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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. #insurance #lifeinsurance #lifeinsurancecoverage

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. #pethealth #Petsafety #PetVaccination

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. #BrakeSafety #carsafety #DrivingSafety

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. #Medicalbracelet #Medicalemergencyalarm #MedicalID #MedicAlert

After two years of being locked inside, many Californians are planning to travel this summer. If you plan to travel, keeping travel safety in mind is crucial, especially since the pandemic hasn’t ended yet. As such, you should do everything you can to mitigate potential risks so that you can enjoy a safe trip outside of the U.S., wherever you go. Travel Safety Tips The following are a few important travel safety tips that you should follow if you plan to travel this summer: Check the travel advisories for your destination. Before you book any tickets, be sure to check the travel advisories for your destination country. You may want to avoid any countries listed as Level 3 or 4. Get travel insurance. This is one of the most important tips, especially if you’re traveling to a country with a high level of travel advisories. Travel insurance will help you financially in case you get sick or injured while on your trip. It’s also a good idea to get insurance that covers trip cancellation and interruption so that you can get your money back if you have to cancel your trip for any reason. Get the proper vaccinations. Depending on where you’re traveling, you may need to get certain vaccinations before departure. For example, if you’re traveling to a country with a risk of yellow fever, then you need to get the yellow fever vaccine. Be sure to check the vaccination requirements for your destination country and get the proper vaccinations at least a month before your trip. You should also make sure that you’re vaccinated for COVID-19. Gather your medications. If you take any prescription medications, be sure to bring enough for your entire trip, plus a little extra in case of emergency. You should also bring along a list of your allergies and any medical conditions that you have so that you can get proper treatment if needed. Be sure to follow these travel safety tips if you’re going abroad. For more safety tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #Californiahealthtips #healthawareness #travelsafety #travelsafetyduringCOVID19

As you know, staring into the light can cause eye damage. It’s why it’s a good idea to wear sunglasses on sunny days in California. However, that’s not the only source of light that can hurt your eyes. Light from electronic devices can cause eye damage as well. Although there are different types of light, blue light is one of the most common types that people are exposed to on a regular basis. As such, you’ll want to make sure that you take precautions against any possible damage that blue light can cause to your eyes as a result of long-term exposure. What is Blue Light? Blue light is a type of light that is found in both natural and artificial light sources. Blue light has a shorter wavelength than other colors of light, and this is what gives it its name. The sun is the most well-known source of blue light, but it can also be found in fluorescent and LED lights. LED TVs, computer screens, tablet screens, and smartphones all emit blue light. In fact, any electronic device that emits light can be a source of blue light exposure. How Can Blue Light Damage Your Eyes? One of the most common problems that can be caused by blue light exposure is digital eye strain, which is caused by looking at digital screens for long periods of time. Symptoms of digital eye strain include difficulty focusing and irritated eyes. A more severe problem that can be caused by blue light exposure is macular degeneration. This is a serious condition that can lead to blindness. Macular degeneration is caused by damage to the macula, which is the part of the eye that is responsible for central vision. Ways to Protect Your Eyes From Blue Light The following are a few tips to help protect your eyes against blue light damage: Decrease the amount of time spent staring at screens. Use screen filters to decrease your blue light exposure. Wear yellow-tinted or anti-reflective glasses to block blue light. Protect Your Eyes You should do everything you can to prevent eye injuries, including protecting against blue light. For more safety awareness information, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #Bluelight #Bluelightdamage #Bluelightexposure #Bluelightprotection

Living with a disability can be incredibly challenging. Unfortunately, people don’t realize how many people in the U.S. are disabled. Believe it or not, there are 38.3 million people in the U.S. living with a severe disability. Additionally, according to the CDC, roughly 61 million people have a disability of some kind, even if it’s not necessarily severe. As a result, people with disabilities make up the country’s largest minority group. To help spread awareness about people living with disabilities, July 16th has been designated as Disability Awareness Day. What Is Considered a Disability? A disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits a person’s ability to perform daily activities. A person can be considered disabled from birth or can experience a disability over their lifetime. Such disabilities can be caused by everything from physical accidents to diseases. Disability Awareness Facts The following are a few disability facts that everyone should know about: There are over a billion people in the world that live with some sort of disability. Upwards of 190 million people have severe disabilities that require healthcare services. People with disabilities often face prejudice and discrimination, especially in parts of the world where healthcare service providers have a limited understanding of disabilities. It’s estimated that 80% of people throughout the world with disabilities live in developing countries. Around 90% of children in developing nations who live with a disability do not go to school. Around two out of three disabled individuals in the U.S. who are unemployed want to work. Employees who live with disabilities have much higher retention rates than those who are not disabled. Living With a Disability Is Challenging It’s important that people know how common it is to live with a disability and how it can affect a person’s daily life. Spreading awareness about this is crucial to ensuring that disabled individuals gain access to a higher quality of life both in California and around the world. For more health awareness information, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #disabilityawareness #healthawareness #livingwithadisability

