Yard Work Safety

Let's Keep Our Lawns - and Ourselves - Safe in Wisconsin

For many of our neighbors in Chippewa Falls, summer means more than sunshine and vacations. It also means working in the yard - often with tools that can be dangerous if not used properly.

Each year about 400,000 people are treated for injuries from lawn and garden tools, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Don't let your landscaping efforts land you in the hospital! Follow these handy safety tips.

Tool safety tips from the U.S. CPSC

• Dress appropriately. To protect yourself from debris when using lawn tools, wear eye protection, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, close-fitting clothes and no jewelry. Sturdy shoes are recommended, and ear plugs may be appropriate depending on how loud the device is.
• Before starting, remove objects from your work area that could cause injury or damage, such as sticks, glass or stones.
• Keep children indoors and supervised at all times when any outdoor power equipment is being used. Never let a child ride or operate a garden tractor or riding mower, even if the child is supervised. And never assume children will remain where you last saw them.
  Use extreme caution when backing up or approaching corners, shrubs and trees.
• Teenagers using power equipment should always be supervised by an adult.
• Handle gasoline carefully. Never fill tanks while machinery is on or when equipment is still hot. Of course, you should never smoke or use any type of flame around gasoline or any gasoline-powered equipment.
• Do not work with electric power tools in wet or damp conditions. For protection against electrocution, use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
• Be sure that extension cords are in good condition, are rated for outdoor use, and are the proper gauge for the electrical current capacity of the tool.

Lawn Chemical Safety Tips from Texas A&M University

• If you use chemicals to control weeds or pests in your lawn, read the product label carefully so you understand the potential effects on humans, animals and the environment. Follow all instructions.
• Keep children and animals away from the application area, and protect your skin, eyes and nose during and after application.
• Remember, use only the recommended amount. Using more of the chemical will not do a better job.
• Ask yourself if you truly need to use a general pesticide. Is there a product that will specifically treat only the problem you need to solve?

From all of us at Mower Insurance, here's to keeping both you and your lawn healthy this summer!

RV Season is here... but where to go?

RV Campsites

 

Finding a great place to camp in your RV

“Wherever you go, there you are.”

 

Whoever said that must have been an RV owner — after all, one of the best things about vacationing in an RV is the fact that your “hotel” is pretty much anywhere you decide to stop.

 

Of course, there’s a little more to finding a great camping spot than just pulling over and hoping for the best, so we at Mower Insurance Agency put together some tips and resources to help you find the best spots on your next trip.

 

Plan ahead

Just as you would book a hotel before you leave on a vacation, it’s best to make reservations for your RV trip, regardless if you’re staying at a private RV park or a campground on public property. As anyone who has been to O’Neill Creek can tell you, spots fill up quickly during peak travel seasons and often sell out.

 

Public or private?

From basic accommodations to luxury RV resorts, you have many choices. State and national parks tend to have simple campgrounds, but they often offer the best in natural beauty! Whether you go public or private, you’ll want to factor in whether the site has hookups for your RV, how much you’re willing to spend and how close you’ll be to attractions you want to visit — particularly if you aren’t towing a separate car and need to use the RV for all of your travel.

 

What about parking lots?

Some shopping centers and truck stops will allow overnight camping, while rest areas generally prohibit it. Always be certain that you have permission to camp before setting up for the night.

 

The Family Motor Coach Association recommends the following if you stay in a private parking lot:

·         Park out of the way.

·         Avoid using slide-outs and awnings if possible.

·         Do not use your leveling jacks on asphalt.

·         Limit your stay to one night and leave the area cleaner than you found it.

·         Purchase fuel, food or supplies as a thank-you when feasible.

·         Do not put personal items, such as chairs or a grill, outside.

 

How to find campgrounds

RV campground directories are available at bookstores, libraries and some RV supply stores, and they can be very useful to keep with you as you travel. You can also contact local and state tourism bureaus for camping information. Naturally, you have plenty of online resources to choose from as well:

·         U.S. National Parks reservations and other public campgrounds: www.recreation.gov

·         National Recreation Reservation Service: www.fs.fed.us/recreation/reservations

·         Guide to Federal Recreation Passes: http://store.usgs.gov/pass

·         Reservations for Canadian parks: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/voyage-travel/reserve.aspx

 

We know insurance is just about the last thing you want to have on your mind when you’re on vacation, so give us a call at 715-723-5525 before you leave to make sure you’ve got the coverage you need!

