Congratulations on your new baby. You're going to be a great parent, and we'll be right here with you so you're not alone. September is Baby Safety Month so it’s a perfect time for these 5 safety tips.

1. Check to make sure your car seat is installed correctly. We have several options, including virtual and online.
2. Before putting your baby down for a nap or for the night, remember that a firm mattress and fitted sheet are all you need for your baby’s crib. Remove blankets and toys from the crib and use a sleep sack on colder nights. Learn more about sleep safety.
3. Place your baby’s crib and other furniture away from windows to avoid falls or strangulation. Your baby is safer without any strings or cords within reach. Learn more about falls prevention and choking prevention.
4. Remember to set your water heater to 120° F to avoid scalds. This will make sure that the water never gets to a point that could injury the baby. Learn more about burn prevention.
5. Install a working smoke alarm AND a carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home, and in all sleeping areas. This is an important tip for not just baby safety, but family safety as well. And please test the alarms regularly to make sure they work.

Source: safekids.org

The Labor Day holiday is here and many of us will take to the highway for the “last” weekend of summer, perhaps to a pool, the beach, or the great outdoors. The American Red Cross wants you to enjoy your holiday and stay safe by following these tips:

DRIVING SAFETY

If traveling by vehicle is part of your plans these safety steps are for you:

• Be well rested and alert, use your seat belts, observe speed limits and follow the rules of the road. Clean your headlights and turn them on as dusk approaches or in inclement weather.
• Don’t drink and drive. Have a designated driver available.
• Give your full attention to the road. Avoid distractions such as cell phones.
• Use caution in work zones. There are lots of construction projects underway on the highways.
• Don’t follow other vehicles too closely.

HEAT SAFETY

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
• Avoid extreme temperature changes.
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
• Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
• Postpone outdoor games and activities.

BEACH SAFETY

• If you plan to swim in the ocean, a lake or river, be aware that swimming in these environments is different than swimming in a pool. Be sure you have the skills for these environments.
• Swim only at a beach with a lifeguard, within the designated swimming area. Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards and ask them about local conditions.
• Make sure you swim sober and that you always swim with a buddy. Know your limitations and make sure you have enough energy to swim back to shore.
• Protect your neck – don’t dive headfirst. Walk carefully into open waters. Watch out for and avoid aquatic life. Water plants and animals may be dangerous.
• If you are caught in a rip current, try not to panic. Signal to those on shore that you need assistance. Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Once you are free, swim toward shore. If you can't swim to the shore, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head toward shore.

BE SAFE IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Being prepared is critical when people are out in remote areas with limited access to phone service, hospitals and emergency help. Before you head out, follow these steps:

• Take a Red Cross First Aid/CPR course so that you will know what to do in case help is delayed. You’ll learn how to treat severe wounds, broken bones, bites and stings and more.
• Know the level of ability of the people in your group and the environment around you. Plan accordingly. Sprains and falls are some of the most common misfortunes travelers may face.
• Dehydration is also a danger. People planning a camping trip should plan for these dangers.
• Share your travel plans and locations with a family member, neighbor or friend.
• Pack a First Aid Kit – make sure to include insect repellant, sunscreen and personal medications.
Source: redcross.org

National Preparedness Month is an observance each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.

In 2021, FEMA’s Ready Campaign and the Ad Council broke ground by producing the first-ever national preparedness campaign specifically targeting the Latino community for National Preparedness Month. Released during Hispanic Heritage month, the advertisements centered around the Latino community’s commitment to personal planning for occasions and family milestones as a bridge to also planning for disasters.

This one-of-a-kind campaign is committed to putting people first and reaching communities where they are. To continue these efforts, this year’s National Preparedness Month campaign will feature a call to action for the Black and African American community.

This year’s national public service announcements are being developed and will be released throughout the country this September, to help get preparedness information into the hands of those who live in underserved communities.

Source: ready.gov/september

Before it's time to head back to school, follow these tips to help ensure your kids have a safe, happy and productive year.

