Food Safety: Making the Right Choices

Food Safety

A lot of Californians don’t realize that getting food poisoning is much more common than it should be. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases.

Those who are particularly vulnerable to getting food poisoning include children below the age of five, adults older than 65, pregnant women, and those who have health issues. Because of how big of a problem food poisoning is, September was designated as Food Safety Awareness Month.

Food Safety Tips

One of the primary reasons people get food poisoning is because they don’t handle or prepare their food properly. To help you avoid getting sick, here are some food safety tips to follow:

  • Keep meat separated: When organizing your refrigerator, make sure that uncooked meat is stored on the bottom shelf in sealed containers. This will help prevent any juices from dripping and contaminating other food. Separate your raw meat from fruits and vegetables as well to prevent them from being contaminated.
  • Wash your hands: It’s important to wash your hands thoroughly (for at least 20 seconds) before and after handling food. This will help remove any harmful bacteria that could potentially cause food poisoning. Be sure to wash your hands after handling raw meat as well.
  • Use sauce carefully: If you marinate your raw meat in a sauce, do not use that same sauce on any cooked food unless you boil it. Boiling it will help kill any harmful bacteria.
  • Use a food thermometer: One of the best ways to ensure that your food is cooked properly is to use a food thermometer. This will help you know for sure that your food has reached a safe internal temperature.
  • Keep everything clean: It’s important to keep all surfaces clean when preparing food. This includes cutting boards, countertops, knives, and any other utensils that come into contact with food (especially raw meat).

Use these food safety tips to help prevent potential food poisoning in California. For more health safety tips, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Do I Really Need Life Insurance?

There are so many different types of insurance that some types of insurance, like life insurance, can seem like an unnecessary expense. Many people mistakenly think that this kind of insurance isn’t needed because they are young or healthy. In fact, it’s estimated that around 95 million adults in the U.S. do not have such insurance.

However, such insurance can be an important safety net for your loved ones in the event of your death. To help spread awareness about the importance of having insurance on your life, September has been designated as Life Insurance Awareness Month.

Why is Life Insurance so Important?

Most people mistakenly believe that such insurance is only needed if you are the primary breadwinner in your family. However, a life policy can be an important safety net for your loved ones regardless of your job or financial situation.

A life policy can help your loved ones cover funeral costs, outstanding debts, and day-to-day living expenses if you die unexpectedly. Not to mention, such insurance can give your loved ones peace of mind knowing that they will be financially taken care of if something happens to you.

Important Statistics 

To give you an idea of just how important a life policy can be, here are a few statistics:

  • Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 3 families would have faced financial challenges within as little as a month if the primary earner in their family passed away.
  • It’s estimated that around 40 percent of all adults in the U.S. have no insurance on their life.
  • Even though 60 percent of adults have such insurance, only 35 percent have an individual life policy. A significant amount of people who have it have it through their employer.

Get Life Insurance Today

Even if you’re young and healthy,  it’s important to consider getting life insurance to ensure that your family is financially protected if anything happens to you. For more health insurance information or advice, visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Pet Health: Vaccinations

pet health

As a pet owner, pet health is always a top priority. With that in mind, vaccinations are an important part of keeping your pet healthy and safe from disease. Vaccinations help prepare your pet’s immune system to fight off infections and diseases and are an important part of preventative healthcare for animals.

It’s important to note that pets require booster shots once in a while. A lot of pet owners forget this (or may not realize this), which is why August was designated as National Pet Immunization Awareness Month.

Maintain Pet Health With Vaccinations

As a responsible pet owner, you want to do everything you can to maintain your pet’s health. That includes making sure they’re up-to-date on their vaccinations. Your pet’s vet will likely have a vaccination schedule for you to follow, but it’s always a good idea to be aware of the different types of vaccines available for your pet, as well as when they need them.

There are two types of vaccines: core and non-core. Core vaccines are those that are recommended for all animals, while non-core vaccines are recommended based on the lifestyle and risk factors of your pet.