Eye injuries often come out of nowhere. In fact, people often involve themselves in tasks or activities without even realizing that they could be at risk of an eye injury. As a result, many people don’t take the necessary precautions to help prevent eye injuries. For example, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, there are roughly 30,000 sports-related eye injuries, while 40 percent of all eye injuries are caused by everyday tasks performed at home (such as cooking, repair work, cleaning, and yard work). With that in mind, being aware of potential eye injury risks and taking the steps to prevent eye injuries is incredibly important. As such, July has been named Eye Injury Prevention Month. How to Prevent Eye Injuries in California The following are a few eye safety tips to keep in mind when performing a task or activity that can result in a potential eye injury: If you’re working in a garage or workspace in the presence of intense light, heat, or flying debris, be sure to wear safety goggles. When playing certain sports (such as those involving physical contact) wear protective eyewear. For example, getting hit by a pitch playing baseball or getting an elbow in the eye playing basketball can cause severe eye injuries. Whenever using something sharp, such as a knife, make sure to keep the sharp end away from you when handling it. Purchase a pair of protective goggles for your home that you can wear whenever you have to do every day repairs. The sun can cause eye injuries as well. To prevent injuring your eye as a result of sun exposure, wear sunglasses when outdoors. If you injure your eye, such as if you get a cut or a foreign object causes an eye injury, seek medical attention. Take Precautions to Avoid Eye Injuries Serious eye injuries can lead to partial or complete blindness, which is why it’s so important that you do everything you can to prevent eye injuries. Keep these eye safety tips in mind and spread awareness about eye safety to your friends and family. For more safety awareness information, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #Eyeinjury #PreventingEyeInjury #Visionsafety

Summer is finally here, which means that residents throughout California will be heading to the beach soon if they haven’t already. However, if you are planning an upcoming beach trip, it’s important that you take every precaution you can to keep you and your family safe, especially if you’re going to go for a swim. In fact, you should practice swimming safety whether you’re going to the beach or to a pool. Drowning accidents occur more than you realize, which is why swimming safety awareness is so important. 5 Drowning Facts You Should Know The following are a few important facts about drowning that everybody should know: Outside of birth defects, drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 1 to 4. There are around 3,960 unintentional drownings every year in the U.S. alone. Non-fatal drownings can occur, but they result in long-term health problems, such as brain damage. There are an average of 8,080 non-fatal drownings every year in the U.S. Alcohol is involved in up to 70% of the deaths that are associated with water recreation. Swimming Safety Tips If you’re going swimming this summer, keep the following safety tips in mind: Never leave children unattended in or near the water. Make sure that you teach your children how to swim before letting them go into the water. Do not drink alcohol while near or in the water. Wear a life jacket if you’re swimming in open water (such as off a boat). Don’t go swimming in bad weather. Stay within an arm’s length of anyone who is an inexperienced swimmer. If you own a pool, put up appropriate barriers to prevent people from falling in by accident. Don’t go swimming by yourself. Make sure there are other adults around in case anything happens. Stay Safe in the Water This Summer If you are going swimming, then be aware of how common drowning accidents can be if you’re not careful. Keep swimming safety in mind and visit us at The Benefits Store for more safety awareness tips. #Drowning #FactsAboutDrowning #Watersafety

