Monday, July 29, 2013

King of the Grill: Serving Up Grill Safety [INFOGRAPHIC]

Wednesday, May, 22nd, 2013 at 12:00 pm

Throughout the United States, Memorial Day signifies the start of summer. This federal holiday is observed annually to honor American soldiers who gave their lives in defense of this country.
One of the grand traditions associated with Memorial Day weekend is cooking food on an outdoor grill, enjoying the weather and spending time with friends and family. Grilling and barbecue can be fun and tasty, but certain safety precautions are a must. The infographic below provides some general grill safety information, grilling tips and common pitfalls to avoid to help ensure a safe holiday weekend.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Life Insurance, Is Your Family Protected

Life insurance — it's protection for your family and peace of mind for you. It's amazing when you really stop and think about all the effort you put into protecting your family. You provide a roof over their head, a safe, loving environment and the encouragement to tackle each day confidently. You do all this naturally because you love them. Life doesn't come with any guarantees and that's why there's life insurance. It helps provide some financial security in the event of the unthinkable. With each payment you know you're helping to protect your family with a way to help cover medical bills, funeral costs, mortgage or rent, college tuition and many other living expenses. That's peace of mind for you knowing that regardless of what happens, you've provided for them.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Dynamic Message Signs: Travel Times and AMBER Alerts

You’re running late to work — again — and the highway is at a crawl. Will you ever make it? Luckily, there’s an electronic road sign up ahead — only 15 more minutes until your exit, it reads. Saved by the sign!
Another day, you’re driving down the interstate when you see a message broadcast on another road sign. “AMBER Alert!,” it says. It gives the description of a car so that hundreds of drivers on the interstate, as well as all the people listening to local TV news and radio broadcasts, know to be on the lookout for the vehicle.
Road signs have come a long way from their origins, the stone markers of Roman times. Of the hundreds of years of road sign history, electronic road signs, also known as dynamic message or variable message signs, have only been around for about the last three decades.
Dynamic road signs started out as diesel-powered machines using small light bulbs to spell the words. In the 1980s, signs that used flip dots became popular. These signs used an electromagnetic field to flip the dots, which were black on one side and fluorescent green on the other, to create messages. Then, in the 1990s, companies began using light-emitting diodes, or LED, technology, which is still used today.
Transportation officials control the signs, alerting drivers to construction work, an accident blocking traffic, detours, dangerous weather conditions and more. For example, if an accident or a disabled vehicle is obstructing traffic, dynamic message signs can guide drivers toward open lanes. If an area is experiencing bad weather, the signs might warn motorists about ice and snow in wintry weather, fog and strong winds, as well as mudslides or falling rocks.
Technology allows officials not only to update the signs, but also to keep track of the traffic flow in order to use the signs to advise drivers about travel times. How do they do that? Well, for example, in Colorado, if a car has an electronic toll tag, like an E-ZPass, sensors are used to find out how fast it is actually traveling, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. These sensors also estimate how many cars are on the road, and as data is collected, a formula is used to identify and remove data on cars that have longer travel times (for example, if the driver stopped for food or coffee). The results are updated frequently and displayed on electronic signs, which give travel time estimates.
In addition to warning drivers about hazards or slowdowns ahead, law enforcement officers also use the signs as a tool to help find missing children via the AMBER Alert system. AMBER Alert — which stands for America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response Alert — notifies state transportation officials and media outlets about a missing child. When an AMBER Alert occurs, information is displayed on electronic highway signs, which often includes the car’s make, model, color and license plate number.
The Department of Justice reports that overall, AMBER Alerts have helped lead to the recovery of 621 abducted children in the U.S., and that children are often released when the adults with them learn that an alert has been issued. So in the case of the AMBER Alert, the electronic signs are not only used to give out important information, but they can also help drivers to do a good deed by reporting sightings of abducted kids.
Today’s dynamic message signs provide valuable information that can make for a more pleasant driving experience and can even save lives. Technology has made huge strides in the last century. What sign innovations do you predict for the next 100 years?
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Planning my Families Future

Life changes: Will your finances keep pace?