The following are the core vaccines for dogs:

  • Rabies
  • Adenovirus
  • Distemper
  • Parvovirus

The following are the core vaccines for cats:

  • Rabies
  • Calicivirus
  • Herpesvirus
  • Panleukopenia (also known as feline distemper)

The following are some of the non-core vaccines for dogs:

  • Kennel cough
  • Lyme disease
  • Leptospirosis

The following are some of the non-core vaccines for cats:

  • Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) 
  • Bacterial upper respiratory infections

How Often Do You Need To Vaccinate Your Pets?

Both cats and dogs should be vaccinated at 14 to 16 weeks. Boosters should be given after one year, then every three years after that. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as the rabies vaccine. Your pet’s vet will be able to advise you on the best vaccination schedule for your individual pet.

For more pet health information or for health awareness tips in general, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Brake Safety: Things to Know

Brake Safety: Things to Know

Almost everyone in California drives a car. There are over 27 million licensed drivers in California, which is by far and away the most in any state. However, many drivers take their cars for granted, meaning that they don’t get their cars checked as often as they should. For example, few drivers worry about their brakes.

However, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), brake systems are the third most common factor in car crashes. For this reason, August has been designated as Brake Safety Awareness Month.

How To Ensure Brake Safety

The best way to prevent your brakes from failing is to have your brake system inspected on a routine basis. Generally speaking, you should have your car inspected every two years. During an inspection, a mechanic will check your brake system for any issues. If any issues are present, they can make the necessary repairs or replacements to ensure that your brakes work safely.

What To Do If Your Brakes Fail 

Even if you are diligent about having your car inspected, it’s no guarantee that your brakes will work properly 100% of the time. Fortunately, if you know what to do, you can navigate the situation safely despite your brakes failing. Just be sure to follow these steps:

  • Keep calm. Take a deep breath and keep calm. Panicking will only make the situation worse.
  • Take your foot off the gas pedal. It may seem like an obvious tip, but it can be hard to think straight in such a situation. Make sure your foot is not on the gas pedal.
  • Turn on your hazards. Let everyone around you know that there’s an issue by turning your hazards on.
  • Downshift. Downshift a little at a time to avoid damaging your transmission. Downshift your way into neutral.
  • Pull the emergency brake. Once you’re in neutral, pull your emergency brake. If you pull your emergency brake while going fast, it could cause your car to spin out of control.

Use these brake safety tips in case your brakes fail. For more safety awareness information, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store.

Who Needs MedicAlert?

MedicAlert Awareness Month

A lot of people in California live with serious medical conditions. In fact, it’s estimated that around one in five people in the U.S. has some sort of medical problem. Unfortunately, when emergency treatment is needed, fatal mistakes are often made because a person’s medical condition isn’t known. It’s why the MedicAlert bracelet or necklace is so important. However, many people are still unaware that this even exists, which is why August has been designated MedicAlert Awareness Month. 

What is Medic Alert?

MedicAlert is a bracelet or necklace that acts as a medical ID. Essentially, it provides information about any medical conditions that the person wearing it may have. It also acts as a way to identify the person wearing it. In addition to the medical condition, individuals who sign up for Medic Alert will also have an online emergency health record that can be accessed from anywhere, at any time.

Last, but not least, MedicAlert has a 24/7 emergency response team that has access to all of the online health records and who are trained to provide medical information to first responders.

Do You Need Medic Alert?

If you have any kind of serious medical condition, then a MedicAlert bracelet or necklace could save your life. If you’re unconscious or unable to respond during an emergency, first responders will be able to identify your condition right away and provide proper treatment. Being able to provide the right treatment could end up saving your life. It can also prevent them from making potentially fatal mistakes, such as administering medications you may be allergic to.

You may want to sign up for MedicAlert if you have cardiac problems, serious allergies, diabetes, blood disorders, or other serious conditions. If you have family members with these conditions, or who have conditions such as autism or dementia, having them wear a MedicAlert bracelet or necklace is a good idea.

A MedicAlert Bracelet or Necklace Could Save Your Life

If you or anyone you know suffers from a serious medical condition, you should consider MedicAlert. For more health awareness information and advice, visit us at The Benefits Store today.