Birth certificates, passports, bank statements, bills, receipts, family health records, insurance paperwork, tax receipts, credit card info – your family accumulates a lot of important documents. What do you do with all of these records? How do you decide what to store and for long? What is the safest storage method for your files?

Taking time to organize and protect your family’s records is important. Not only can it save you time when you need to find specific documents, but it can also significantly help in case of emergency.

As a horse owner, you don’t want to think about a worst case scenario. No one does. But your horse is a large investment. You put in time and energy to its care, health, and training. It is important to think about how you can protect your horse and yourself.

In all of the years I’ve spent working in the wellness industry the one topic that comes up more frequently than any other is stress. In particular, how employers can help their employees better manage their stress. And I have to admit, while it comes up a lot this is a tough one to address for a couple of reasons—1. most issues affecting stress levels are complex, and 2. how we deal with stress is intensely personal.

Over 300 million people use LinkedIn. And the membership is constantly growing. In fact, there are 2 new users every second!

Are you using your LinkedIn account to its fullest potential? There are a multitude of resources available to help you learn about LinkedIn. We’re highlighting 5 tips we find incredibly valuable to effectively develop your professional network.

If you are just getting started on LinkedIn or are a seasoned veteran, it is still important to keep your profile updated and stay fresh with best practices.

According to the Insurance Research Council, 16.3% of all drivers in Indiana do not carry any insurance. Outside of Indiana, one in seven drivers have no insurance. Of those who do carry it, they may only purchase the minimum limits required by the state. What happens if you get into an accident with one of these drivers? Will you be properly covered?

You experience a power surge at your home and everything plugged in gets fried – including your big screen TV and electronics. Are you covered with your standard homeowners policy?

What about if someone spills a glass of wine all over your brand new area rug, or perhaps you spill bleach on your couch on the way to the laundry room? Does your policy cover you for those losses?

Someone has a little too much to drink at your summer party and accidently knocks over your entertainment center, breaking your TV and stereo system? Will you be covered?

Have you ever texted while driving? Or perhaps ate your breakfast on the way to work? Maybe you attempted to reroute your navigation system while at the wheel? Unfortunately these have become habits and most of us are guilty of distracted driving at some point. We know the risks of distracted driving, but why aren’t we changing our actions?

Think that only novice drivers are at risk of distracted driving accidents? It is time to dispel that notion. Distracted driving is not just a concern for teenage drivers. Yes, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that 25% of teen drivers acknowledge that they text once or more each time they drive. But, they are not the only distracted drivers; drivers of all ages are involved in distracted driving situations. NHTSA surveys show that at any given daylight moment, there are 660,000 drivers using cell phones or electronic devices while driving.

Last month, I talked about Gibson’s mission “To Protect What Matters Most” and submitted that health, and more importantly vitality, is what matters most. A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to hear the acting U.S. Surgeon General, Rear Admiral Boris D. Lushniak, M.D., M.P.H., speak at the headquarters for the American College of Sports Medicine in Indianapolis. At one point during his talk, Dr. Lushniak said “People get elected or not elected based on the economy…but I’ll submit to you today, that economy is doing nothing unless we have healthy people who are able to be part of that economy. So where does health lie on the priority of things?” Good observation. Even better question.

As you get ready for barbeques, pool parties, and fireworks to celebrate our nation’s independence, take some time to remember the importance of fireworks safety.  

Injuries from fireworks occur throughout the year, but there is a significant increase around the Fourth of July. In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that 60% of all fireworks injuries occur during the 30 days around Independence Day. Over half of these injuries are burns to the face, head, and hands.

Fireworks also pose a risk to your property. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fireworks caused approximately 17,800 reported fires in 2011. Of these fires, 1,200 were structure fires, 400 vehicle fires, and 16,300 outside/other fires. An estimated $32 million in direct property damage resulted.

How can you celebrate safely this Fourth of July?