Although more than half of the U.S. population lives within five miles of their workplace, lack of knowledge and incentive has deterred many from commuting by bike. Denver, Colo. reported in 2008 that over 10,352 people tried biking to work for the first time during a city-sponsored event. A study published by the San Diego Association of Governments showed that one out of five people who participated in their Bike to Work Day promotion as first-time commuters became regular bike commuters. Ntional Bike Month: National Bike Month is an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride. Whether you bike to work or school; to save money or time; to preserve your health or the environment; to explore your community or get to your destination, get involved in Bike Month in your city or state — and help get more people in your community out riding too!  Environment The bicycle is the vehicle of the future. It has a competitive edge in urban transit: it&r ...

Your body has to work to maintain a healthy body temperature. This is especially true during the summer months when the temperature can reach record levels. What is heat exhaustion? Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness that can happen when your body is dehydrated and you’ve been exposed to high temperatures for a long period of time. Those at highest risk for heat exhaustion are older adults, people with high blood pressure and people working or exercising when it is hot out. Signs of heat exhaustion include: Heavy sweating Feeling weak and/or confused Dizziness Nausea Headache Fast heartbeat If you think you have heat exhaustion: Get out of the heat quickly. Rest in an air-conditioned building. If you can't get inside, find a cool, shady place. Drink plenty of water or other fluids. Do NOT drink alcohol or caffeinated drinks. Take a cool shower or bath, or put cool water on your skin. If you do not feel better within 30 minutes, call your d ...

It is important that you know your rights and limitations of coverage as defined in your health insurance policy. It is your insurance provider’s job to know the laws, wordings, restrictions and regulations that may impact your policy. This is not an exhaustive list of terms and lingo you may come across in your policy. If you want to get the most out of your policy be sure that you are familiar with these terms so that you can effectively communicate with your insurer and healthcare provider. Traditional Health Insurance- a type of health insurance policy where the policyholder is cover by their insurer to choose any physician or hospital they would like the receive treatment at. This means that typically their premiums will be higher than other types of health insurance plans. Short-Term Medical Insurance- is an inexpensive type of insurance that runs for a period of time up to six months.  This type of insurance often has stricter pre-existing medical conditions limits and doesn’t cove ...

Since the month of October is dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection, we have compiled a bit of early detection information for you to share with friends and family, or use for yourself from the Breast Cancer Awareness Month website.  One of the earliest signs of breast cancer can be an abnormality that shows up on a mammogram before it can be felt. The most common signs of breast cancer are a lump in the breast; abnormal thickening of the breast; or a change in the shape or color of the breast. Finding a lump or change in your breast does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. Additional changes that may also be signs of breast cancer include: Any new, hard lump or thickening in any part of the breast Change in breast size or shape Dimpling or puckering of the skin Swelling, redness or warmth that does not go away Pain in one spot that does not vary with your monthly cycle Pulling in of the nipple Nipple discharge ...

Think PINK This October!

How to Shield Yourself and Employees from the Heat

These days everyone is looking to save money. Looking for cheaper insurance is one way to lower costs. But, what if taking cheaper insurance was going to leave your family vulnerable to expensive denied claims? Do you know the true cost of your insurance policy? Toni Maccarone, Personal Lines Account Manager, just had a client come by to say he had received a lower quote from an 800# on his auto insurance. She asked if it offered the same protection as his current coverage and sure enough, it did not. The cheaper quote our client had received lacked the protection he needed. After comparing the 800# quote to his current protection, Toni took the time to explain the differences between the cheaper quote and his current protection. The client appreciated this personal service and decided to stay with the superior protection he has with First Pioneer Insurance Agency. Don’t let a few dollars put your family in harm’s way with expensive denied claims. We want you to know that your coverage is doing ...

Beat the Heat The thermometer read an astonishing 87 degrees at our Boone, North Carolina location this past Memorial Day, breaking the previous high temperature record of 85. A few days prior, on May 28, San Angelo, Texas had a record high of 110. Of course, record heat increases the chances of temperature related illnesses however by keeping informed of weather conditions and the precautions to take in case of an emergency; you truly increase your odds of beating the heat. As examples provide above, the latest weather conditions have been exceedingly severe throughout the United States and around the world. Conditions have included devastating tornadoes and earthquakes, overwhelming floods and disturbing heat waves. A great deal of damage can result from any one of these disastrous circumstances. As summer approaches, we can certainly expect the heat waves to stick around. Conditions are projected to vary, however, temperatures are expected to rise past historical accounts as summer looms. Although high tem ...