Secure Your Summer with These Safety Signs & Tips

Beach with No Swimming Signs and Sunbather

Vacation Season

With summer almost here, many people will be spending time outside or rushing off for family trips. It’s easy to forget general safety tips during summertime if you’re busy taking advantage of the pleasant weather or enjoying your time off. Camping, long-awaited vacations, the beach, grilling, swimming, and many other fun activities await, after all, and according to a 2017 study, 80% of United States residents took a vacation during the summer.¹ However, summer safety should stay a priority even during your upcoming holiday. Here are some tips for kids and adults to help keep your summer safe and fun!

The Great Outdoors

If you’re going hiking or camping, be sure to heed any warnings concerning fire or wildlife danger. Ensure any fire pits or campfires you light are built properly and away from tents, dry twigs, and nearby foliage to prevent wildfires. Remember to bring bug spray to keep pests away and first aid materials in the case of a minor incident. Be mindful of any local fauna postings, such as bear warnings, or if you run a campground or other such location, ensure you prominently place appropriate signage warning campers of potential wildlife and forest fire dangers.

Whether you’re going hiking, camping, to the beach, to the pool, or simply spending time outside at home, always remember to pack and apply sunscreen every two to four hours. The sun’s harmful UVB rays are the cause of 95% of melanoma cases and 99% of non-melanoma skin cancers.² However, according to an Australian study, appropriate application of SPF 15 sunscreen can reduce your chance of developing melanoma by up to 50%.³ Make sure your sunscreen isn’t expired as it can lose effectiveness over time. Sunscreen is an important and easy way to keep you and your skin healthy!

Pool or Beach Side

Many vacationers and coast-dwellers will probably spend some time swimming this summer. It’s a refreshing break from the hot summer sun, a phenomenal form of exercise, and a great way to stay cool. However, there are a few water safety tips to keep in mind while you’re at your favorite swimming locale. If you plan on going to a public pool, you can start by following all posted pool policies. Generally, swimming pool rules are established for the protection of swimmers. No diving, running, glass containers, and leaving children unsupervised are common safety rules meant to protect pool-goers from injury. If you own a pool or your organization has one on property, be sure to keep your swimming pool safety signage updated to reflect current policies. Additionally, there’s the old belief that you should wait 30 minutes to an hour after eating before you can swim, but according to an article from Mayo Clinic and Dr. Boniface, “You may end up with some stomach cramping or a muscle cramp” and “it may not be the most comfortable thing to go for a swim with a full belly, the world won’t end if you ignore your mom’s advice.”⁴

Workplace Woes

Unfortunately, many of us don’t get to enjoy a summer break. Work still needs to be done, but now is a prime opportunity to address summer safety topics for your workplace. It’s easy to skip drinking water while you’re on the clock, so remind your employees and coworkers to stay hydrated during the hot months to prevent dehydration. Perhaps now is the time to update your business’ safety signage. Given the hot and dry weather summer brings, you may consider updating or adding additional fire safety signs and equipment. Clearly marking fire exits and extinguishers can help keep you and your coworkers safe in the case of an emergency. Finally, if your employees spend most of the workday outdoors, remember to let them take plenty of breaks to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

At Home

Whether you can’t travel due to work or simply want a relaxing stay-cation, you always want to keep your home or apartment safe. From a 2014 study from the Bureau of Justice, there is evidence of increased crime rate during the summer. Burglaries occur up to 11% more and household larceny up to 8% more frequently compared to other seasons.⁵ One way to discourage potential criminals is by posting video surveillance signs if you have a camera security system. If you don’t have an electronic security system but do have a canine companion, then hanging “Beware of Dog” signs on your property can help deter would-be burglars and vandals. Home is meant to be a safe haven for you and your family, and warding off unwelcome guests and intruders with clearly marked warning signs can help this summer.

Summer is the season of fun for many. Ensure you keep yours that way by following a few summer safety tips!

References

Minnaert, Lynn. (2017). US Family Travel Survey 2017. Retrieved from https://www.scps.nyu.edu/content/dam/scps/pdf/200/200-4/200-4-16/P1718-0036-2017_Family_Travel_Survey.pdf
www.cancercouncil.com.au
ascopubs.org
newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org
www.bjs.gov

March 29, 2019June 15, 2020

Water Conservation for Businesses

Earth Over North & South America — Over 97% of Earth’s water is salt water

Of all the water on the planet, roughly 97 percent of it is unusable, or difficult to desalinate salt water. This leaves us with about 3 percent of the total as fresh water, more than 98 percent of which is inaccessible due to being located in ice caps, glaciers, and deep groundwater.¹ We are left with a little over 1 percent of fresh water that is usable coming from lakes, rivers, and ground ice. As such, fresh water is considered a limited resource simply because, by comparison, there is so little of it, and when consumption outpaces the natural water cycle, the usable amount decreases, affecting the environment and local populace.