A new marriage. A baby. A bigger home. When life changes, you need to make adjustments. There's one adjustment that may not automatically occur to you: protecting your family's lifestyle.You'll want to make sure your family would have enough income even if you weren't here to provide it. Here are some life-event situations to evaluate how well your life insurance coverage is keeping pace with your family's changing needs.

Births or adoptions

You want to be certain your new child or grandchild won't have to go without life's necessities. And with college costs skyrocketing, you'll want enough coverage to help fund your young one's future education.

Marriages and divorces

You may decide to increase your life insurance coverage when you marry to provide financial protection for your new spouse. If you have new stepchildren, consider their financial needs as well. In a divorce situation, you'll want to continue to provide financial protection for your children.

Caring for a family member

Watching your parents age and lose their independence can be emotionally difficult. Life insurance benefits can help provide for an elderly parent — or special needs child — who depends on you for financial support.

Buying a home

Life insurance benefits can help keep your loved ones in the family home, especially if you still carry a mortgage.

Taking on new debt

You don't want to leave your spouse saddled with debt, so make sure your coverage is sufficient to pay off what you owe.Securities offered by Personal Financial Representatives through Allstate Financial Services, LLC (LSA Securities in LA and PA). Registered Broker-Dealer. Member FINRA and SIPC, Main Office: 2920 South 84th Street, Lincoln, NE 68506, 877-525-5727. Life insurance and fixed annuities issued by Allstate Life Insurance Company: Northbrook, IL; Lincoln Benefit Life Insurance Company: Lincoln, NE; and American Heritage Life Insurance Company: Jacksonville, FL. In New York, Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York: Hauppauge, NY.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Survival Tips: How to Prepare for a Power Outage

Wednesday, August, 29th, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Tags: Home Safety, Home Security, Hurricane, Preparedness, Storm, Survival

Hundreds of thousands of people can be without power in the wake of a powerful hurricane like Isaac, which is pounded the Gulf Coast with wind and rain in August of 2012. But did you know that, on any given day in America, at least a half million people are without power?
Clearly, a power outage in some form is inevitable. So it makes sense to plan for one now instead of scrambling for a flashlight when the lights go out. Consider these four categories when planning and preparing for a power outage emergency:

Sanitation

When the power goes out, some pretty important appliances stop working, and that includes your hot water heater. If the power is out for more than a few hours, you’ll need a way to heat water in order to sanitize dishes, eating utensils, and do laundry (along with purifying water, if necessary).
Have at least two ways to heat water and cook food that don’t rely on electric power. A solar oven is a great choice on sunny days, and a fuel-efficient outdoor rocket stove, such as the Stove-Tec Rocket Stove, will get the job done in any type of weather.

Sustenance

Americans have likely lost billions of dollars’ worth of refrigerated and frozen food due to power failures over the past few decades. Once food has warmed to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for two or more hours, it’s no longer safe to consume.
But if you fill empty beverage bottles with water and freeze them, you can prolong the cold temperatures in your fridge and freezer. When the power goes out, the bottles will help keep food cool longer; keep several in the freezer, and place several more in the fridge. A thermometer will let you know whether or not the food is in the safe-to-eat zone.
You should also store at least a week’s worth of food that doesn’t require refrigeration and is very simple to prepare. Jerky, dried and canned fruit, nuts, granola bars, peanut butter, fruit/applesauce cups, V-8 juice, and tuna packs all pack a nutritious punch without requiring any cooking. You’ll find a comprehensive list of handy no-cook foods here.
For food that needs to be cooked, fire up the grill or a stove alternative. Be sure to store enough fuel and/or wood, if necessary.

Survival

This category covers anything and everything that will insure your basic survival in the event of an extended power outage. It will take some time to assemble everything you need, so ask yourself the following:
How will you stay cool in the summer without air conditioning? (battery-powered fans are one option)
How will you stay warm in the winter without power? Blankets and even bubble wrap can be used to insulate windows. You should also have a plan for living in just one or two rooms during a long-term outage; this will minimize the area that has to be heated.
How will you see in the dark? You’ll need several light sources, including flashlights, headlamps, and lanterns. Store extra batteries for anything that is battery-powered.
How will you stay in touch with people and get necessary information? Invest in a good quality emergency radio that is battery powered. If it comes with a solar charger, that’s even better.
Does a generator make sense in your circumstances? Or could it make you a target for thieves?
Other helpful items can be found on this survival basics checklist.

