The road to a college degree is mainly about preparing for life outside of school and coming out from your parents' wings. Unfortunately, higher education also comes with a financial burden. In order to save some money to protect yourself and your belongings, it's time to think about insurance.  Why Do I Need It? Some may question the necessity of any type of insurance if they are living a relatively safe and healthy lifestyle. It is important to remember, anything can happen at any moment, so preparedness is key.  Health Insurance: Everyone needs health insurance, no matter what their lifestyle. Medical treatment can be extremely expensive. Unexpected illnesses and injuries could wipe you out financially. Many employers will cover part of your premiums, so once you've landed your first job, ask questions to find out if you're covered. If you have been under your parents' insurance, be sure to find out if you are still eligible after you graduate, or until what age. If your new ...

Boating can be a wonderful recreational activity for the entire family, if you follow basic boating safety guidelines. No matter how much experience you have, reviewing these guidelines before departure is always a great idea. Here are some simple ways to ensure a terrific boating experience:  Use a pre-departure checklist. It is important to prepare for any scenario on the water. Following a checklist ensures nothing has been forgotten or overlooked. A few things to consider are: ·         Disconnect all utility lines, such as power cords and water lines ·         Go over rules with passengers (keep all hands and feet inside the boat, no running, etc.) ·         Watch for other boats and people in the water before leaving the dock ·         Proceed slowly when leaving and approaching the dock · ...

    According to the USLA (United States Lifesaving Association), “rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore. They typically extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes.”   Rip currents take over 100 lives annually, and account for 80% of water rescues performed by surf beach lifeguards. It is extremely important to recognize the danger of rip currents, swim at beaches which have lifeguards and know how to respond/escape if ever caught in one. Educating yourself, and others, could make the difference between life and death.   How do rip currents form? As waves travel from deep to shallow water, they eventually break near the shoreline. As waves break, they generate currents that flow in both the offshore (away from the coast) and the alongshore directions. Currents flowing away from the coast are called rip ...

  Before entering the water for your first surfing session this year, be sure to take proper safety measures. Surfing is an extreme sport and there are many dangerous elements to consider before riding the waves.   Understanding the basics of surfing and acknowledging you will be farther away from land without an instructor, here are some things to look out for.   Weather: This is a very important part of surfing safety. As we know, weather can be unpredictable, but being aware of your surroundings is a part of this sport. If you suspect a thunderstorm, you should exit the water immediately, as salt water is a major conductor of electricity. If winds begin to strengthen, it could change the direction of the currents and you could find yourself in a dangerous situation, especially if you are not a strong swimmer.   Wave size: Knowing the size of the waves you are comfortable in is the first step. For beginners, it is best to start small and work your way up to bigger waves. Profes ...

  We recently posted an article on How to Identify and Survive a Rip Current. Now, we would like to inform you on the dangers of a Rip Tide. A rip tide is a powerful current caused by the tide pulling water through an inlet along a barrier beach. When there is a falling or ebbing tide, the water is flowing strongly through an inlet toward the ocean, especially one stabilized by jetties.  During slack tide, the water is not moving for a short time until the flooding or rising tide starts pushing the sea water landward through the inlet. Fishermen are well aware of these tidal flows and make their plans accordingly. Riptides also occur in constricted areas such as bays and lagoons where there are no waves. These powerful reversing currents are also named tidal jets by coastal engineers, and they carry large quantities of sand which form banks in the ocean opposite the inlet channel. (Source: http://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/11282-the-differences-between-rip-currents-undertows-and-rip-tides) &nb ...