So, what is water conservation?

Water conservation is the process of reducing the amount of excess water used for daily activities domestically, commercially, and industrially through the planning and execution of management practices.

Why is it important?

Maintaining a steady, available supply of usable water affects many aspects of daily activities. Restrooms, laundry facilities, kitchens, and other modern amenities rely on water to function. The wanton and excessive use of water damages the environment. Contaminated water can re-enter the ecosystem and the overuse of a water supply can dry out an entire region.

White & Yellow Sign with Black Lettering that Reads "SEVERE DROUGHT, Please Conserve Water" — Raise drought awareness

Making a plan for conserving water and reducing use can help prevent long-lasting repercussions. The importance of lessening water use in the United States can be inferred from concerns of state water managers who expect water shortages in 40 states by 2023, according to a 2014 Government Accountability Office study.² Simply and economically speaking, reducing excessive water use means less money that your business has to pay for water. It just also happens to help the environment.

Water Use in Businesses

Publicly supplied water is “water delivered to users for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes”³ and makes up approximately 12 percent of fresh water usage in the United States.⁴ According to the EPA, commercial and industrial businesses account for 17 percent of the use of public water supplies. This includes usage in laundry and cleaning facilities, maintenance of medical equipment, kitchen and restroom use, landscaping, and others. Roughly 40 percent of a company’s water use comes from bathrooms and laundry facilities.⁵ Water use in these sectors is often required, so taking steps towards reducing this utilization would help in decreasing environmental and economical impact.

Steps to Lessen Water Usage

There are a myriad of ways to reduce our water consumption at home, such as:

Turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth
Reminder to save water
Only washing full loads of laundry
Updating bathroom fixtures, laundry, and kitchen fixtures

Similarly, implementing a conservative water usage policy within your business can help reduce your company’s footprint.

Help control water usage by:

Monitoring and metering your business’s water usage
Updating cooling and restroom fixtures
Educating and rewarding employees for adhering to a strict water usage plan

Custom Signs offers a wide selection of conservation signage to remind your employees to strive towards lessening your business’ water consumption. Our brass and plastic signs come either engraved or in full color and can be customized to meet your company’s needs. Take the first steps of your company’s journey towards preserving our water supplies by informing your employees with a custom conservation sign from CustomSigns.com.

References

August 16, 2017April 2, 2019

The Good, the Better & the Best Signs for your Business

If you’re a business owner of any degree, whether it’s a privately-owned small business or a large corporation, one thing is true: signs are everywhere within your building. Signs help your customers find your business and they also keep your employees safe. They can motivate your team to reach their sales goal or introduce your customers to your products. Signs are a crucial aspect to any business and there’s an endless number of ways to utilize them. Here at Custom Signs, we like to think of ourselves as the sign experts, so today we’re sharing with you the good, the better, and the very best sign options for your business.

The Good Signs

When a customer or a new employee enters your building, there are many things you may want them to know or be aware of without verbally informing them every step of the way. For example, if you own a restaurant and there are a few steps leading into the dining area, you will want to inform your patrons to watch their step to avoid accidents. We consider printed text on a piece of paper and taped to a wall a “good” sign. The sign is present and it’s probably doing its job keeping your customers and employees safe, however, it may reflect poorly on your business. The quality of your signs is a representation of your establishment. If it looks like you put minimal effort into your sign, it’ll appear as if you’re putting minimal effort into the other aspects of your business.

The Better Signs

Custom banners are a great way to take your interior and exterior signage up a notch. The possibilities are endless when creating your vinyl sign since they can be full-color and completely customized. Feature your business’ logo, introduce your products to customers, or motivate your employees! Vinyl signs are available in poster, mounted to corrugated plastic, PVC or aluminum and can also be laminated for a longer-lasting image. A vinyl sign is the better option for a professional yet cost-effective way to share your message.

