Nov 20, 2023 | Accident prevention, Driving
When it comes to visiting friends and family, for a lot of people that means it’s time for a road trip. Going to see family and friends can be a lot of fun, but getting there may take a while. A lot can happen while you’re on the road for many hours, so it’s important be ready. In that case, these road trip hacks can go a long way to getting you prepared...
Road Trip Hacks: Safe and Convenient Travels
Bring the Charger
Most important of all road trip preparation, is to bring the charger. At some point during the ride, a device will need a charge. If you’re traveling with others, they may use the same charger as you. So, try bringing a multi-port charger. That way everyone can use their own cord, at the same time. In addition, be sure not to leave the house without your phone charger. For most people, their phone serves as their main GPS. You want to make sure it doesn’t lose it’s charge. Furthermore, consider purchasing a solar, or battery, powered device for when all else fails.
Bring a Map
Next on the list of road trip hacks, bring a map. No matter how reliable you feel your phone is, it’s best to have a physical copy of a map. While this might seem old school, you never know what could happen. You could break your phone, lose it at a rest stop, or just lose battery power. For this reason, you should have a back up in the form of a physical map. In an emergency, this could come in handy.
Leave the Suitcases
Instead of carrying a large suitcase, try bringing a duffle bag. These are soft and pliable, making them much easier to pack. In addition, they tend to be much lighter than a suitcase. Therefore, this will help reduce the weight in your car on your road trip. Plus, if you have to store bags inside the vehicle, this bag will be much more comfortable for passengers than sitting beside a big suitcase.
Bring an Emergency Kit
Last on the list of road trip hacks, you should bring an emergency kit. This should include basic tools such as a flash light and screw driver. Also, include some duct tape and super glue in case you need to patch something quickly. Not to mention, you may want to include an empty gas can in case you end up needing fuel. As a rule of thumb, you should also always include a spare tire and tools to change it in your emergency kit.
In short, road trip hacks are all about preparing for the unexpected. So much can happen while you’re on the road that you can’t prepare for everything. But you should do your best to be ready for an emergency.
Oct 29, 2023 | Accident prevention, Car Accidents
Rollover accidents can be very dangerous and are incredibly scary. Every year, thousands of accidents occur with rollovers. And many of them cause serious injuries. It’s important to know the most common reasons for these accidents so that you can avoid them. Often high speed is a factor. Another common reason is driver error – often because drivers are distracted. Certain vehicles can be more prone to rollovers because of their design. And finally, tire malfunction can also be a cause of a rollover accident. You cannot guarantee safety on the road, but you can make yourself safer by being aware of how rollovers happen.
Rollover Accidents: How they Happen and How to Prevent them from Happening to You
High Speed
High speed is very often a factor in rollover accidents. When cars are traveling fast and collide, it’s more likely that the force of the speed will make the car flip. Rollovers can also happen is when a car takes a turn going too quickly. Even swerving to avoid an animal can cause a vehicle to roll over if your car is traveling fast enough. To avoid rollovers, always travel the posted speed limit. And always slow way down before taking a sharp curve to keep all four wheels on the ground.
Driver Error
Another source of rollover accidents is driver error. Drivers being distracted is so incredibly dangerous. If you’re driving, you should not be looking at your phone. Or let your mind wander. Rollover accidents can also happen when drivers are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Often, these cause drivers to make sudden movements or even drive the wrong way on roads. This can lead to very bad accidents, including rollovers.
Electronic Malfunction
Some cars are more prone to rollover accidents because they are more top-heavy than others. Tall SUV’s in particular can be more likely to roll over. Therefore, most cars are equipped with ESC or Electronic Stability Control. This is an electronic sensor that helps prevent the car from rolling over. However, when it malfunctions, a rollover accident is more likely. Getting your vehicle serviced frequently should keep the electronics in good shape.
Tire Malfunction
Finally, tire malfunctions can often cause rollover accidents. Tires often blow out when drivers are traveling at a high rate of speed. The pressure on the tire from the car moving so quickly can cause it to fail. Therefore, tire blowouts often happen on highways. When this happens it can be difficult for your car to stay upright since it’s suddenly off-balance with one tire missing. While it’s impossible to ensure that your tires won’t ever fail, it’s important to pick high-quality tires for your car. You should always monitor the tire pressure, tread, and have them serviced and rotated frequently.