Sanity

When the power goes out, it can really be a test to keep your wits about you because suddenly there is no TV, video games, or computer. Have a supply of board games, jigsaw puzzles, a deck of cards or two, and a few books that haven’t been read yet. A battery-powered dock for your iPod will bring hours of entertainment to the music lovers in your family. Have young kids? Stock up on a few sets of earplugs!
Power outages can take us by surprise, and they can be scary to both children and adults alike. Make preparations to keep your family protected in an emergency today to insure peace and readiness tomorrow!
Are you prepared for the next big storm? Sign up for Allstate’s weather alerts to stay in-the-know.

Celebrate National Preparedness Month throughout September with Lisa Bedford, The Survival Mom! New resources, webinars, contests, and giveaways will give you new ideas and motivation to ‘get ready for anything!’

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Monday, July 8, 2013

Parking spots offer prizes, good health

Parking Spots Offer Prizes for Good Health

SALT LAKE CITY — The health benefits of regular activity are well known, and a new parking lot initiative can help pay off in ways you wouldn't expect.

Keeping active can significantly lower the risk of heart attack and can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. But if an hour at the gym doesn't always fit your busy lifestyle, health professionals like Intermountain Healthcare's Dr. Liz Joy say work more activity into the things you already do.

"We want people to achieve activity throughout their day," Joy said. "Taking the stairs instead of taking the escalator or the elevator, parking a little bit further away from where your destination is and taking those steps is important. All those activities add up to improve your health."

As a healthy reminder to live active, Intermountain Healthcare's LiVe Well program has painted scores of parking spaces that are meant to get people into the habit of walking more.

Intermountain has about 60 locations around the state where we have these parking spots.
–Bobbi Tibbets

"Intermountain has about 60 locations around the state where we have these parking spots," said Bobbi Tibbets with the Live Well Parking Prize Patrol. "These parking spots are a great way to maybe get into a habit of parking farther no matter where you go, whether the spots are there or not."

Parking your ride in one of those spots might just gain you more than just great health, though.

"We also might catch you and give you a really great prize for it," Tibbets said. "A significant thing like an iPod. We've given away iPods, gift cards, T-shirts."

Tibbets said Intermountain is always eager to paint even more stalls.

"If a business is interested in being involved with this, then they can just go to intermountainlivewell.org and fill out a form for us to come out and paint their stalls," he said.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Tips for Camping with Kids

July 1st, 2013 by Brian LynnLeave a commentHeading out into nature during the summer months is a seasonal tradition for many people. It’s one thing to rough it on your own or only with adults, but it’s entirely another to camp with children tagging along. To combat short attention spans and the minor discomforts that can come with camping, here are some tips to keep the kids entertained and active during the day and comfy at night.

On the Drive

A little research and pre-trip planning can go a long way to building children’s excitement about the trip. Pointing out changes in foliage, geological formations or the history of areas you pass through will simultaneously educate kids and help make the vacation about the journey and not just a destination.Adding an extra day for stops along the way at roadside attractions, historical markers and scenic viewpoints will break up long drives and add even more memories to your summer vacation.

At Camp

Choosing the right campsite can mean all the difference, as it sets the stage for all other aspects of the excursion. A mix of items geared for outdoor adventure and those more familiar will give the kids options when it comes to entertaining themselves during family outings. Outdoor items to pack include:fishing rods and tacklea magnifying glass and an insect-collection kitbinoculars for viewing wildlifefield guides for identifying unfamiliar flora and faunabuckets and shovels if a sandy beach is nearbya bevy of squirt gunsif you’re boating — skis, a tube, life jackets and swimming attire.While you’re heading out into the woods, sometimes the common items brought from home bring new ways to have fun. Bicycles can provide entertainment around the immediate campsite, but they can also open miles of trail for exploration. A football, baseball or Frisbee can lead to family games and fun. Reading books can help during wind-down time before bed and coloring books come in useful during the day if kids get tired of the sun and fun. And, of course, there’s the most simple of endeavors, which requires only a pair of shoes – a family hike.While the adventure and fun of camping should be the focus, all of that should come after, or at least hand-in-hand, with safety. Incorporating a few simple tips can keep your family safe.