The Best Signs

In the same way a sign represents the quality of your business, a sign can also show your employee how much you value them. An engraved sign featuring your employee’s name and title tells them you see them as a permanent member of your team and appreciate their position. It also helps build relationships within your business as other employees passing by will know who this team member is and what they do. Whether you use your engraved sign to identify a team member or warn and inform your customers, we consider this sign to be the best sign to represent the highest level of professionalism.

When opening or revamping the look of your business, signs are a huge element to take into consideration. What do you want your customers to know about your company? How do you want to encourage your employees to have their best day, every day? All of this can be accomplished with your signs. Choose the type of sign that is relevant to the importance of your message and how you would like your business to be represented.

May 15, 2017June 23, 2020

How to Increase Workplace Safety during the Summer

According to research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more workers are injured on the job during the months of June, July and August, than any other time of the year. A particular BLS report showed that almost 3,300 workers are injured daily in the month of June alone. The majority of these accidents result from a lack of enforcement of critical safety procedures and a lack of oversight based on OSHA safety standards.

In an effort to help reduce the occurrence of these high numbers of workplace accidents during the summer months, CustomSigns.com is encouraging businesses to increase safety signage to warn employees of potential risk on the job.

CustomSigns.com offers the option for businesses to pick from a selection of pre-designed safety signs for the workplace, or create a custom option based on their unique needs. Our goal is to get safety on employee’s minds to help reduce the number of workplace accidents occurring during the summer months.

The most common workplace injuries are musculoskeletal, affecting the legs, back and spine. However, heat exposure, especially in hot and humid states like Florida, is responsible for a large number of accidents and injuries from June through August. According to OSHA, approximately 18 people throughout the country died while on the job because of heat exposure in 2014 alone. Also, more than 2,600 workers became sick because of overexposure to the heat. Heat related deaths and illnesses are almost always preventable by enforcing ample break time and providing water and other essential beverages.

With the right signs, employers can encourage and remind employees to take certain precautions to prevent some of the most common accidents and injuries that occur.

From remaining hydrated by taking breaks every 15 minutes to getting to know the signs of heat exhaustion, signage can be a lifesaver in certain situations.

With the summer months ahead, now is the time for businesses to prepare for the inherent risks of higher temperatures. Injured workers do not only cost companies money in terms of workers compensation cases, but also in regard to productivity. These are costs that could be easily avoided with a few proactive steps.

ABOUT CUSTOM SIGNS

Custom Signs is a leading provider of both outdoor and indoor business signage. Providing high-quality products for retail stores, industrial work sites, restaurants, retail stores, and schools is a top priority for this company. The service regularly provides discounts for customers and is dedicated to exceeding expectations with every client served.

February 10, 2015April 2, 2019

Smoking Ban Hits The Big Easy

Throughout its unique history, New Orleans has gained quite a reputation for being a bit different. From the eclectic French Quarter atmosphere, to its rowdy and swashbuckling past, there is no denying that the port city of New Orleans, Louisiana holds a special place in the hearts and minds of its residents past and present as well as at least a couple pages of history textbooks.

So what oddball thing has the city of New Orleans done this time? They’ve banned smoking! Okay, so maybe it doesn’t sound that odd depending on what side of the argument you come down on, but the fact remains that the city of New Orleans is making serious strides to becoming smoke free! For quite some time now, the city of New Orleans has been weighing the decision carefully by trying to make their citizens safe, happy, and healthy.

In recent years, an increasing amount of literature has popped up in regards to the harmful effects of second hand smoke, which is exactly what the city of New Orleans is looking to keep off of their streets, or at least in limited areas.

With the start of the New Year just a couple weeks ago, New Year’s resolutions are (hopefully) still fresh in everyone’s minds. And after our last post, it’s nice to see that so many people are on the same page! While some people are welcoming the sweeping changes, others consider it as an attack on Big Easy culture. But no matter which way you see it, the new smoking ban was passed into law last week, leaving countless business owner with 90 days to comply with the changes.

So say you’re a business owner in New Orleans, what exactly do you need to know about the New Orleans smoking ban?
If you own, or manage a bar, casino, hotel, or nursing home, smoking cigarettes and inhaling e-cigarette vapor is now prohibited within five feet of your establishment. If you happen to run a cigar bar, vapor shop, or hookah lounge, your business is exempt from this ban.

Naturally now that this law has been passed, there are going to be a lot of businesses who will need to invest in a handful of No Smoking signs. Among other things, New Orleans is known for their tourism industry, and with millions of visitors throughout the year, there will undoubtedly be a smoker or two in the mix – no smoking signs may be the best way to dissuade visitors from lighting up either electronically or the old fashioned way.