Rollover accidents are very scary and can be deadly. They are often caused in one way or another because a car is traveling at a high rate of speed. Make sure that you always drive the speed limit and slow down as you approach sharp turns. In addition, drivers must never drive distractedly as this can cause many different accidents, including rollovers. Making sure that your car’s ESC feature is working properly can keep you safer on the road as well. And finally, tire blowouts can cause rollover as well, so always make sure your tires are in good shape before hitting the road. Hopefully, by being aware of what can cause rollover accidents, you can stay safer on the road and avoid ever experiencing one.
Oct 8, 2023 | Accident prevention, Motorcycle
As all bikers know, motorcycles come with problems. Any hobby vehicle, actually, will have a problem or two at some point. Sometimes, you have a problem occur that is uncommon and unheard of. However, other times, you have one of the common motorcycle problems that riders face every day. Check to see if your problem is one of the common ones!
Common Motorcycle Problems & Prevention
Tire Wear
You should always check your tire pressure before you ride. If you have improper tire pressure, you could cause your tires to wear out too quickly. In addition to this, you should check the tread on your tires. One of the common motorcycle problems riders face can be simply traced back to the tires on the motorcycle. Because the tires take all of the pressure from the bike, they need to be checked often and thoroughly.
Chain Lubrication Problems
A defective chain could cause you to have a major accident, causing harm to you and the bike. Having a properly lubricated chain will avoid chains breaking or the drive train locking up. Chains snapping are amongst the most dangerous of the common motorcycle problems riders face daily.
Dirt and Debris
If your bike is running poorly, give it a good cleaning. One of the most common motorcycle problems is also one of the easiest to fix. Check your maintenance manual first, but it could be as simple as cleaning a spark plug. Sometimes they just need a good clean to make it run smoothly again. This can also help if the bike is not starting.
Batteries
Motorcycle batteries have a short lifespan compared to other vehicular batteries. Because of this, it ranks high on the light of common motorcycle problems. Make sure you are charging your battery at the end of each ride. Your owner’s manual will also have tips on how to keep it charged.
Fuel System
Replacing the hoses on your fuel-injected motorcycles regularly will keep them from drying out and cracking. Just like with anything, proper and routine maintenance will keep you from facing the common motorcycle problems that every rider faces.
Oct 2, 2023 | Accident prevention, Work Injuries
With summer around the corner, you can expect the sun the be at its most prevalent and strongest. While the sun definitely has its benefits, it can also be dangerous as well. Therefore, proper sun protection is very important. Knowing how to protect yourself will allow you to work in the sun safely and avoid damaging your body…
Sun Protection: Avoiding Work-Related Burns
Clothing
One of the most immediate forms of sun protection comes in what you’re wearing. Being out in the sun can be deceptive. Even if you don’t think the sun is all that strong, your skin can quickly get burnt or damaged. That’s why it’s a good idea to try and cover up as best you can, especially with those more-sensitive areas.
For example, long-sleeved shirts and pants can help cover your arms and legs, respectively. Hats are also a very useful means of sun protection. Not only do they help cover your face, they also help protect your more sensitive scalp from the sun. Sunglasses are another handy thing to wear, as they protect your eyes from the UV rays as well as make it easier for you to see.
Sunscreen
While clothing can help, sometimes the heat or your job requirements means you can’t fully cover yourself. That’s where sunscreen and sun block come in handy. These forms of sun protection help give you a very large boost in keeping your skin safe. However, it’s important to use the right kind of protection.
Sunscreen is designed to be absorbed by the skin and absorbs UV Aging rays. Sun block sits on top of the skin, and blocks UV Burning rays. However, these days, most formulas are mixtures of sunscreens and blocks, ensuring you get the protection you need. Make sure to get sun protection with a high enough SPF for your needs, and reapply as needed.
Healing
Of course, if you’ve already got a sunburn, then sun protection becomes especially important. Continuous sun exposure on burnt skin can not only make it worse, but also potentially increase the risk of things like skin cancer. If you have a sunburn, make sure to limit your time out in the sun, stay hydrated, and use things like aloe vera to help your skin heal.
