This post was sponsored by COUNTRY Financial. All opinions are mine.
Every single day, we all face a great amount of risk. We may not be consciously thinking about it moment to moment, but every second that we are alive… there are risks. It might sound kind of dark, but it doesn’t have to be! Being aware of risk is the first step in preparing and preventing.
I can’t think of anything more important than protecting our families. Can you? From staying home to being on the road there are always steps we can take to make sure we are doing everything we can for safety.
1 | Baby/Child Proofing Your Home
Many of us are no stranger to baby proofing our homes. As a mom of three, I’ve done it (and redone it) more than a few times. My number one tip is to start early, even if you think it’s not necessary because your baby isn’t yet mobile. It’s so much easier to get it done and ready by the time they are on the move. It’s also important to stay on top of age related proofing as they grow. The risks for my two-year-old are very different than that of my four- or even nine-year-old. Try breaking it down to one room at a time so it isn’t so overwhelming.
2 | Car Seat Safety
This is kind of a hot button issue for me. I get a little loud about this one on social media. We are constantly learning more about car seat safety and adjusting recommendations and regulations accordingly. Just because Grandpa Joe survived riding in a floorboard as an infant doesn’t mean its not dangerous. We now know so much more and are continuing to study. A couple more recent recommendations include rear-facing as long as possible and being aware that if the car seat has been in an accident or is expired not to use it.
3 | Responsible Driving
Distracted driving is causing an unthinkable amount of accidents and deaths. Now that everyone has a smart phone with everything from texts to emails to social media, our phones are all the more a distraction. Most phones DO have settings to turn on a “do not disturb” or something similar that will silence notifications while driving. I’m also a big believer that we shouldn’t ever drive distracted in front of our kids, as they will be the next drivers on the road. We have to be the example.
4 | Having An Emergency Plan
Emergency plans are always good to have in place. How would you all get in contact in the event of no cell service? Where would everyone meet? Do you have a family password or code word? Don’t forget the coverage needed to protect the family’s livelihood in the event of something unexpected.
5 | All The Alarms
One of my biggest fears is a house fire. So many house fires occur annually and they can be life threatening if not caught early. Don’t be caught by surprise, and make sure you have working smoke alarms throughout your home. This is a simple step that saves lives. Another type of alarm to have is a carbon monoxide alarm. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and can be fatal to an entire family if undetected. These monitors are affordable and easy to find and should be on every floor of your home. Lastly, get a security alarm. Burglaries and home invasions are a sad reality of life and you don’t want to be caught unprotected. I personally love all of the new systems with video. There are plenty on the market.
Those are just a few ways you can work to protect your family both inside your four walls and outside the home. Reducing the risk of accidents and injury is a big way to maintain long term financial stability. COUNTRY Financial can help with this. What ways have you taken steps to protect your family’s safety?