Here at Custom Signs, we have an assortment of No Smoking signs for customers to choose from as well as a brand new selection of No Smoking signs specifically for the city of New Orleans. All of our custom sign options are constructed using high quality materials and engraved using our state of the art machinery. For over sixty years, Custom Signs has been manufacturing signs for a variety of businesses all over the country. Our laser engravers run all day and produce speedy high quality results time and time again.

Want your new No Smoking signs sooner rather than later? We work our lasers constantly to help get your new signs out the door and on their way to your business faster! Order your new signs today!

November 13, 2014November 12, 2020

How To Protect Yourself From Holiday Heating And Light Hazards

It’s officially November and even those of us down in Florida are beginning to feel the chill of Old Man Winter moving back into town. While some have the ability to grow out their facial hair this month, many others do not and as a result, have to rely on other ways to keep warm throughout the chillier months of the year.

Every year around this time, millions of families and individuals start taking advantage of the cooler weather and use it as an excuse to light up their fireplaces. Lighting a fire to keep warm is one of the most natural of all of our human instincts, not to mention it is a great source of heat as well as light. But as a result of this, local fire departments all around the country keep busy for sure around this time of year!

So what are the biggest fire hazards to be careful of during the holiday season?

1. Fireplace

It goes without saying there are numerous dangers associated with a burning fireplace. On an annual basis, it is estimated that fireplaces cause roughly $126 million dollars in property damage. In order to keep your home safe, it is extremely important that your fireplace is inspected at least once a year. It is also important to note not to burn paper or trash in your fireplace and to always use a screen!

2. Candles

Nothing creates a more relaxing mood then dimming the lights and lighting a few candles. The holidays just wouldn’t feel exactly right without the combination of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and all sorts of other fresh baked goods and kitchen spice scents filling the air! But baking can be a lot of work and sometimes it’s nicer to just be able to sit back, light a few candles and relax. Just make sure that when you light those candles, you keep them away from pets, children, and anything that might be flammable! Apparently, the burning of candles are “responsible annually for an average of 23,600 home fires, 165 deaths, 1,525 civilian injuries, and $300 million in property damage” according to this .pdf put out by the city of Medford. Simple solutions, such as being aware of the candle’s surroundings, the whereabouts of your pets, and remembering to blow the candle out prior to leaving the room can keep your home safe!

3. Space Heaters

For those of us without fireplaces to huddle around this holiday season, space heaters are considered the next best thing. And while one wouldn’t normally think they would be dangerous, anything if used improperly, can be considered dangerous. However, one would think that space heaters would be a safer way to generate heat than lighting up your fireplace. The truth is that space heaters cause almost 1 billion dollars in property damage! One of the biggest ways to fight against problems with your space heaters? Plug your heaters directly into the wall and avoid extension cords!

Ultimately the best advice for avoiding disaster this holiday season is to make sure not to leave burning or hot items unattended. This lone factor is responsible for countless fires! Do you know where your fire extinguisher is? Every home or apartment should have a fire extinguisher, just in case. Apartments all over the country make it a point to accurately label where to find the fire extinguisher in each dwelling unit with the help of signs.

Here at Customsigns.com, we have an assortment of these fire extinguisher signs to choose from. We’re proud to be able to do our part to help you protect your living space throughout the holiday season and beyond.

Does your apartment need some fire extinguisher signs? There’s no better time than now! Order your new fire extinguisher signs today and protect your property!

October 2, 2014August 7, 2018

The Secret To Successful Pumpkin Patches This Fall

Who says that Florida doesn’t have seasons? Yes there are certain temperatures and days in the blistering hot summer where it is just too hot to go to the beach. No, just because it doesn’t snow in the wintertime does not mean it isn’t still freezing outside – and what is that period of time that takes place after the sweltering summer heat begins to subside and all the kids go back to their classrooms around the country? We like to call that wonderful season Fall.

Yes, even way down here at the tip of the continental United States, we experience those famous autumn days – and I can promise you, that we are every bit as excited for them as the rest of the country. From cozy knit sweaters, to pumpkin spice lattes, and relaxing nights with the fall breeze filling our homes through open windows (a rarity in Florida) – words cannot express how excited we get for this wonderfully cozy time of year! Even though our leaves may not change in the same colorful ways that their northern counterparts do, there are still plenty of other seasonal sights, signs, and activities that we have come to associate with Fall regardless of the lack of Fall foliage.

