Monday - Autumn is Here

As we say goodbye to the summer sun and pull out our jackets and coats, we need to remember the safety hazards that are associated with the autumn season. Along with pumpkin spice lattes and sweater weather, the fall season brings weather changes and the shrinking daylight hours make it difficult to see people walking, playing, or riding bicycles outside, as well as any animals crossing the road. Add in wind, rain and leaves blowing all over and you can see just how easy it is to have your vision hindered. Here are a few quick and easy things you can do to ensure you are ready to hit the roads and make it to your destination safely.

• Drive Carefully. Be aware of poor visibility and give yourself extra time when weather demands it.
• Don’t Tailgate. Keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you. Remember wet roads and leafs increase the time it takes for your car to come to a stop
• Visibility. Use dimmed headlights in bad weather.

Tuesday - Happy Halloween!

Use these quick and easy tips from Safe Kids Worldwide to keep everyone from your smallest goblin to your largest monster safe this Halloween:

• Eat only factory wrapped candy, it may not be the healthiest food but you know what you are eating.
• Choose face paint over masks to ensure clear vision.
• Ensure little ghosts and ghouls have bright colors or reflective tape on their costumes so they don’t blend into the dark night.
• Do not let any of your witches or wizards take short cuts through alleys or back yards.
• Dress up and head out alongside your tiniest terrors. No matter how scary their costume, kids under 12 need to be accompanied by an adult.

Wednesday - Stay Safe When the Temperature Drops

When the weather turns cold most people spend more time inside their homes using fireplaces, furnaces, and heaters to keep warm. Ensure your heating system is in good working order before the cold weather sets in. Just because your appliances worked properly last season does not mean that they're ready for the current one.

Use these tips from the National Fire Protection Association to ensure you are warm, cozy and safe:

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

Thursday - Fall Season Safety Tips for Home Maintenance
Home maintenance requirements change during the fall. Mowing the lawn is replaced with raking leaves, cutting back vegetation, and closing the pool for the season. As you put away your sandals and pull out your boots, remember that with the beautiful fall colors comes a new set of risks that we must be prepared for.

The following are some home maintenance tips from our Risk Control professionals to help you prepare for the coming winter:

• Have a qualified technician clean and inspect your heating system annually.
• Replace your furnace filter in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
• Insulate water pipes in areas exposed to freezing temperatures.
• Check gutters for damage and confirm they’re securely attached to the house.
• Clean gutters and downspouts to keep debris from accumulating. This is especially important during the fall season when leaves may collect in gutters.
• Check and repair caulking around doors and windows that show signs of deterioration.
• Have a professional clean and maintain your chimney.

Friday - Find It First Friday
What is something you did this week to get ready for fall? What safety tips did you share with your family for Halloween? Spend a few minutes sharing; maybe something that works for you might work for someone else.

If no one has any comments or solutions to share, remind your teams to check smoke detectors, Carbon Monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and their household’s fire escape plans.