Make the first day easier

• Remember that you don't need to wait until the first day of class to ask for help. Schools are open to address any concerns a parent or child might have, including the specific needs of a child, over the summer. The best time to get help might be one to two weeks before school opens.
• Many children get nervous about new situations, including changing to a new school, classroom or teacher. This may happen at any age. If your child seems nervous, it can be helpful to rehearse heading into the new situation. Take them to visit the new school or classroom before the first day of school. Remind them that there are probably a lot of students who are uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are nervous and will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible. If your child seems nervous, ask them what they are worried about and help them problem-solve ways to master the new situation.
• Point out the positive aspects of starting school to help your kids look forward to the first day of class. Talk about how they will see old friends and meet new ones, for example.
• Find another child in the neighborhood you child can walk to school or ride with on the bus.
• If it is a new school for your child, attend any available orientations and take an opportunity to tour the school before the first day. Bring your child to school a few days prior to class to play on the playground and get comfortable in the new environment.
• If you feel it is needed, drive your child (or walk with them) to school and pick them up on the first day. Get there early on the first day to cut down on unnecessary stress.
• Consider starting your child on their school sleep/wake schedule a week or so ahead of time so that time change is not a factor on their first couple of days at school.

Backpack safety

• Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
• Organize your child's backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10% to 20% of your child's body weight. Go through the pack with your child weekly, and remove unneeded items to keep it light.
• Remind your child to always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.
• Adjust the pack so that the bottom sits at your child's waist.
• If your school allows, consider a rolling backpack. This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs, they may be difficult to roll in snow, and they may not fit in some lockers. And review backpack safety with your child.

Traveling to & from school

Review the basic rules with your student and practice any new routes or modes of transportation:

School bus

• Children should always board and exit the bus at locations that provide safe access to the bus or to the school building.
• Remind your child to wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb.
• Make sure your child walks where she can see the bus driver (which means the driver will be able to see them, too).
• Remind your student to look both ways to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing the street, just in case somebody does not stop as required. Encourage your child to actually practice how to cross the street several times before the first day of school.
• If the school bus has lap/shoulder seat belts, make sure your child uses one at all times when in the bus. (If your child's school bus does not have lap/shoulder belts, encourage the school system to buy or lease buses with lap/shoulder belts). See Where We Stand: Safety Restraints on the School Bus for more information. Your child should not move around on the bus.
• Check on the school's policy regarding food on the bus. Eating on the bus can present a problem for students with allergies and also lead to infestations of insects and vermin on the vehicles.
• If your child has a chronic condition that could result in an emergency on the bus, make sure you work with the school nurse or other school health personnel to have a bus emergency plan. If possible, do this before the first day of class.

Car

• All passengers should wear a seat belt or use an age- and size-appropriate car seat or booster seat.
• Keep your child riding in a car seat with a harness as long as possible and then ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. Your child is ready for a booster seat when they have reached the top weight or height allowed for their seat, their shoulders are above the top harness slots, or her ears have reached the top of the seat.
• Your child should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle's seat belt fits properly (usually when the child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 to 12 years of age). This means that your child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with their legs bent at the knees and feet hanging down and the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat; the lap belt is low and snug across the thighs, not the stomach.
• All children younger than 13 years of age should ride in the rear seat of vehicles. If you must drive more children than can fit in the rear seat (when carpooling, for example), move the front-seat passenger's seat as far back as possible and have the child ride in a booster seat if the seat belts do not fit properly without it.
• Remember that many crashes occur while novice teen drivers are going to and from school. Remind your teen to wear their seat belt, limit the number of teen passengers, and do not allow eating, drinking, cell phone conversations (even when using hands-free devices or speakerphone), texting or other mobile device use to prevent driver distraction. Familiarize yourself with your state's graduated driver's license law and consider the use of a parent-teen driver agreement to facilitate the early driving learning process. See here for a sample parent-teen driver agreement.

Bike

• Practice the bike route to school before the first day of school to make sure your child can manage it.
• Always wear a bicycle helmet, no matter how short or long the ride.
• Ride on the right, in the same direction as auto traffic and ride in bike lanes if they are present.
• Use appropriate hand signals.
• Respect traffic lights and stop signs.
• Wear bright-colored clothing to increase visibility. White or light-colored clothing and reflective gear is especially important after dark.
• Know the "rules of the road."

Walking to school

• Children are generally ready to start walking to school at 9 to 11 years of age.
• Make sure your child's walk to school is a safe route with well-trained adult crossing guards at every intersection.
• Identify other children in the neighborhood with whom your child can walk to school. In neighborhoods with higher levels of traffic, consider organizing a "walking school bus," in which an adult accompanies a group of neighborhood children walking to school.
• Be realistic about your child's pedestrian skills. Because small children are impulsive and less cautious around traffic, carefully consider whether or not your child is ready to walk to school without adult supervision. If the route home requires crossing busier streets than your child can reasonably do safely, have an adult, older friend or sibling escort them home.
• If your children are young or are walking to a new school, walk with them or have another adult walk with them the first week or until you are sure they know the route and can do it safely. If your child will need to cross a street on the way to school, practice safe street crossing with them before the start of school.
• Bright-colored clothing or a visibility device, like a vest or armband with reflectors, will make your child more visible to drivers.

