• September 30, 2021

Home Heating Safety

As the temperatures start to drop in New England, it’s important to begin thinking about how you plan to heat your home. More specifically, how to heat your home safely. According to the NFPA, heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths, with almost half of these fires occurring in the months of December, January, and February. It’s vital to take the following safety precautions to avoid home fires and potentially bigger maintenance issues down the road.

• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
• Properly clean and store ash from your fireplace.
• If you’re installing new stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment, hire a qualified professional and follow local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Always use the right kind of heating fuel, specified by the manufacturer, whether that be wood, oil, kerosene, pellets, etc.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• If you smell gas in your home or coming from your gas heater, do not light the appliance. Leave your home immediately and call your local fire department or gas company.
• Never leave candles burning unattended.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Keep portable generators away from windows and use them as far away from the house as possible.
• Test smoke/co2 alarms at least once a month.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.
• Have a designated “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any recommendations for local home service experts and stay safe and warm this fall & winter!

Source: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Top-fire-causes/Heating

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• June 30, 2021

Safe Biking Tips for Summer

It is summer and that means a surge in bicyclists sharing the road with motorized vehicles. It is so vital for both cyclists and drivers to take safety precautions seriously. Before getting out and enjoying a bike ride on the road or at a park make sure you review our helpful bike safety tips.

Helmet – one of the cardinal rules of biking, always wear a helmet, whether you are an adult or a child. NHSTA has a helpful helmet guide that you can utilize if you’re unsure of how a helmet should fit. Additionally, here are some questions you can ask yourself when you are searching for the right helmet:

1. Is the helmet comfortable and not too heavy?
2. Does the helmet fit snugly and stay in position?
3. Does the helmet have enough ventilation, so it stays cool? (This is especially important for summer riding)

Cover Up/Proper Gear – Make sure drivers can see you! This includes wearing proper gear, but also gear that will not cause you to overheat or weigh you down while biking.

More specifically loose-fitting, light clothing will allow your skin to breathe while you ride. However, make sure the fabric around your legs isn’t so loose that it will get caught in your bike gears or chain.

Biking gloves can help you keep a grip on the handlebars, especially in the summer when you’re more likely to perspire and have slippery hands.

Bright colors are best, whether you ride at day or night… If you do choose to ride at night be sure to have reflective gear & flashlights on you. A bike headlight is even better!

Hydrate – this is a must for warm weather rides! Dehydration can sneak up on you and before you know it, you are overheating and unsteady on your bike. To avoid becoming dehydrated, make sure you have plenty of water every time you get on your bike. Fill up a water bottle before your ride — one that can be opened easily with one hand or with your mouth is ideal. If you plan on a longer ride or biking is part of your commute, a water pack like a Camelback may be the best fit for you.

If you feel dizzy, faint, or start to get a headache while out cycling please stop and find shade, or even better an air-conditioned building, then assess the need for medical attention.

Follow the Rules of the Road – According to the National Safety Council, deaths from bicycle incidents increased 37% in the last 10 years. By following the rules of the road both cyclists & drivers can reduce this number. Don’t know the basic rules of the road? Here’s a rundown…

• Get acquainted with your local traffic laws; bicyclists typically follow the same rules as motorists
• Remain alert, keep your head up and look around; watch for opening car doors and other hazards
• NEVER hitch onto cars
• Before entering traffic, stop and look left, right, left again, and over your shoulder
• Use hand signals when turning and use extra caution at intersections
• If you’re taking a ride and bring along a child or pet, be sure to take extra care when following these rules, as you have another person/pet to worry about

We hope you enjoy your summer and if you do decide to cycle, please do it safely! For more helpful biking safety resources, visit the links below:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/bicycle-safety

https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/summer/bicycles

https://bayareabicyclelaw.com/safe-summer-biking-tips/

https://www.urgentteam.com/healthy-living-tips/summer-biking-safety-first/

https://www.cycling-inform.com/five-hydration-tips-for-cyclists

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