California is one of the best places to be in the U.S. when it comes to the summer season. Who doesn’t love visiting California’s beautiful beaches during the summer months? Although temperatures are often perfect for enjoying the outdoors, there are days when temperatures may rise to a dangerous level. This is important to note since there are more extreme heat-related deaths every year than other weather-related deaths (such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and more). As such, it’s crucial that you keep extreme heat safety tips in mind. The Dangers of Extreme Heat If you’re exposed to the heat for too long, it can make it difficult for your body to cool itself. As a result, the risk of heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, will increase. If your body is unable to cool itself down, it can result in damage to vital organs, such as your brain. Anyone can experience a heat-related illness due to overexposure to extreme temperatures. It’s estimated that there are over 1,300 extreme heat-related deaths in the U.S. every year. Extreme Heat Safety Tips The following are a few tips on how to avoid suffering heat-related illnesses during the hotter days of the summer in California: Pay attention to the weather: Before heading to the beach, check the temperatures for the day. If there’s an extreme heat warning, avoid going out. Stay hydrated: Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol. By doing so, you make it easier for your body to regulate its temperature. Exercise when it’s cool out: If you like to exercise outdoors, avoid going outside during the hottest part of the day. Instead, exercise early in the morning or later in the evening, when temperatures go down. Pay attention to your kids: Don’t let them play outside if temperatures are too high. Don’t leave them in the car by themselves. Make sure they’re hydrated and wearing light, loose-fitting clothing. Summers in California can be incredibly enjoyable as long as you keep these extreme heat safety tips in mind to avoid the extreme heat. For more summer safety tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #extremeheat #extremeheatsafety #extremeheatsafetytips #summersafetytips

If you live anywhere near the California coastline, odds are that you’re planning on heading down to the beach at some point this summer. If you plan on going for a swim in the Pacific, then it’s crucial that you keep certain safety tips in mind. For example, you need to understand what rip currents are and what to do if you’re caught in one. What Is A Rip Current? A rip current is a type of current that tends to form near beaches with breaking waves. They tend to be very strong currents that move away from shore, cutting directly through the breaking waves. Think of it as a sort of river that runs underneath the ocean in the opposite direction of the waves. They move at an average speed of around one to two feet a second, but they’ve been known to travel as fast as eight feet a second. If you get caught in such a current while swimming, it could pull you far away from shore. It’s estimated that around 100 people die in the U.S. every year as a result of being caught in a rip current. What To Do If You’re Caught In A Rip Current The following are a few safety tips to keep in mind if you’re caught in one of these currents: Don’t struggle: They won’t pull you underneath the water, so don’t struggle if you feel the force of one starting to pull you away. Struggling will only tire you out, increasing the risk of drowning. Don’t swim against it: Swimming against such a current is like running on a treadmill. You won’t get any closer to shore and you’ll only get more tired. Swim to the side: Instead of swimming against the current, swim alongside it, parallel to the shore. You’re more likely to escape the current this way. It will be easier to swim alongside, which means you won’t waste energy, and once the pressure lets up, you can swim back to shore with greater ease. If you plan to go swimming this summer, keep these rip current safety tips in mind. For more summer safety tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #beachsafety #Californiaripcurrents #Californiasafetytips #ripcurrents

Migraine headaches are one of the worst types of headaches that you can have. Migraines create an intense throbbing pain within the head (usually on one side) and can last for hours and even days. They can even cause nausea and vomiting. As such, they can be extremely debilitating. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t realize just how debilitating they can be, which is why June has been designated as Migraine & Headache Awareness Month. What Causes Migraine Headaches? Scientists have yet to determine what exactly causes migraines. Many believe that they are the result of abnormal brain activity that affects the brain’s nerve signals, chemicals, and blood vessels for a temporary amount of time. However, there are certain situations that have been known to trigger migraines. These migraine triggers include the following: Hormonal triggers: Women who experience migraines often do so around the time of their period. Such migraines are referred to as pure menstrual migraines. Environmental triggers: Loud noises, bright lights, strong smells, and sudden changes in the climate can all cause migraines. Emotional triggers: Feelings of stress, anxiety, tension, excitement, as well as depression can all cause the onset of a migraine. Dietary triggers: A poor diet has been linked to migraines as well. Things like missed or irregular meals, overconsumption of alcohol or caffeine products, and foods with tyramine have all been known to trigger migraines. Living With Migraines The following are a few tips on how to live in California if you suffer from chronic migraines: Exercise regularly: By exercising on a regular basis, you can reduce the frequency and intensity of your migraine attacks. Recognize the onset of a migraine: Many people experience an “aura” prior to a migraine that can include flashing lights, blind spots, shimmering lights, and more. If you experience an aura, find a quiet, dark environment where you can lay down. Avoid triggers: Different people have different triggers when experiencing migraines. Learn to recognize and avoid your specific triggers. Living with migraine headaches can be challenging but if you know your triggers and maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can reduce their frequency and intensity. For more health awareness advice, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #MigraineampHeadacheAwarenessMonth #migraineheadaches #migraines