DeKok Insurance Group, Inc.

507-226-8121 [email protected]

Keep Your Pets Safe on the 4th of July

By

sophie1Tucker1

 

 

 

 

 

 

For most of us, the Fourth of July is a time to watch the pyrotechnics that mark the holiday. But for our pets, fireworks are another story. Many pets can be traumatized by the noisy rockets and firecrackers so many of us enjoy. Our dogs, Sophie & Tucker respond to the sounds of local fireworks differently. Sophie wants to save us from unknown attackers and Tucker wants us to join him under the covers.

At DeKok Insurance Group, Joy and I hope your 4th of July is happy and safe for you and your pets. So along with our other story about fireworks safety, here are some tips to help you protect your pets on Independence Day in Minnesota, or wherever you celebrate.

Protecting your pets . . .

Many pets are very frightened by the loud noises caused by fireworks. If you can’t take them away from the noise, here are some pointers from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that will help them have a more peaceful holiday.

  • Don’t take your pet to a public fireworks display. In addition to the noise, they may be spooked by the crowds.
  • If possible, leave your pet inside in a safe, secure room. Do not leave them outside, even if your yard is fenced. They may try to flee, and they may succeed; July 5 is a busy year at many animal shelters in {city}, as dogs and cats are frequently found miles from their homes. Taking your pet on a walk early in the day can help tire them out.
  • Give your pets a comfortable place to rest, as well as plenty of food and water. You might even leave a TV or stereo on to drown out the fireworks. Provide soothing music, if possible. A favorite toy (or their favorite owner!) can help comfort them, too.
  • Make sure your pets have an ID tag or microchip, in case they get scared and escape.
  • Check with your veterinarian before giving your pet any medication intended to calm them. They may be able to provide you with a prescription or suggest alternatives.
  • And, of course, keep your pet away from used and unused fireworks.

With some planning, the Fourth of July can be both safe and enjoyable for everyone – and less scary for your pets. Whether you’re staying at home or are visiting somewhere else, we hope you have a wonderful time celebrating our independence!

Jon

Email: [email protected]

Phone  507-226-8121

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

When Things go BOOM in the Night – Fireworks Safety

By

花火イメージ

 

For most of us, the Fourth of July is a time to enjoy the company of family and friends, having fun and creating memories – whether at home in Minnesota or away on vacation.

But for some families, the holiday is a nightmare. Homes each year in MN are damaged by wayward fireworks. Thousands of people are injured in accidents.

At DeKok Insurance Group, we (Joy & I) want your holiday to be happy and safe. So here are some tips to help you protect yourself and your property on the Fourth.

Protecting yourself (and others)

  • To minimize the risk of injury, don’t use consumer fireworks. Attend a public display conducted by professionals in Rochester or your town.
  • If using consumer fireworks, always follow instructions. Do not attempt to re-light “duds” or create homemade fireworks.
  • Never let children handle or light fireworks. Even sparklers, which burn at more than 1,000 degrees, can cause third-degree burns. Kids under the age of 15 account for approximately 40% of fireworks injuries, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
  • A responsible adult should always be present when children – even teenagers – are around fireworks. More than half of fireworks injuries happen to those younger than 20 years old.

Protecting your home

  • According to the National Fire Protection Association, the best way to protect your home is to not use fireworks at home.
  • Remember, fireworks can cause grass fires and other types of blazes as well. Make sure you light fireworks in a safe area, away from homes and buildings, as well as other combustible material. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergency.
  • Look out for tree limbs or bushes that could catch fire. Trimming vegetation to keep it away from your home is a good idea anyway, but it could save you from a catastrophic fire on the Fourth of July.
  • If your gutters have accumulated leaves, pine needles or other flammable material, clean them before using fireworks near your home.
  • Finally, if you won’t be home on the holiday, ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your house if others in your neighborhood will be using fireworks.

With some common sense and planning, the Fourth of July can be both safe and enjoyable for everyone. Whether you’re staying at home or heading to into the town nearest you, we hope you have a wonderful time celebrating our independence!

Jon

Email: [email protected]

Phone  507-226-8121

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

Graphic purchased from © bitter…。 – Fotolia.com

Summer Yard Work – Staying Safe

By

Lawn mower

Let’s Keep Our Lawns – and Ourselves – Safe in Minnesota!

For many of our neighbors in Minnesota, 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?
If you enjoyed this post, you might like this one too:  Attractive Nuisances

Here’s to keeping both you and your lawn healthy this summer!

Jon

Email: [email protected]

Phone  507-226-8121

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

Graphic purchased from © Kasia Bialasiewicz – Fotolia.com

Ride Safe! More Motorcycle Safety Tips from DeKok Insurance Group

By

You might wonder why I’m sharing these motorcycle safety tips. His name is Mike. He didn’t intend to die riding his cycle, but he did – from massive head injuries. So, please do all you can to ride safe!

Motorcycle

Ride safe with these motorcycle tips. . .

Motorcyclists know that riding gives them a freedom that driving a car just can’t match. But the best riders also know that motorcycles require more focus to operate and don’t provide the same protections cars do in the event of a crash. The best riders also take great care in all situations, whether they’re in heavy traffic on <local highway>, stuck in the rain or just taking a quick ride on a perfect day.

If your habits aren’t as safe as they could be, or if you’re new to motorcycling, don’t worry! Instead, take time to improve. The quick safety tips below are a great place to start.

