On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…safety tips! Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the holiday season distract you from keeping your family safe.

The holiday season is often called the best time of the year. It is filled with special moments surrounded by family and friends. But come on, we all know what’s really important during this very special time of year: the food!

In these winter months, countless celebrations will be held. The gatherings will be filled with pies, turkeys, cookies, hams, candies, cocoa, and deliciousness galore! Unfortunately, that also means they will be filled with a variety of cooking perils. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), “three times as many home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving as on a typical day.”

Be it on Thanksgiving or any other holiday gathering, don’t let kitchen hazards put a damper on your special celebrations. Consider these 7 tips to keep your holidays happy…and full of delicious food!

Tragic stories of loss at the hands of opioids have become all too common. The misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, specifically opioids, has become an epidemic. It is a massive problem impacting our friends, families, communities, and the workforce.

Opening your home to friends and family can be a fun way to celebrate birthdays, holidays, and more. You want to provide your guests with an enjoyable experience, but you also want to make sure they stay safe while visiting. Taking a few extra measures while planning could save you and your guests from potential injury and liability. Before your next gathering at home, consider the following:

Box cutters and utility knives are useful tools we find at work and home. From the shipping and receiving department at a warehouse and a retail store’s stock room to an office resource room and even your own garage – box cutters and utility knives are used quite regularly in a variety of environments.

Though it seems simple and not nearly as dangerous as many other tools you may encounter, improper use of box cutters can still result in injury. We often overlook this risk. A little education can go a long way to stopping these preventable injuries at home and in the workplace.

The damage and impact from the recent hurricanes has been devastating. As communities in Texas, Florida, and other areas work hard to cleanup and build, there are unfortunately people looking to take advantage of the situation. We often hear about home repair scams in the wake of disasters, but you should also keep an eye out for flood-damaged vehicles hitting the market.

“In a fire, seconds count. Seconds can mean the difference between residents of our community escaping safely from a fire or having their lives end in tragedy.” – National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Each October the NFPA hosts Fire Prevention Week. Though the topic is extremely important all year long, this week is a chance to reflect on your family’s fire prevention plans and make sure you’re doing what you can to stay safe.

The 2017 theme is “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” to stress the importance of having an escape plan. According to a survey by NFPA, 75% of Americans do have a home escape plan. But unfortunately only one-third of Americans have developed AND practiced their plan.

Do you have a fire escape plan for your home? Have you practiced it? Consider these tips from the NFPA to keep your family safe:

Don’t wait until cold weather strikes or snow begins to fall to prepare your home for the harsh effects of winter. Autumn is a critical time for home maintenance! Consider these 6 tips to help prepare your home and property for winter weather:

According to the Small Business Administration, more than half of all U.S. businesses are based out of an owner’s home. Just as with any other business, you want to be sure your home-based operation is properly protected from the unexpected. You have a quality homeowners policy so you’ll be covered, right? Not necessarily. Home-based businesses might not be covered through your homeowners insurance policy.

Premiums, deductibles, assets, claims…the list goes on. Whether you have a new policy or you’re taking a look at your existing ones, you probably have some questions about your coverage. Insurance is critical - it helps you protect what matters most. Therefore, it is important to understand what you are actually covered for and that you have the appropriate coverage. Don’t let these 6 common personal insurance misconceptions prevent you from having a strong personal risk management strategy: