Rip Current Awareness Week was officially at the beginning of March this year. But, it made me think, don't we need to know this all the time? Not just during spring break? The answer… yes, it's very important. Whether an ocean or a great lake, rip currents are powerful and can be deadly. The most obvious danger of rip currents is that it can pull you out to sea further than you can swim back to shore. Even when it doesn't pull its victims far out, many panic and drown. With the Memorial Day holiday coming up this Monday, it's a good time to review how to stay safe and not panic at the beach or the lake.

Rip currents can be found on many surf beaches every day. Rip currents most typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, and also near structures such as groins, jetties and piers. The definition of rip current is: A powerful channel of water that flows away from the shore. They can be narrow or more than 50 yards wide.

The United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) estimates that rip currents account for over eighty percent of all beach rescues and over 100 deaths annually at our nation's beaches. Signs that a rip current is present are difficult for the average beachgoer to identify. Look for differences in the water color, water motion, incoming wave shape or breaking point compared to adjacent conditions.

So, what do you need to know before you go to the beach? The USLA offers some good tips and precautions that every swimmer should head or at least hear.

Rip current myth debunked: 
A rip current is a horizontal current. Rip currents do not pull people under the water—they pull people away from shore. Drowning deaths occur when people pulled offshore are unable to keep themselves afloat and swim to shore. This may be due to any combination of fear, panic, exhaustion, or lack of swimming skills.

How to avoid and survive rip currentsLearn how to swim!

• Never swim alone.
• Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don't go out!
• Whenever possible, swim at a lifeguard protected beach.
• Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards.
• If caught in a rip current, remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
• Don't fight the current. Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
• If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
• If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, wave your arms, and yell for help.
• If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1. Throw the rip current victim something that floats and yell instructions on how to escape. Remember, many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current.

Your safety is number one to us. Stay safe on the water and on your boat. And PLEASE wear a life jacket!

Content provide by Foremost Insurance
(Source: United States Lifesaving Association and National Weather Service, Illustration Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility at Duck, NC.)

July may be UV Safety Month, but that doesn't mean I'm going to not care about UV safety the other 11 months of the year. Sun safety needs to be considered every day—even if it is cloudy outside. And in Texas, that starts early!

As the saying goes--your skin is your largest organ, you better take care of it. Doing so is fairly simple; and you can probably recite the following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) without even clicking on the link. Indulge me while I reiterate:

• Seek Shade. This is one of the easiest ways to reduce your skin damage and skin cancer risk, especially if you are outside between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Cover Up. Wear clothing to protect any exposed skin, even in the shade. This means a hat with a brim all the way around, sunglasses with UVA/UVB (broad spectrum) protection and clothing made of a tightly woven fabric.
• Lather Up. This is the most important, even if you're in the shade and covered up, you should put sunscreen on before you head outside. Not just any sunscreen, but a broad-spectrum protection product with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. Make sure it's not expired too.

Now just because you've done these three things, you're not in the clear. If you had been, you wouldn't be nursing that sunburn. You need to reapply. Sunscreen wears off, washes off and sweats off. Put it on again if you've been out for more than two hours. And while being in the shade is good; know that if you're sitting on a light-colored surface (e.g., water, sand, cement, etc.) you could be getting hit by a reflection of the sun's rays.
According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer (including melanoma and basal and squamous cell) is by far the most common cancer diagnosed every year. Even though a few physical traits can make some people more susceptible than others, anyone can get it. Before you go outside, whether you're on your boat, camping in the woods or gardening in the back yard, find out what your UV index will be for the day. That way you can take the appropriate precautions to keep your skin healthy.
Join me under my sun umbrella; the view's quite nice here.

Content provided by Foremost Insurance.

It's mosquito season here in East Texas and we're all looking forward to fun parties and get-togethers in our backyard, but with that comes a flying pest that's a pain for most - mosquitoes! However, just because these insects are a nuisance, that doesn't mean you have to stay inside and not enjoy summer. We've compiled a list of 10 tips and tricks that are sure to keep mosquitoes away from your yard.

1. Remove any standing water from your yard.Water is where mosquitoes like to lay their eggs. Look for buckets, empty planters, dishes, old tires or unused kiddie pools, and turn them over or put them away. If you have a bird bath, change the water often or add a small pump to circulate the water. Lastly, clean out those rain gutters so they don't retain water and become a mosquito breeding ground.
2. Grow mosquito repellant plants.Believe it or not, mosquitoes hate the smell of certain plants and herbs, such as lavender, basil, lemon balm, rosemary and marigold. Plant these natural mosquito repellents in your garden as a natural alternative to keep those pesky mosquitoes out of your yard.
3. Replace your outdoor lights with yellow bug lights.These lights are supposed to attract fewer mosquitoes than your regular everyday lights. While these lights aren't necessarily repellents, they can help to deter mosquitoes and other bugs away from your home.
4. Use "mosquito dunks" for any water you can't drain.If you have a pool, fishpond or ditches around your home that contain water, dropping a "mosquito dunk" in there will release a natural larvicide that kills mosquito larvae. You can purchase this product online or at your local home improvement retailer.
5. Keep your grass mowed and shrubs trimmed.Mosquitoes love to hang out in tall grass and weedy areas, so be sure to mow your lawn regularly and remove weeds and dead plants from your landscaping.
6. Use a fan to create a breeze.Mosquitoes hate any kind of wind since they are weak fliers. Plus, since mosquitoes sense when a human exhales carbon dioxide (which is what makes them realize a human is around), a fan will also help by dispersing that scent.
7. Use a carbon monoxide mosquito trap.Tip number six segues nicely into this one, which is using a CO2 trap since we now know mosquitoes are attracted to it. This type of trap mimics human or animal breath by releasing carbon dioxide gas. Please note: The CO2 mosquito trap should not be used indoors under any circumstances.
8. Use chemical repellents.If you walk into your local hardware store, you should find plenty of mosquito repellent options for your yard. Some will be natural, other companies will use chemicals, so it's up to you to decide which route you want to go. If you don't think you can handle this on your own, you can call a professional to come spray your yard and foliage, which might be the most effective solution.
9. Place bug zappers around your yard.These nifty devices attract bugs by using a UV light, and when they get close enough, they will get electrocuted.
10. Put some type of insect repellent on your body.This is the most common method people will try to repel mosquitoes away from them. You can find your typical bug spray that contains DEET at most stores, and this method works fairly well. However, if you'd like to go a more natural route, there are essential oils with scents that are known to repel mosquitoes, such as rosemary, thyme, lavender and peppermint.

Whichever route you decide to go, we hope these tips will help you enjoy the summer months!


Looking for A Better Insurance Experience®? First Community Financial Group is a Foremost Ins. agency. Click the Contact button at the top of the page for a free quote today!

​Tornadoes have caused severe and irreparable damage to tens of thousands of Americans and their property in recent years. On top of the physical and emotional fallout, many have also lost their lives as a direct result of a tornado.  Onalaska, TX suffered a direct hit in April 2020. The results were devastating for so many!
 
Although you can never control the weather or the outcome of a destructive storm, there are steps you can take to help you and your family remain protected in the event of a tornado. Those steps of action begin with knowing fact from myth.
 
Here are a few tornado truths that could help keep you and those you love safe:
 

• When indoors, shut all windows and doors. Do not leave them open in an attempt to follow the mythical need to “pressurize” your home because the result would more likely be debris flying through the window and causing severe harm, or wind pressure working to lift the roof off the house from the inside.

 

• If you are inside your home or other structure, retreat to the lowest level (a basement is ideal) or the room closest to the middle of the home or farthest from windows and doors. Do not seek a “corner” of the structure for your retreat; instead, go to the center-most point, away from windows and anything heavy that could fall on your head.

 

• If you’re outdoors, find the lowest spot, such as a ditch or dry river bed, and lie flat on your stomach, covering the back of your head with your hands.  Do not follow the myth of seeking shelter underneath a bridge or overpass because it could collapse on top of you or large debris and winds could come rushing underneath and potentially sweep you up into the tornado itself.

 

• If you are in a vehicle, abandon the vehicle and try to find shelter in a structure or outdoors in a low place where you should lay stomach-down and cover the back of your head with your hands. Most importantly, do not attempt to drive away from the storm unless it’s very obviously far away and moving in the opposite direction. 

 

• Do not take shelter near a road or foothill and expect the tornado to miss you. Some myths say that tornadoes will reverse their directions when nearing a road or foothill, but a tornado doesn’t discriminate and will keep on its path.

 

• Keep head gear handy. Head protection can be the number-one most important factor in remaining protected from flying debris—indoors or outdoors—so know where bike, football, batting, boxing and other helmets are in the house, and make them easily accessible.

 
At First Community Financial Group, we want to help you know the tornado truths that will help keep you and your family safe. For more tornado safety tips, visit the Storm Prediction Center’s comprehensive guide at http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html.
 
Contact Us!
 
At First Community Financial Group, we can work with you to make sure you've got the coverage you need, while at the same time using all possible credits and discounts to make that coverage affordable. Just give us a call at (936) 327-4364 or send us a note at [email protected]. We want to help you meet your goals, and make sure what's important to you is protected!
 
Content provided by Safeco Insurance

What is the point of Labor Day?

I simultaneously posed this question to both Google and anyone within earshot at the office yesterday and got back numerous responses; ranging from "the last day of summer," to "a celebration of the American worker" and "a day to spend time with family before school starts again."


​While the internet delivered an in-depth history of American labor unions, the office conversation drifted into family traditions of barbeques, sporting events, camping, beach days and more. And while no one could agree on the best way to spend the unofficial end of summer, everyone brought up the same final point—"isn't it the last day you're supposed to wear white pants?"

And that's true. Traditionally, Labor Day is the last day it is considered fashionable to wear white pants and seersucker suits. While seersucker is a more forgiving material, white, regardless of the fabric, is not. So with that in mind, I present to you a list of ways to safely celebrate this Labor Day weekend and preserve your cherished white trousers so they may rise again next Memorial Day.

Grilling Safety

When most people hear the words "white pants" the first thing that comes to mind is stains, and on Labor Day that means barbeque sauce. Many people may think that putting on an apron and keeping a reasonable distance while their brother-in-law enthusiastically bastes his chicken wings is enough, but here are a few other points to keep in mind:

• Properly clean the grill of grease and keep a fire extinguisher nearby. A simple stain offers some hope of redemption, but a burnt pair of slacks is never coming back.
• Keep cold food cold, hot food hot and check the temperature of all cooked meat. Scrubbing a dab of sauce out is one thing, but getting someone sick and having to scrub out something else, is, well, something else entirely. You can find proper food temperatures and other food handling tips on the USDA's website.
• Check your equipment. If you're using a gas grill, look over the lines and make sure the tank is properly connected. If charcoal is your thing--go easy on the lighter fluid. Again, burns are permanent.

Road Trip Safety

Keeping your britches fresh on the road can be tricky, but with these few tips your weekend should be clean and clear.

• Get your vehicle tuned-up before you leave. Let's face it, if you have to change a tire or get under the hood of your car, your newly pressed seersucker slacks are not going to live to survive the next season.
• Plan for the unexpected. Keep an emergency box in the trunk filled with water, blankets, jumper cables, tools, flares, a first-aid kit and whatever you think may come in handy (such as a spot clean pen).
• Pack accordingly. Just like that second (or third) s'more put a strain on your belt, over-packing your car can make it difficult to maneuver your vehicle. Pack heavy things low and remember to secure anything stored in an open cargo area.

Driving Drunk is Never in Style

Regardless of whether or not you follow the "no white after Labor Day" rule or even know what seersucker is, impaired driving is never an option. The National Safety Council estimates that approximately 400 people die in traffic accidents each year over Labor Day weekend, and in 2010, 22% of all automobile accidents were attributed to intoxicated drivers.

• Don't drink and drive. You've planned everything else about your weekend; your dish to pass, the friends you're going with, even your outfit—plan a safe way home too. Whether it's a sober friend or a local taxi service, nothing goes better with a smart suit than a chauffeured ride home.
• Keep your focus on the road. You'll have plenty of time when you get there to show off your outfit or to pick at whatever it is that got spilled on your ivory chinos, in the car keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes forward.
• Drive defensively. Just like your friends will be more than willing to call you out if you try and sneak your favorite pair of summertime slacks to a late-September garden party, you should be on the lookout for the erratic behavior of other drivers. And don't hesitate to report a driver you suspect is drunk.

Finally, if you see someone about to drive drunk, take their keys and help them to get home safely. Because just as you want your lucky pair of white pants or fitted seersucker jacket to be there next spring, you're going to want your friends to be there even more.

Have a fun and safe weekend!

​School Safety Home - National Safety Council (nsc.org) -- Back to School Safety Checklist​

Back-to-School Safety for Drivers - National Safety Council (nsc.org) -- Slow Down: Back to School Means Sharing the Road

School Safety: Distracted Walking - National Safety Council (nsc.org) -- Head up, phone down!