Want more? Check out the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (http://www.msf-usa.org) or the American Motorcyclist Association (www.americanmotorcyclist.com). And remember to give us at <agency name> a call at <agency phone> when you need to get coverage for your bike (or your home or auto, boat or more)!

First things first . . .

  • Wear proper safety gear and, most importantly, a helmet – no matter how short your trip may be.
  • Make sure you can be seen by other motorists. Make it easier for them by wearing reflective clothing, always using turn signals (and perhaps hand signals as well) and keeping your headlight on.
  • Even when taking the above precautions, stay alert and assume that other drivers don’t see you — especially at intersections and when making lane changes or passing.
  • Be patient. Don’t tailgate, and if someone is tailgating you, get out of their way.
  • Don’t ride after drinking or taking any medications that could impair your abilities.

Riding at night . . .

  • Again, make sure you’re visible — particularly at dusk. Consider upgrading your headlight or adding other lights to your ride. Is your bike black? What about your clothing? Both will make you more difficult to see at night.
  • Your vision needs to be clear, so keep your visor or goggles clean and free from scratches. If you don’t use face or eye protection, consider it.
  • Carry a flashlight or other emergency gear with you so a mechanical problem doesn’t leave you stranded — and invisible — on the side of a dark road.

Bad weather?

  • Keep rain and cold-weather gear handy. Riding isn’t just more enjoyable when you’re warm and dry — it’s safer, too.
  • Use extreme caution when it first begins to rain, as the roads are most slick at that point. Pull over and wait if necessary. It’s better to be late than ride in unsafe conditions.

I wish that all of your rides could be on sunny days with wide-open roads, but we know that’s not going to happen. So think about safety every time you start up your bike!

Jon

Email: [email protected]

Phone  507-226-8121

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

Graphic purchased from: © Dudarev Mikhail – Fotolia.com

Motorcycle Gear

By

Motociclista con Harley Davidson

The best alarm clock is sunshine on chrome.  ~Author Unknown

Proper motorcycle safety gear helps you ride right . . .

Whether you’re an experienced rider or just getting started, the right protective gear will help you have enjoyable and, most importantly, safe journeys. Even if you’re riding just a short distance, the fact that motorcycles don’t offer the same protections as other vehicles means that you need to take great care when you hit the road.

We here at DeKok Insurance Group, Inc. want everyone on the road to reach their destination safely. So we’re providing some safety gear tips gleaned from motorcycle safety organizations, including the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the American Motorcyclist Association.

Keep your head . . .

Perhaps the most important piece of safety equipment — other than a well-maintained bike — is your helmet. Not only does a helmet protect your head in the event of a crash, the visors and face shields provide additional safety benefits along with a more enjoyable ride. You don’t really want to get hit in the face with a pebble or a bug on Highways 52 or 63, do you? Full-face helmets also cut down on wind noise and can help reduce rider fatigue.

Always make sure your helmet has a secure fit and that any face-protection options you select allow you to easily see what’s around you.

It may be tempting to feel the wind in your hair as you ride along the Minnesota highways and byways, but wearing a helmet should be a no-brainer when you consider the safety benefits.

Your feet and hands . . .

Boots protect your feet and ankles from injury not only in a crash but also during the ride by providing a barrier against road debris and hot exhaust pipes. The right boot soles (oil-resistant, rubber-based composite) will help you keep your feet where they need to be — on the pegs.

And remember to protect your fingers. Gloves improve your grip and prevent abrasions and blisters. Just be sure that they fit properly so you can still work the controls of your bike.

The rest of your body . . .

When it comes to clothing to wear while riding your bike, there are options for every style choice. Look for protective gear designed specifically for motorcyclists – it will offer you the best protection while still allowing you to comfortably operate your bike.

There’s a reason many riders wear leather. It is extremely durable and protects against abrasions. Newer fabrics, however, also provide these benefits. Look for reflective strips or other features designed to help make you more visible to other drivers, or add your own reflective strips if needed.

If it’s windy, you’ll want to wear layers to help keep the wind from your body. If you ride in inclement weather, don a rain suit or other gear designed specifically for those times when the road ahead isn’t quite sunny. You can even look for clothing that features electric heat, which can make your journey a lot more comfortable.

Non-clothing items . . .

Safety gear isn’t all about clothing. Some items to keep handy: a flat-tire repair kit, tire-pressure gauge, spare fuses and anything that might be of use for your particular bike. Remember to pack a flashlight, in case you end up on the side of the road in the dark. (And it can help keep you visible to passing traffic, which is always a real concern.)

We know that this list of safety gear sounds like a lot, but safe riding means being responsible. If you are looking to buy cool new gear to go with your bike, you might as well get the kind that will make you look good and help save you from injury.

Other safety resources . . .

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (http://www.msf-usa.org) is a great resource to learn more about safety gear and motorcycling in general, as is the American Motorcyclist Association (www.americanmotorcyclist.com). We’re here to help, too! If you have questions about insurance coverage for your bike, are looking for a quote, or want more safety resources, give me a call at 507-226-8121.

Enjoy the ride!

Jon

Email: [email protected]

Phone  507-226-8121

Better coverage. Better prices.

Jon DeKok has been serving insurance clients for over 30 years. He specializes in home, auto, umbrella, recreational vehicle, business, and life insurance. He is licensed in the state of Minnesota.

 

Photo purchased from: © M.Camerin – Fotolia.com