 

Here’s to safe travels and happy RVing!

Mother’s Day

A time to celebrate mothers

 

As the second Sunday of May nears, it’s time to think of ways to celebrate mothers - although, of course, that’s a worthy pursuit at any time of year!

 

At Mower Insurance, we thought it would be fun to give you a little of the history behind Mother’s Day, as well as a few ideas to honor the special women in all our lives.

 

Ancient beginnings

According to MothersDayCentral.com, the ancient Egyptians held an annual festival to honor “the mother of the pharaohs” - the goddess Isis. This is one of the earliest historical records of a society celebrating a mother.

 

How Mother’s Day came to be in the U.S.

In 1870, Julia Ward Howe, a social activist and poet (and author of the lyrics for “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”) had became distraught by the toll of the Civil War. She issued a “Mother’s Day Proclamation” that year, calling on mothers to protest the killing and create a day celebrating peace and motherhood.

 

Howe’s proclamation did not result in a national Mother’s Day, but in 1908, Anna Jarvis of West Virginia took up the cause. She wanted to accomplish her mother’s dream of making a celebration of all mothers. By 1909, more than 40 states were holding Mother’s Day services, even though it was not a national holiday.

 

In 1912, according to Wikipedia, West Virginia was the first state to officially observe Mother’s Day. Jarvis continued to promote the day until President Woodrow Wilson made it an official national holiday in 1914.

 

She later regretted creating the holiday, believing that it had become too commercialized.

 

Enough with the history – where are the gift ideas?

Like us at Mower Insurance, we know you might have more urgent concerns on your mind, like last-minute shopping, so here are the most popular Mother’s Day gifts, according to MothersDayCentral.com.

Flowers

Gift baskets

Personalized gifts

Jewelry

Perfume

Spa gifts

Magazines

 

Of course, perhaps the best gift of all is getting in touch and letting the moms in your life know just how much they mean to you. Happy Mother’s Day!

College Graduation... Now what?

College Graduation Insurance Tips

Protect your college grad with the right insurance

 

College graduation is an exciting time for students and their parents alike.  And, while it’s easy to be immersed in graduation parties and focused on first-job jitters, it’s a time of major transitions and big decisions, and it’s essential to prepare graduates for what comes next.

 

One area new college graduates need to address is insurance.  As insurance professionals at Mower Insurance, we know insurance can be a confusing topic.  We also know that seemingly small missed details can result in very large losses.  We want to ensure your college graduate is protected before heading out into the real world, so we have compiled the following pointers.

 

·         Review your family’s current insurance. The first step when considering insurance for your new graduate is evaluating the coverage you currently have.  Make an appointment with your agent, who can advise on whether it’s appropriate given the pending changes, and whether it will cover your son or daughter.

·         Know the law. Most states require drivers to have auto insurance, and most of those have minimum policy limit requirements. Research the law in your son or daughter’s state, or consult with your agent, to make sure they are covered adequately.

·         Read your lease. Many apartment, condominium and home rental properties require tenants to maintain a certain level of renter’s insurance, which covers the contents of the home in the event of a robbery, fire, or other loss. Make sure you know the terms of your son or daughter’s new lease, and insure them accordingly.

·         Don’t end up liable. Any home renter or owner is exposed to liability risk. To ensure there is adequate coverage in the event someone gets injured on your son or daughter’s property, speak with your agent about liability insurance.

·         Don’t gamble! Never go without. It’s simple: your son or daughter should always have insurance in place. Be sure to discuss with your agent what types they need.

·         Know your company benefits. Many college graduates move straight into the workforce, and most companies have benefits. Study the company’s human resources handbook to learn what benefits are available, when they go into effect, and what their limitations are.

 

We at Mower congratulate you on the graduation of your daughter or son!  Please contact us with any questions, or to request a review of your family’s insurance portfolio.

