Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Wed, May 20, 2009 @ 01:03 PM
While originally established to honor those individuals whom fell in service to their country, Memorial Day has become a family holiday where many enjoy road trips, swimming, barbeques, and boating. Whatever you and your family decide to do, here are some important things Carrara Companies wants you to remember this Memorial Day weekend.
Road Trips
- Click It or Ticket It: The national Click It or Ticket It campaign kicked off this past weekend, and will run until the end of the month. Over 950 law enforcement partners will be supporting the campaign with activities and enforcement hours. Ohio's seat belt law is a secondary law, which means a police officer cannot stop a driver for the sole purpose of enforcing the use of occupant restraints. This is not a pass to avoid wearing your safety belt, and you will be sited if pulled over or at a sobriety checkpoint. Children are required to be buckled in at all times - and that is a law in all states.
- Pre-flight Checks: Make sure your vehicle has recently had its routine maintenance, and double-check everything before you take off on the road. Proper tire pressure, working warning and headlights, topped off fluids, and emergency kit should be in great shape before you begin your trip.
- Are you sleepy?: If so, don't drive. Drowsy drivers are as dangerous as drunk drivers, and getting a good night sleep before any road trip should be an automatic requirement. A caffeinated beverage or quick exercise break is not a viable substitute for a good night's sleep.
- Don't Drink & Drive: Simple and straight to the point. Whether out at a bar, barbeque, or at home, getting behind the wheel after a couple drinks is never a good idea. Call a cab, family member, or friend - who is sober - for the safe ride home.
Barbeque
- Maintain a healthy diet, and don't over indulge. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, and potato salad might sound good, but mix in some fruit and fresh vegetables as well.
- Make sure you check the hoses and tubes for cracks on your gas grill to avoid any leaks, which could be ignited by an open flame.
- If using a charcoal grill, avoid using them in the home or confined space. Not only is it a fire hazard, but the carbon monoxide can build up to toxic levels.
Swimming & Boating
- Make sure you know the depth of the water you decide to swim, and make sure there is a lifeguard on duty in case of an emergency.
- Take sunscreen with a SPF rating of at least 15, and apply it to all parts of exposed skin 30 minutes prior to going out. Taking an extra pair of UV protected sunglasses is a good idea as well.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water or beverages with electrolytes. Avoid drinking alcoholic or caffeinated drinks, as they will cause you to dehydrate fast. There is very little danger however, to eating before jumping in the pool.
- When out boating, make sure you have lifejackets for everyone. File a boat plan, like a flight plan, with someone you trust in case something happens.
- Keep your eye on the weather and waves if out in open water. There are many instances of rouge waves and the weather changing without notice, turning your weekend boating trip into a nightmare.
Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 08:54 AM
The remnants of a fire may linger long after the fire department has left. Soot and smoke damage remain, in addition to the damage actually caused by the fire, and it's important to recognize both as separate hazards when restoration is the next step in recovery.
Soot is a visible, oily substance, which stains easily. Smoke is the invisible threat, which intrudes into all portions of the home, and may remain if not properly addressed. Here are some basic things you should be aware of:
- Insurance Coverage: Odds are if you own a home, you have fire insurance coverage. It is a good idea to know exactly what the coverage entails before a fire incident occurs.
- Professional Results: Many websites offer do-it-yourself methods for removing smoke. Most are for cigarette smoke, but little are effective when properly removing smoke after a fire. A company who deals with professional restoration after a fire is usually the best option.
- Reputation: The professional you hire should know what they are doing, and have a reputable record of accomplishment with success. Some companies are highly recommended, while others seem to do only what they must and care little about the result.
- Trapped Odor: Smoke, like sand, seems to get into everything. The negative air space, which is the air trapped within your walls, is the most common hiding spot. Thermal fogging removes the trapped smoke from porous materials, such as wood, and is the most effective. A sealant will be used for air ducts, and there is no way to effectively clean them, and prevent the odor from returning. In the attic, insulation replacement is required as there is no way to remove the odor.
- Carpeting: In most cases, replacing the carpet and padding is best. For some lighter incidents, cleaning the carpet before and after the restoration project removes the odor.
- Clothing & Furniture: Ozone treatment offers the most thorough advantages, with the best results. The deodorization produces an oxidizing agent, which breaks down the smoke at a molecular level. Dry cleaning is recommended for best cleaning, but deodorization needs completed first to ensure the odor is not set into the fabric.
