurance can provide additional assurance. Damages, vandalism, and even theft to your car, van, or RV will be covered if this unfortunate circumstance takes place during your trip. Speak with your agent to determine the best policy for you and your adventures. 

 In the past, most businesses retained their data either in a hard copy format, such as paper records and files or on a private computer server that was stored within their building. However, cloud-based software has exploded in recent years. It offers affordable and scalable methods for data management to companies of all sizes. The data can be accessed from virtually anywhere, allowing businesses to operate remotely or after hours as needed.
 

While there are numerous benefits to digital data transformation, it also leaves companies vulnerable to cyber attackers and potential data breaches. Cyber liability insurance can protect your business should the unfortunate occur. In most cases, it is not included as part of your general liability insurance, so you will need to speak with your agent to add this to your policy. Here are some ways you can stay protected and determine if cyber liability coverage is right for your business. 

The Digital Age 

The majority of companies today, whether they are major corporations or small, locally-owned operations, use the internet and technology to conduct business in some way. Regardless of whether your business uses the internet only to send emails or manage your entire portfolio of clients, your data could be hacked and used against you.
If you use technology at all, it is a good idea to speak with your agent about cyber liability insurance. Should a breach occur, you and your business would not be held liable for any covered damage that occurs.  

Client Protection 

When you handle sensitive information about your clients, such as billing details, financial records, or even simply names and addresses, your clients are trusting you to keep these details private. Should a cyber attacker obtain this data, they can use it in many ways. These range from posing as your company to “phish” for additional confidential information to making client details available publicly.
This can be damaging and even embarrassing for your customers, and it can also severely harm your company’s reputation. By ensuring that you have cyber liability insurance in place, you can cover the expensive yet vital processes such as notifying clients about a data breach, restoring clients’ compromised identities, recovering corrupted data, and repairing damaged software.  

Confidential Company Data  

Businesses may also decide to obtain cyber liability insurance if they retain confidential data of their own such as trade secrets, privately developed software, and other intellectual property – or even simply their employees’ Social Security Numbers. If this information is stolen by cyber attackers, the added liability insurance can even cover the cost of legal expenses, forensic investigation, and loss of business income during the time of the breach. Any stolen data that is used without your consent or knowledge is legally protected. This allows for a quicker recovery of the data, along with a more streamlined litigation process so your business can return back to normal as soon as possible.
 

Cyber liability insurance is a vital safeguard against potential hackers. While you hope never to experience a data breach to begin with, having this additional coverage can significantly improve your company’s reputation, your clients’ trust, and the digital security of your employees and private intellectual property. 

Employee Practices Liability, often referred to as EPLI, covers businesses against claims by workers that their legal rights as employees of the respective company have been violated. There has been a considerably large rise in lawsuits where employees file against their employers. Traditionally, most lawsuits are filed against larger corporations such as Walmart or Target, but no company is fully immune to the risk of a lawsuit via an employee. Smaller companies are now beginning to understand that they, too, are going to need the type of insurance protection that EPLI provides. Some insurance providers add this as an endorsement to a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) they offer, but remember that an endorsement will change the terms and conditions of the policy. Other companies tend to offer EPLI as a stand-alone coverage policy.  

What EPLI Covers 

• Sexual harassment 
• Discrimination 
• Wrongful termination 
• Breach of employment contract 
• Negligent evaluation 
• Failure to employ or promote 
• Wrongful discipline 
• Deprivation of career opportunity 
• Wrongful infliction of emotional distress 
• Mismanagement of employee benefit plans 

Cost of Coverage 

As we see with every type of insurance coverage, the coverage cost you pay will always depend on the type of business you are insuring. When it comes to EPLI coverage, the cost depends on your business type, the number of employees you have, and various additional risk factors. Risk factors usually refer to if your company has been sued over employment practices in the past. The policies will reimburse your company against the costs of defending a lawsuit in court and for judgments and settlements. Whether your company wins or loses the lawsuit, the policy will still cover the legal costs. Typically, the policies will not pay for punitive damages, civil or criminal fines. If there are liabilities covered by other insurance policies, they are excluded from EPLI policies. 

How to Avoid Potential Employee Lawsuits 

When reviewing your hiring and screening process make an effort to make sure that you are avoiding discrimination the entire process. Ensure that you have the corporate policies posted throughout the workplace and a dedicated section in the employee handbook so the policies are easily accessible to all employees. Take care in teaching your employees the proper steps to take if they are the object of sexual harassment or discrimination while at the workplace. Express to all employees that they need to know where the company stands on what behaviors are acceptable and which ones are not permitted. Keep documentation on everything that occurs and the steps that you and your company are taking to prevent and solve employee disputes.  

If you would like to learn more about the policies and coverage included in Employee Practices Liability insurance, reach out to your local agent today.  

Many people in the world still have jobs and positions that require them to complete work outside no matter the weather. Worker’s compensation benefits were indoctrinated to help protect those who work in labor-intensive positions. While we can lean on the workers’ compensation benefits to cover work-related injuries, it is in everyone’s best interest to try and avoid all potential harm that could occur. Winter is in full force and those workers who are out on the job should keep in mind the potential dangers that come with the territory. Working outdoors in cold, wet, icy, or snowy conditions can lead to cold-related illnesses and injuries such as hypothermia and frostbite. Below we’ve reviewed some of the best ways to help prevent any winter weather-related injuries from happening to you or your staff.  

Who Is at Risk? 

As mentioned previously, those who work in a cold environment may be at risk of cold-related illnesses and injuries, or “cold stress.” There are many professions where workers must be subject to the harsh weather that comes in the winter months. These professionals include police officers, snow cleanup crews, sanitation workers, farmers, construction workers, and many others. If your employees take certain medications, are in poor health, or suffer from any illness (diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease) it could mean they will face high risks in the work field.  

Prominent Winter Injuries and Illness  

There are three prominent illnesses that can be contracted through working in a cold-weather position. Below we have listed the three illnesses, what causes them, and how to prevent them from occurring. 

Hypothermia  

What Causes It: 

When exposed to cold temperatures, the body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Once outside for a prolonged period of time, the heat that your body has stored will be used up. As your body heat is released the temperature of the body will become abnormally low and begin the process of hypothermia. Early symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, fatigue, loss of coordination, confusion, or disorientation. 

How to Prevent:  

Hypothermia is an illness that affects the brain. This will cause the victim to be unable to think clearly or perform normal functionality. To combat this, work with another coworker or work in groups.  

Frostbite 

What Causes It: 

Your fingers, toes, nose, and ears are the most prominent body parts that are affected by frostbite and the most prone to it. Frostbite occurs when a part of the body freezes, causing damage to the tissue. Signs of frostbite beginning include numbness or tingling, stinging, or pain on or near the affected area.  

How to Prevent: 

Checking the weather and wearing protective clothing to combat the weather of that day. If working in icy and snowy conditions items such as warm gloves, insulated footwear, and warm hats will be the best choices. 

Trench Foot  

What Causes It: 

If your feet are kept wet and cold for an extended period of time, you may come down with trench foot. Moisture causes your feet to lose heat, and this can slow the blood flow and damage tissue. As an example, trench foot can happen when it is as warm as 60 degrees. 

How to Prevent: 

Be mindful of your footwear and the maintenance of them in order to help keep your feet warm and dry. 

If you need to add worker’s compensation to your business insurance plan or would like to know more about the policy, talk with your local agent today.