Prom and Graduation Safety

Teen driving tips to keep prom and graduation safe

 

High school is full of defining moments for Chippewa Falls’ teens and two of the highlights for most are prom and graduation.

 

However, this time of year often sees other, more tragic defining moments - serious car accidents involving teens who are distracted or even under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

 

At Mower Insurance, we want to help make this season one to celebrate for you and your teen. So, with the help of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, here are some tips that can keep your teen safe.

 

First, encourage your teen to follow these general safe-driving rules:

Absolutely no alcohol

Always use seat belts

No cell phone use (including texting) while driving

 

Special circumstances

Of course, special events such as prom and graduation often present special circumstances. There may be dinner with dates before the dance, and parties before or after either event. It’s a good idea to discuss your expectations well before each event, putting some guidelines into place before your teen heads out for the night. Here are some ideas:

Make sure you know the itinerary of the evening, as well as who else will be with your teen. You should have contact information for everyone.

Have a way to contact your teen at all times. You may want to require them to check in with you once or twice over the course of the evening.

Set a curfew, whether they are coming back to your home or staying with a friend. If they are staying elsewhere, make sure the curfew will be enforced by a responsible adult.

Discuss with your teen how to handle difficult situations, such as facing pressure to drink, or accepting a ride with someone who shouldn’t be driving. It’s a good idea to provide your child with money for a taxi just in case.

Offer a “no-questions-asked” ride home, should they need one during the evening.

If you’re worried about your teen driving, consider alternate transportation. A car service or limousine will provide a responsible, experienced adult driver. You also will be able to limit changes to the itinerary and contact the driver.

 

Prom and graduation in Chippewa Falls are special times in a teen’s life. And just a little common sense will go a long way toward making sure your young adult is around to enjoy the other milestones that are sure to come.

Earth Day Tips

Take part in an Earth Day event — or celebrate in your own way

 

People are thinking more and more about the environment — whether it’s something that affects the quality of life here in Chippewa or global issues such as climate change and extreme weather.

 

But more importantly, people aren’t content with simply thinking about these things any more. They’re focused on taking action.

 

Earth Day, which is celebrated April 22, is the perfect time to take action, whether you are looking to take part in a community event or organize your own. Here are some tips to help you get involved — and think about our planet Earth all through the year.

 

Find an event

It’s easy to find Earth Day events, whether you live in Eau Claire or Chippewa Falls.  City and town Facebook pages are a great place to start, along with the websites of local environmental organizations. Newspapers, radio and TV often publicize events as well.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency website lists major Earth Day activities at http://www.epa.gov/earthday/index.html.

 

What can I do?

There are all kinds of Earth Day activities, even some you can easily complete by yourself or with your family. Examples include:

·         Planting trees

·         Cleaning up litter from a natural area or park

·         Adopting a road for litter control

·         Talking about Earth Day and helping to educate others

·         Using alternate transportation, instead of taking your car

·         Holding a garage sale or clothing swap, rather than throwing out unwanted items

·         Learning more about actions you can take to reduce your environmental impact

 

What if I want to organize an event?

Hosting an event doesn’t have to be a Herculean task, particularly if you keep it small. Any of the ideas above could be turned into your own event — just get the word out via social media, friends and family or even local print and broadcast media. But if you do want to organize a full-scale event, go for it!

 

Make it more than a day

Of course, one of the best ways to have an impact is to make every day your own Earth Day. You can take part in earth-friendly activities at any time! So in addition to celebrating once a year, make this April 22 just the beginning of something special.

 

And whether you find an event or create your own, the important thing is getting involved!

How to handle a power outage

Power Outage

Ready for a power outage or emergency?

It’s always a good idea to have an emergency kit handy in case of power outages or other issues — especially with the threat of stormy weather in fall and winter. See recommendations from the American Red Cross below.

 

Emergency kit basics

•          Water (one gallon per person, per day; keep a two-week supply at home)

•          Food (non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items; two week supply at home)

•          Flashlight and battery-powered radio, along with extra batteries

•          First-aid kit, toiletries, medications and medical items

•          Multi-purpose tool

•          Copies of personal documents, along with family and emergency contact information

•          Extra cash, clothing and blankets

•          Cell phones and chargers

•          Maps of the area