Foremost® Insurance is helping your motor home and travel trailer customers get road ready this season with a free RV inspection from a participating Camping World® facility! We will be communicating this offer to customers in policy packets starting in August 2022.

To set up their free inspection, customers will need to visit CampingWorld.com to find the participating location of their choice. Once an inspection is scheduled and completed, customers will receive a form from the facility with the findings. If any repairs are recommended or found to be necessary, customers can then make another appointment to have them done at the same Camping World shop, or at the repair facility of their choice. All of this information will be communicated to the customer in detail in their policy packet. This program is just one more way Foremost Insurance is offering A Better Insurance Experience.®

If you have any questions, please contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

Use insect repellent

Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients below. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

• DEET
• Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
• IR3535
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
• Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone

Tips for babies and children

• Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs.
• Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.
• When using insect repellent on your child:
  • Always follow label instructions.
  • Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under 3 years old.
  • Do not apply insect repellent to a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin.
  • Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face.

Tips for everyone

• Always follow the product label instructions.
• Reapply insect repellent as directed.
  • Do not spray repellent on the skin under clothing.
  • If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.

Natural insect repellents (repellents not registered with EPA)

• We do not know the effectiveness of non-EPA registered insect repellents, including some natural repellents.
• To protect yourself against diseases spread by mosquitoes, CDC and EPA recommend using an EPA-registered insect repellent.
• Choosing an EPA-registered repellent ensures the EPA has evaluated the product for effectiveness.
• Visit the EPA website to learn more.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants

Treat clothing and gear

• Use 0.5% permethrin to treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) or buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
  • Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes.
  • Permethrin-treated clothing provides protection after multiple washings.
  • Read product information to find out how long the protection will last.
• If treating items yourself, follow the product instructions.
• Do not use permethrin products directly on skin.

Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors

• Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.
• Use air conditioning, if available.
• Stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in or near water.
  • Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers.
  • Check for water-holding containers both indoors and outdoors.

Source: cdc.gov

A lot of people are confused about what a classic car is, and how it is different from an antique or vintage car. We’ve heard the term “classic” used interchangeably to describe just about any old car that seems out of place among modern daily drivers. It’s not just age that determines whether a car is an antique or a classic. There are several terms and jargon people use when describing these cars.

If you are going to register your car, exhibit at car shows, find a mechanic who can handle your car’s unique problems, and apply for Classic Car Insurance, (link to https://www.lallisandhiggins.com/antique-automobile.htm) understanding the key differences between each type of vehicle is essential.

Classic vs Antique vs Vintage Cars

We have listed all three and their generally agreed-upon ages below:

• A vintage car is one that was manufactured between 1919 and 1930.
• An antique car is any car manufactured in 1975 or earlier (older than 45 years old).
• The classic car is a vehicle manufactured in the 1990s or earlier (at least 20 years old).

However, every state’s DMV, insurance company, and classic car club classify them differently. Classic cars are defined very broadly in California, and there is no differentiation between classic, vintage, or antique vehicles. The California DMV defines a Historical Vehicle as one that dates from 1922 or later, and is at least 25 years old.

Those with engines larger than 16 cylinders, manufactured between 1922 and 1965, get classified as Horseless Carriage. Modified cars and replicas don’t fit into either of these categories.

Insurance companies define classic cars according to their guidelines. Hagerty defines vehicles from 1900 to 1979 as Antiques or Classics. A car manufactured in 1980 or later is considered a collector car.

Classic Car Club of America is even stricter in defining classics. As classic cars, they are only accepted between the years 1915 and 1948.

How Old is a Classic Car?

“Classic car” is defined differently by different people. A classic automobile, according to the Classic Car Club of America, is one that was built between 1915 and 1948. For registration purposes, however, many states consider such cars to be antique or vintage vehicles.

In most cases, a classic car has to be at least 20 years old to qualify for insurance and registration. The car should have been kept to its original design and specifications if you intend to register it (and insure it). In other words, any restoration should stay true to the original design and construction, from the interior materials to the engine parts. This also means no modern touches are permitted.