- Not eco-friendly: Unfortunately, there is not a restoration or removal method, which is completely friendly to the environment. Both soot and smoke permeate what they are exposed to, and natural ventilation and the hottest water goes only so far.
- Phantom Smell: Sometimes long after the fire, you trick yourself into thinking the odor remains. Ask someone to verify the odor is actually gone, and allow yourself to heal from the experience.
Properly trained fire restoration professionals have the knowledge and training to effectively remove the smoke damage. Once you contact your insurance agent and get the process started, all parties will work with you to get you back on your feet and back into your home.
Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 07:24 AM
When a disaster occurs, it usually happens when you are least prepared, and damaging materials and equipment, you cannot afford to lose. When you know what needs to be done before, during, and after an incident, you can prevent the initial panic and overwhelming feeling of loss. A disaster recovery plan will reduce the extent of the damage, and assist you in carrying out an organized recovery effort.
Disaster plans differ from one organization to the next, but they all contain the basic principles addressing pre-loss preventative measures, emergency procedures, and post-loss recovery efforts. Here are the six starting points you need when drafting your Disaster Recovery Plan.
- Goals: Determine and prioritize the goals for your organization. They must have support and validity from the senior-most personnel.
- Simplicity: Simply put make it simple. A complex plan full of fluff will cause more of a disaster when it becomes time to execute. Keep the goals and priorities clear and simple, and the plan will be successful.
- Maintenance: Periodically schedule a review of the plan, which is usually about every six months. This is necessary as administrative information changes, along with job responsibilities, and business goals and priorities.
- Practice: Setup disaster drills to ensure the plan actually works as intended. Separate out the weak links, and make changes as necessary.
- Business Impact Analysis (BIA): Quantify the hard cost of the business or portion of the business being inoperable. This loss is cumulative dollars verses time. This will define the window of time available to renew business operations, and define the restoration project timeline.
- Risk Analysis: Vital documentation should be defined, as 5% - 7% of total documentation exists in original copy form. The location of this documentation must be written into the plan to ensure recovery. Consider either safe storage options or maintaining backups offsite. Critical assets and equipment, along with critical business partners, must be written into the plan and addressed as well.
Contact Eric Schlaubach or Jim Dunphy for more information about establishing your own Disaster Recovery Plan.
Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Fri, May 08, 2009 @ 03:50 PM
Over time, the interior of our homes needs a little attention, just as the exterior. Some rooms require something simple as a fresh coat of paint, while others need to be redesigned from the floor up. The good thing is you don't have to spend a lot of money on your remodeling job to look like a million dollars. Here are some simple tips when planning your kitchen-remodeling project.
- Plan a budget. Know how much you want to spend, and how much you are willing to spend to get the job done. If you do the job yourself, make separate accounts for materials, labor, and if necessary permits.
- Following the former, if you are going to have a contractor do the work, ensure you do your homework and hire a reputable company. Make sure they separate out costs for materials and labor, and make sure you get detailed invoices for everything.
- Check out remodeling magazines, and visit home repair and furniture stores to get an idea of what you want your kitchen to look like.
- Make sure you plan the design around the style of your home, and make sure you plan the layout on how you currently use your kitchen.
- Ensure you have all permits, if necessary.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help if begin to feel overwhelmed or have questions.
Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Fri, May 01, 2009 @ 12:52 PM
The warm, sunny weather goes together with the classics: popsicles and Kool-Aid. Unfortunately, these two delicious treats tend to make a mess when spilled indoors. Remember these tips for your summertime spills:
- Pick up the dropped chunks of popsicle.
- Blot up the excess beverage, and never rub the affected area - this will cause the fibers to absorb the liquid and possibly spread.
- You will need a few drops of liquid dish detergent (without bleach), white towels, warm water, and an iron.
- Test a small inconspicuous area for colorfastness of carpet. This may not work on all carpet fibers. Contact your carpet manufacturer first before applying any chemicals/soaps to your carpet for cleaning.
- Mix a few drops of the dish liquid with warm water. Wet one towel with the mix and place it over the affected area. Put the dry towel on top of the wet one and gently use the hot iron on it. You will see the color pull into the wet towel. (repeat if necessary)
For best results contact a professional carpet cleaning company, and visit us here for more information.