Oct 1, 2023 | Accident prevention, Work Injuries
When getting ready for your bartending shift, you might pull out your makeup, uniform, and those trusty non-slip shoes. While being uniformed is absolutely a requirement of the job, there are also a few other steps you might consider taking to keep your body in check. Bartending can be a pretty physically demanding job to have; you’re on your feet, moving around, and maybe lifting heavy objects from time to time. Not to mention, the hours can be pretty long. For these reasons, among many others, we highly suggest a pre-shift stretching session to help limber you up and ward off some of those unwanted lower back pains that come later in the evening.
Pre-Shift Stretching: Bartending Essentials
Preparing for physical activity
It’s just work. Therefore, many of us prepare for it by throwing on clothes and walking out the door. However, your job is pretty physical. From lifting kegs, to mopping floors, and tending to twenty patrons at a time. In short: you’re the savior of every bar-goers Friday or Saturday night. Bartending is athletic performance, and a pre-shift stretching session will help you prepare for such. Loosen those muscles, get them warm, and improve your range of motion before you take on that 14-hour shift.
Tend to those problem areas
If you’ve ever bartended a day in your life, you can probably point out the areas which hurt most at the end of it all. From the soles of your feet, to your lower back, hips, neck, and so forth… When you do your pre-shift stretching, target those areas specifically with certain stretches and yoga poses. While targeting those specific areas is important, a full body stretch is never a bad idea.
Mind your body when it needs rest
We live in a society that pushes the idea of pushing your limits. Not to mention, a majority of bar and restaurant culture operates on the idea that being able to work your shift is more important than mental and physical health. In times of crisis, such as a winter storm or an injury of some sort, you might feel guilty (or even incapable) when it comes to calling out or getting your shift picked up. Pre-shift stretching won’t necessarily keep you from getting a cold, especially after a long few days behind the bar. However, the idea we are stressing here is self-care. Minding the needs of your mind and body is important in any profession.
Self-care in any profession…
If you find yourself injured on the job for any reason, please feel free to give us a call. We can discuss your case, your healing process, and any benefit you might be entitled to. Your body, and healing process, is important to long-term health. Don’t let it go unnoticed.
Aug 27, 2023 | Accident prevention, Driver Safety
It can already be quite hard to drive in rainy or stormy weather. However, this weather could also cause flooded roads, which make it much harder to get around. Floods can appear even when you wouldn’t expect them, like during summer rainstorms. That’s why it’s important to know how to handled a flood while in your car…
Flooded Roads: How To Handle Them
Eyeball the water levels
Flooded roads can be a bit deceiving. Depending on where the road is or how shallow the land is around it, the flood might not seem as bad. However, this kind of assumption can be dangerous. That’s why it’s a good idea to perform an eyeball test before going near a flooded road.
Just 6 inches of water can cause damage to your car and lead to you stalling out. A foot of water could even cause your car to start floating! If the water levels appear to be 6 inches or deeper, it’s best to avoid heading down that road. Instead, try to find a safer, alternate route.
Take it slow
When it rains, the roads become more slick. As a result, your car tires lose some traction. That’s why slower speeds are generally preferred during poor weather. Going too fast could lead to hydroplaning, which could then lead to a potential accident. Flooded roads further increase this kind of risk.
The higher the flood, the less traction your tires will have on the road. If you try and speed through the flood, you might end up loosing all your traction and stall out. It also increases the risk of you loosing control of your car. That’s why it’s preferable to take it slow and keep your focus on the flooded road.
Watch for hazards
One of the main dangers from flooded roads it what they might be hiding underneath the water. It can be very difficult to see underneath the floodwaters, especially while driving. Combine this with the fact that the poor weather might have caused environmental damage, and their could be something in the water which could cause damage to your car.
That’s why you’ll want to scan the environment before you enter any flooded roads. Look for things like any fallen trees or whipped-up debris which might tip you off to a problem. Fallen power lines are especially dangerous, but also potentially easier to spot. If you think the road might not be safe underneath the water, look for another way around.
