Since we’re all about having fun this summer and staying safe, we want you to make sure your kids are staying safe too, even in the car. If you have a little one riding with you, please make sure you have them properly strapped in before you begin your travels.

In recent studies, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 6 – 14. Sadly, 56 percent of children killed in traffic crashes weren’t properly restrained, or were completely unrestrained. We know that half of all child car seats are used incorrectly without parents knowing it. Proper installation and use of child car seats will help significantly reduce the number of children killed in traffic crashes. Here are some tips brought to you by Nationwide Insurance®…

• Read your vehicle owner’s manual and the child car seat instructions.
• Door-mounted seat belts should be avoided. Your auto dealer can install a special lap belt to keep the child car seat in place.
• Infants should ride in a rear-facing infant-only safety seat.
• At around 40 lbs., children should ride in booster seats until they fit in an adult seat belt, at about 80 lbs.
• Children should always ride in the back seat, especially in cars with air bags. The back seat is safer because head-on collisions are the most common kind.
• When children outgrow safety seats, they must wear their lap and shoulder belt. There must be one belt for each person; buckling two people in one belt, even children, could injure both.

Parents should have their child car seats inspected by a trained technician. For a location near you, visit NHTSA’s Web site at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/CPSFitting/Index.cfm

Have a safe drive with your kids, whether it is to the store or down the shore..

No, I’m not talking about psychological stuff here, I simply mean your identity, and how you can keep those nasty people out there from stealing it. Here are a few tips brought to you by Nationwide Insurance^®…

We know you’ve heard about it, seen it and know someone who suffered through it. But how do you keep your information safe?

• Shred, shred, shred. Shred documents with personal or credit card information on them.
• Guard your SSN. Don’t carry your Social Security card with you and have the number removed from your insurance cards.
• Protect your email and computer. Don’t send sensitive information by email. Use a firewall when you connect to the Internet, and use the security features if you use a wireless network.
• Stay current with your credit. Review your credit report at least annually. Take advantage of websites such as annualcreditreport.com.
• Review credit card statements. Make sure you’re getting charged the right amount at the right place.
• Clean out your wallet. Don’t keep more than two credit cards on hand, and make a copy of them to stick in a different place. Also, write “Ask for ID” on the back of your credit cards so not just anyone can sign for you.
• Keep checks in check. After ordering checks, pick them up from the bank yourself. Consider using just your first initial(s) and last name instead of your full name. This will make it more difficult for someone else to forge your signature.
• Secure your mail. Get a locking mailbox, and always take outgoing mail to a public drop-box. Have the post office hold your mail if you’ll be away.
• Watch for “shoulder surfing.” Always be aware of your surroundings. ID thieves can write your numbers down quickly if you leave your card out while completing a purchase. They can even take a picture of your information with something as small as a cell phone camera.
• Shop online with caution. Be sure you’re using a secure site before entering bank or credit card information online. Use site addresses that begin with https rather than just http, and make sure you can find the locked padlock in your browser window.
• Use anti-virus software. Ensure that you are always running the most up-to-date anti-virus program on your computer.
• Choose passwords wisely. Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and other marks to make it harder to crack or steal your password.
• Protect passwords. Don’t write down your passwords or keep them out where anybody can read them. Don’t allow your browser to auto-fill passwords since these can be easily stolen.
• Beware of “phishing.” Phishing is when would-be identity thieves use a phony email and/or website to fool you into providing your credit card number, password or other information. Don’t respond to these emails. Reputable companies won’t ask for your information in this way.
• Keep your PC clean. Use one of the powerful free spyware removers to make sure that no one is “looking over your shoulder.”
• Don’t respond to phony phone calls. Unless you called the company, don’t provide unknown callers with personal information regardless of who they say they are.

There you go folks, so until next time, keep being you!