How Old is a Vintage Car?

It is interesting because, in some ways, this category is very specific, but in other ways, it has the loosest interpretation. To be regarded as vintage, a car must have been manufactured between 1919 and 1930. It does not have to be in its original condition, however. They can be lifted, chopped, modded, or customized without losing their vintage status. The only prerequisite is an age range.

What Makes a Car an Antique

If you enjoy browsing antique car stores, you’ll find a lot of old junk mixed in with some treasures. Antique cars are different from other cars. The condition of an antique car can range from nearly original to nearly new, depending on the state.

Generally speaking, cars getting into this category are 45 years or older, but it can vary from state to state. In Michigan, for example, antique plates can be registered on vehicles that are over 20 years old. If the car or truck is not modified, it can either be considered vintage or antique.

Now that you know what classic, vintage, and antique cars are and you own one, you may be wondering how valuable it is. Here you’ll find a list of the top 10 classic car sites and everything you need to know about buying or selling a classic car. For more information, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

autostartransport.com

Safety Tips Swimming pools and spas are great places for family fun. It’s important to ensure everyone follows these simple safety steps to stay safer in and around the water.

1. Never leave a child unattended in or near water.
2. Teach children how to swim.
3. Teach children to stay away from drains.
4. Ensure all pools and spas - both in your backyard and any public pool you may visit - have compliant drain covers.
5. Install proper barriers, covers and alarms on and around your pool and spa.
6. Know how to perform CPR on children and adults.

Source: poolsafely.gov

Road trip season is finally here and before you start packing for your next trip, it's important to make sure you have the RV insurance coverage you're looking for.

Here are six frequently asked RV questions you can ask your agent or broker when you are deciding what type of policy to purchase for your RV!

Is my optional equipment covered?

Awnings, air conditioners, satellite dishes, LP tanks and bike racks can all be damaged, so ask if these things are covered by your policy. Be sure to discuss whether the coverage applies only to originally affixed equipment or if it includes equipment that you attach after purchasing your RV. A good policy will give you a set amount of coverage included with your comprehensive coverage, with the ability to purchase more.

Is my personal property inside the motorhome or travel trailer covered?

Chances are you are packing your camping, cooking and other traveling equipment for your trip, including golf clubs or other things for entertainment. You can typically choose coverage for these items as part of a package. The one thing to double check about personal property is sometimes your homeowner's policy can have exceptions regarding coverage for personal property in a motorized vehicle. The agents at Lallis & Higgins Insurance can help you figure out your best option.

What type of coverage is best for me—Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value?

Replacement cost coverage protects your motor home from the effects of depreciation and usually isn't available with an auto policy. With a Replacement Cost policy, if your new-model motor home is destroyed within a certain period of time after purchase, the insurance company will replace it with a brand new one of similar kind and quality. If your motor home is destroyed and you only have an Actual Cash Value policy, which is typically what you'd get with an auto policy, you will only be paid the current value of your motor home.

How much does RV insurance cost and what payment plans are available?

Whether you want to pay in full or in installments, having the flexibility to choose is an important option. Talk to your agent or broker. Insurance companies offer many different plans such as one-pay, four-pay or twelve-pay options.

Is towing or roadside assistance available?

Towing and roadside assistance is a great coverage to have if your motorhome or travel trailer breaks down and can include towing, jump starts, roadside service, flat tire changes, fuel delivery and locksmith services. Specialized coverage is important and can exceed what you would get from an auto policy. You'll want to be covered 24/7 by experts who have the equipment and parts to help with a bigger vehicle like an RV. Ask if coverage extends to any vehicles you may be towing behind you.

What about special coverages for full-timers or vacationers?

Some insurance companies offer these special coverages, which may cover full-timers when they are parked and using their RV as a residence. You can also ask about vacation liability, which may cover you in case you are found responsible for someone else's injury in your RV while it's parked. Again, exclusions in your homeowners policy may play into what type of coverage you want to purchase for your RV, so take this into consideration when you discuss your options.

For more information, contact Lallis & Higgins Insurance.

Source: foremost.com

This comprehensive beginner’s guide is the ultimate resource for buying an electric scooter. You will learn about price classes, features to consider, tips for riding, maintenance, safety, laws, component parts, micromobility, and electric scooter history, and gain some tools that will help you with your buying research.

Electric Scooter Buying Guide