The first rule for having a fun, carefree day at the beach? Always check the weather before you head out! Follow these beach safety tips to get your summer off to a good start.

Check the weather before you head out. If thunderstorms or rain is in the forecast, we suggest planning your excursion for a different day.

​Watch for warning flags. And know what they mean!







Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! But not with booze, which will increase your risk of overheating. The CDC also reports that alcohol use is a factor in up to 50 percent of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation. So keep it dry.

Save your skin. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, and even more often if you’ve been in the water during that time. SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Keep a careful eye out for children. They may need your help!

https://youtu.be/G__dh0kx19s

Content provided by https://www.foremost.com/images/Foremost-logo-learning-center.png

It's hot out there. Are you staying cool?

All you have to do is turn on the news, or leave air conditioning, to know that it's hot outside all over our country. The blazing heat of the summer is tough on our bodies. If you don’t have the luxury of staying indoors where your AC is blasting on high, then you know how hard it can be to stay cool during the summer months. Most of us need to work, so there is no escaping the brutal summer heat. But don’t let the heat stop you. There are ways you can beat the heat and stay cool without sacrificing your sanity.
 
The CDC recommends… "Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink."

Water, Water, Water! Stay away from sugary drinks. Sugar can actually dehydrate you!

The CDC recommends… "Don't drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps."

Repeat above. No alcohol. Water, Water, Water!

The CDC recommends… "Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing."
Think cotton, white, something breezy!

The CDC recommends… "If you must be out in the heat, limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours."

If the bugs are bad, use some bug spray. Try to stay out of the direct sun in the middle of the day.

The CDC recommends… "Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat,…sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher…"

This should be a no-brainer. Protect your noggin and your face -- and protect your exposed skin. Your dermatologist will praise you.
 
 
Content provided by https://www.foremost.com/images/Foremost-logo-learning-center.png
​

​














Summer’s Here in Texas – What to Do With the Kids?
 
It’s the age-old question that parents in Texas face every year: How do we keep the kids occupied this summer?
 
Well, there are always the biggies, such as theme parks or camping. But, with work and other obligations getting in the way, not to mention your budget, you can’t always get away from home. So, we here at First Community Financial Group have compiled a list of some activities that are both educational and fun — and that your kids are sure to enjoy!
 
Art Projects

There are a number of ways you can encourage the young artist in your family, from programs and offerings at local museums to do-it-yourself art projects. Try these ideas from The Artful Parent, a website focused on encouraging art and creativity in children:

• Splatter painting: Spread an old sheet out in the yard, grab some watered-down acrylic paint and a brush or a spoon. Then, have your kids dip the brush or spoon and flick their wrist to splatter the paint! Try different colors and motions to make interesting patterns.
  
  
• Body painting: Kids love to paint themselves! Washable, nontoxic tempera paint is just the ticket, and it comes off with soap and water.
  
  
• Grape and toothpick sculptures: This is as easy as it sounds. Get a bowl of grapes and a box of toothpicks. The grapes hold their shapes well and are easily pierced by the toothpicks to create towers and other structures. And, when you’re done, you have a healthy snack!

 
Science Activities

Have a budding scientist around the house? Try these basic projects from PBS:

• Grow something. Having your kids grow flowers, herbs or vegetables creates a long-term learning activity that encourages monitoring and observation.
  
  
• Cook something. Working together in the kitchen invites all kinds of questions: What does baking soda do? Why is gelatin such a weird consistency? How do ingredients interact?
  
  
• Get outside. The outdoors is full of things for kids to examine — plants, worms, frogs, bugs and more! Even running through the sprinkler can be an educational opportunity, once the rainbow appears.
  
  
• Stay up late ... and look up. A clear summer night is perfect for checking out stars and pointing out constellations. You can talk to your kids about the various planets, and maybe even catch a firefly or two.

 
Reading — It’s Not Just for School

Encouraging your kids to read over the summer can help them when school gets back in session, so don’t miss an opportunity. You can share the newspaper in the morning, or simply read the cereal box at breakfast. Even a few minutes a day can have a big impact.
 
You might also consider the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, a free online program for children from May 4 to September 4. Last year more than a million kids from 29 countries took part, and this year’s program features free book lists, a sweepstakes and the chance to set a world record.
 
Of course, there are thousands of things you can do with your kids in [city, state or region] over the course of the summer. If these ideas aren’t up your alley, consider summer camp, local music and sports programs or volunteering in the community.
 
Summer will be over before you know it, so make the most of it!