Archived General Blog Posts
Continuing Education Classes-Insurance Agents
8/29/2017 (Permalink)
Insurance agents that need CE credits have an opportunity for 6 credits Sept. 13, 2017. 4 credit hours for "Restorative Drying for Water Damage" and 2 credit hours for "Cleaning and Restoring Smoke Damaged Contents".
Both classes are free and held at Lake Michigan College. A presenter from SERVPRO Corporate will hosting the classes. Jason Garrett. He also presented in 2016. Entertaining and informative.
The state of Michigan enforces all rules associated with these mandatory credit classes for the insurance industry. Pay close attention to registration times, attendance, breaks, use of technology and license information.
We will provide coffee and breakfast snacks, lunch catered by Qdoba and bottles of water and candy to help stay alert.
Classes will be held in the WMU building room #2405 which is upstairs.
Beach Safety
8/10/2016 (Permalink)
Beach Safety
SERVPRO of Berrien County has a few tips for beach safety Every summer, people pack their bathing suits, sunscreen, flip flops and a good book for a trip to the beach. Or, perhaps where you live, you are fortunate to have beach weather for the greater part of the year. Regardless of how often you get to sink your toes into the sand, the American Red Cross has some beach safety tips and steps you can take to be make sure you and your family remain safe. Swimming in the lake or river takes different skills, so before you get your feet wet, it’s best to learn how to swim in the surf. You should also swim only at a lifeguard-protected beach, within the designated swimming area. Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards.
While you’re enjoying the water, keep alert and check the local weather conditions. Make sure you swim sober and that you never swim alone. And even if you’re confident in your swimming skills, make sure you have enough energy to swim back to shore.
Other beach safety tips to keep in mind
- Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets in and the around water. No one should use any other type of flotation device unless they are able to swim.
- Don’t dive headfirst—protect your neck. Check for depth and obstructions before diving, and go in feet first the first time.
- Pay especially close attention to children and elderly persons when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause a loss of footing.
- Keep a lookout for aquatic life. Water plants and animals may be dangerous. Avoid patches of plants. Leave animals alone.
Rip currents are responsible for deaths on our nation’s beaches every year, and for most of the rescues performed by lifeguards. Beach goers should be aware of how dangerous rip currents are, and swim only at beaches with lifeguards in the designated swimming area. Rip currents can form in any large open water area, such as low spots and breaks in sandbars, or near structures such as jetties and piers.
For your safety, be aware of the danger of rip currents and remember the following:
- If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and don’t fight the current.
- Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Once you are free, turn and swim toward shore.
- If you can't swim to the shore, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head toward shore.
- If you feel you can’t make it to the shore, draw attention to yourself by waving and calling for help.
- Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist near these structures.
- If someone is in trouble in the water, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.Throw the victim something that floats – a life jacket, cooler, inflatable ball and yell instructions on how to escape the current.
- When at the beach, check conditions before entering the water. Check to see if any warning flags are up or ask a lifeguard about water conditions, beach conditions, or any potential hazards.
Winter Proofing Your Home
1/19/2016 (Permalink)
Here are some easy ways to keep out the cold out and the heat in this winter!
1. Caulk
Caulk is an excellent and inexpensive way to seal air leaks around your home. It can be used around windows and door jambs to keep the cold out!
2. Install a programmable thermostat
This is a simple way to ensure that your furnace will not be working to heat your home when you don’t need it. It also covers for you in case you leave the house or go to bed and forget to turn down the thermostat.
3. Have your furnace inspected
Keeping your furnace in top working order is important for energy saving.
4. Insulate
Insulating your attic keeps heat from escaping through the roof.
5. Install storm windows
Interior storm windows are an inexpensive way to keep heat from escaping, and they can be taken down when winter is over.
6. Insulate your pipes
One of the concerns with turning the thermostat down is freezing pipes. Pipe insulation, though, is a relatively easy way to ensure against this occurring. Pipe sleeves or tubes made of foam can be purchased at most hardware stores, and are cut so that they fit right over the pipes.
7. Apply weather stripping to doors and windows
Weather stripping is inexpensive and easy to apply – it should be put along the edges of windows and doors, including basement and attic windows and the garage.
8. Weather-proof the front door
You may want to replace your existing front door with a more energy-efficient one, or add a storm door to your current one. The most important thing is to be sure the edges of the door are tightly sealed and square, which may mean a new door and frame are necessary.
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