Keeping Comfy

Keeping the kids engaged and entertained is only the first step; proper apparel during the day and a good night’s sleep count big time.Depending on where in the country you’re camping, warmer clothes might be necessary in the evening hours even during July and August. Sunscreen is always prudent, as is mosquito repellent – tight, burned skin and itchy bites will quickly ruin any trip. Raingear is also a good idea regardless of location or time of year. And, don’t forget a necessity like camp chairs.If you’re in an extremely warm climate, a well-ventilated tent will be key to regulating the inside temperature with several bodies sleeping in close proximity. Sleeping mats, heavy blankets or even inflatable air mattresses will relieve the discomfort of sleeping on the hard ground – for both the kids and yourself. If it cools significantly at night where you’re going, make sure to place plenty of insulating padding under your child’s sleeping bag; the ground will suck more heat from them than the air.All in all, camping with kids can be a fun and rewarding experience, both for the kids and the parents. The keys are being prepared, but also being flexible and realizing that the unexpected can happen even during the most well-thought-out camping trips. Enjoy the adventure!

Top 5 Used Car Buying Scams

Tuesday, March, 19th, 2013 at 6:00 am

Tags: Auto, Buying and Selling Cars

How can you avoid falling for car scams when buying a used car? Learn the facts.
CARFAX shared information on the top five car scams to look out for when buying a used car:
Odometer Fraud: Odometer fraud is the practice of rolling a car’s mileage back, making it seem as though the vehicle has traveled fewer miles than it actually has. This is an illegal practice that violates federal law, but, nonetheless, odometer fraud is a prevalent car scam. It’s hard to detect this type of fraud; a vehicle history report is one of the few ways you can tell if the odometer has been tampered with.
VIN Cloning: Stolen vehicles are often sold with vehicle identification numbers (VINs) that have been swiped from legally registered cars. One way to avoid being a victim of this scam is to verify that all of the VINs on a vehicle match, including those on the dashboard, the driver’s side door sticker, the car’s frame and the paperwork for the vehicle.
Title Washing: Used car values can drop dramatically if a car is deemed a salvage, and this is why some car sellers are tempted to rebuild a salvaged vehicle and sell it with a new title. A salvage title is issued on a vehicle damaged when the cost of repair exceeds 75 percent of its pre-damage value. (This damage threshold varies by state.) For this scam, sellers “wash” the title of a car by altering the title documents and moving the car to different states to get a clean title. When buying a used car, check for wording that indicates a salvage title, such as “totaled,” “reconditioned,” “salvaged,” “junked,” “rebuilt” or “warranty returned.” Also examine the title document to see if it has been physically altered.
Curbstoning: State laws prohibit private citizens from selling multiple cars or vehicles, other than those titled to them, a practice called curbstoning. Frequently, curbstoners sell vehicles that reputable dealers won’t touch, cars with hidden problems that can affect both the safety and the value of these vehicles. So give it some thought before engaging with a private party selling multiple vehicles.
Airbag Fraud: Once they are deployed, airbags are sometimes not replaced correctly; and sometimes they aren’t replaced at all! There may be cases where airbags in a used vehicle you are considering are non-functional: they could be outdated, made of inappropriate materials or even could be non-existent (airbag covers can be replaced on the dashboard so that, from inside the vehicle, there is no indication that the airbag compartment is empty). The first step to finding out if a car may have missing or nonworking airbags is to run a CARFAX Vehicle History Report, which can tell you if the car has been in an accident. If it has, it may be a good idea to check to make sure the airbag system is in good working order.

Try to resist any pressure to act quickly when buying a used car; this can sometimes be a sign that the seller wants to hide something. Taking the time to personally evaluate the vehicle, have it evaluated by professionals and look into the vehicle history could be invaluable, saving time and money while guiding you to the perfect car.

Mike Orsini is the head of blog marketing at CARFAX. Headquartered in Centreville, VA, CARFAX is the most trusted provider of vehicle history information that is used by millions of consumers each year. CARFAX Vehicle History Reports™ are available on all used cars and light trucks model year 1981 or later.

SMI Insurance Agency

Monday, July 29, 2013

King of the Grill: Serving Up Grill Safety [INFOGRAPHIC]