The holidays are coming!

It goes without saying that keeping yourself and your family healthy through the holiday season in North Carolina can be a challenge. When you combine chillier temps, housebound days, year-end deadlines and pre-holiday preparation – not to mention kids passing around colds at school like they’re playing “Hot Potato” – you can end up spending the holidays under the covers.

No matter how many inherent seasonal risk factors you face, there are ways to prepare for and get through the season virtually unscathed. At policyline insurance, we wish for you a happy and abundantly healthy holiday season, so here are a few tips to help you stay well and enjoy!

1) Consider ‘sticking it’ to The Flu. Flu shots seem to be available at practically every drug store or pharmacy. Discuss with your doctor the pros and cons of flu shots for yourself and your family.

2) Get some zzz’s. The holiday hustle and bustle can interfere with normal sleep patterns, yet sleep is essential to health and healing. Prioritize getting enough sleep – or taking a quick nap – despite your busy schedule.

3) Fill the fridge. It’s easy to allow your pantry to start looking like a sweet shop as the holidays near. Take care to stock your refrigerator and cabinets with healthy snacks and ingredients for balanced meals. Think fruit, nuts, lower-calorie snacks, veggies and lean proteins.

4) Get real. Emotional health is important, too, so be realistic about what can be expected through the season.

5) Keep moving.  Despite the many holiday temptations to just relax, don’t give in to being a couch potato. Get to the gym or yoga studio, go for a walk in the park, jump on the treadmill or dance. The important thing is to just move!

From the policyline family to your family, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!

Need health coverage during the holiday season to get that flu shot?  Contact your local policyline agent at 1 800 725 POLICY (1-800-725-7654) or visit us here and contact us online!

It’s a great feeling to hang out with friends and family around a blazing fire in your backyard in North Carolina — unless, of course, that fire blazes a little too much.

While a fire pit can be a wonderful addition to your home, all fires are potentially dangerous. So before you sit down with some marshmallows to roast, we here at policyline insurancehave gathered up some tips to help you keep that fire in the pit (and away from everything else).

• Are you legal?

• Before building or buying a fire pit, check the regulations in your area to learn about restrictions.

• Your fire pit may be legal, but a fire might not always be. Monitor and follow community burn bans.

• Be respectful. Nothing can extinguish the good vibes of a nice fire more quickly than police complaints from smoked-out neighbors.

What kind of pit do you want?

• You can buy a fire pit or build one. If you choose the latter, there are plenty of resources online to help you design it. Don’t dig a hole just anywhere and throw some rocks down. Put some thought into it and you’ll have a better — and safer — spot to enjoy.

• If you want convenience, a propane model might be right for you. They produce less smoke and have an adjustable flame.

 Ready to build your fire?

Actually, you probably aren’t ready yet.

• First, ensure the area under and around the fire pit is clear of flammable materials. Keep the pit itself at least 10 feet from any structures.

• Before you start the fire, have a fire extinguisher or a garden hose handy.

Okay, now are you ready to build your fire?

• Choose hard, seasoned woods. Sparks from softer woods like cedar can increase the danger of igniting something nearby.

• Don’t use liquid fuels, even lighter fluid, to get your fire going. And don’t burn paper, cardboard, leaves, garbage, etc.

• If you have a metal fire pit, don’t overload it and always use the included safety screen.

•  Is the fire out?

• When you’re done, spread out the ashes and let them cool off for a bit. Then gently pour water or sand over them. Stick around for a little while to watch for flare-ups.

We want you to have plenty of nice, warm nights — without getting burned. Here’s to making memories around the fire!

Contact your local policyline agent to make certain that if something does happen, you have enough liability coverage.  We can handle that. 

This article provided courtesy of Safeco Insurance.