But next to the changing leaves, what else signals the arrival of Fall? Pumpkin patches! Yes, pumpkins appear to be the perfect decoration to add to any home no matter if it’s to decorate for Halloween or Thanksgiving! But instead of buying from your neighborhood grocery store – a pumpkin patch is always the best way to go when celebrating the new season! So when that Autumn season pokes its head around the corner and all the pumpkins have been harvested and are ready to go, how can you make sure that your own particular pumpkin patch gets noticed and makes a decent profit this year?

We here at Custom Signs have never made a secret of our dedication and commitment to helping business owners big and small. With our awesome high quality products, we work hard to make sure that your business gets the kind of attention it deserves with the help of some attention grabbing signs. For the past six decades, we’ve dedicated ourselves to perfecting both our craft as well as outstanding customer service skills.

Whether you want a custom engraved sign, a detailed full color printed sign or a reusable banner that can be used over and over again, we’ve got you covered! Banners in particular are great for small road side stands or businesses! Large, bold, and capable of a full spectrum of colors, our large banners make your stand easy to see from the road when driving past, or even if your potential customers are walking in the distance. While engraved signs work well and will also suit your business just fine, banners easily fold up and can be stored nearly anywhere and when it comes time to take them out again – they look good as new!

Already have your design in mind? Perfect! Just email us your artwork and we’ll do the rest! Here at Custom Signs, we pride ourselves on our stellar turnaround time and look forward to helping your business grow!

July 15, 2014April 2, 2019

Don’t Let Your Summer Go Up In Flames!

July has officially arrived and so has summer! And while we admit that our summer’s could be hotter, the heat here can be over powering at times. This past year in particular has been especially brutal. It feels like just yesterday we were wearing our winter coats and boots and now here we are in flip flops, shorts, and plenty of sunscreen.

But as any resident of any truly hot area could tell you, this is the time of year for wildfires. Some areas that are especially prone to fire hazards perform controlled burning to help minimize the risk to local dwellers but sometimes during the summer it just isn’t enough. Just the other day in Sacramento, California officials issued a fire warning to residents and advised them to avoid outdoor activities that could set off sparks.

Unfortunately for fourth of July fans, sometimes this particular type of weather can put a damper on both city and private plans for fireworks, as well as outdoor grilling and other seasonal outdoor activities.

But one thing in particular that often goes unnoticed, are those cigarettes that get lit time and time again during breaks at work on in back yards, or even front yards. It may seem like such a small thing but failing to properly put a cigarette could have disastrous consequences. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 62,631 fires are caused by humans each year in the United States alone. With statistics like that, taking extra precautions in the summer time may just mean saving your house or place of business.

While whether you choose to smoke in or around your own home is entirely up to you, your particular place of business may decide to take added precautions by installing No Smoking Signs outside. Here at Custom Signs, we offer a wide variety of No Smoking sign designs and styles. Most of our signs are engraved on thick plastic to better ensure durability but we do offer printing options as well.

Free and fast two day shipping and with no hidden set up fees or minimums, you may not get it in time for the fourth of July but you’ll definitely be able to utilize your new signs for the rest of summer and help prevent fires at the same time!

Down here in Florida, we know what the hot summer months can do and look forward to doing our part to stay safe!

April 17, 2014April 2, 2019

The Industrial Side of Signs

When we think about signs, typically it’s the massive billboards that line the roads on morning commutes that come to mind. Store hours signs, bathroom signs, and ‘Open’ and ‘Closed’ signs for businesses follow closely behind. It may seem strange that we have to take a moment just to think about all the different types of signs we see on an everyday basis but it’s not as uncommon as you may think.

The truth is that signs are everywhere, so naturally we no longer see them. Just like with Smartphones, GPS, and McDonald’s on virtually every corner, we’ve become desensitized and immune their presence. So how do you make sure that your sign gets noticed? Why not try something different!

Typically when people think about signs, we think about a big square or rectangular shape with some printed text or a flashy image, but it shouldn’t stop there. The fact of the matter is that there are multitudes of different signs of all shapes and sizes! Desk plates, office signs, business signs, even name tags are considered to be variations on the classic sign template. And while most signs are widely believe to be of a square, rectangle, or sometimes even oval shape- signs come in a limitless amount of shapes and can be made specifically for ones industry, or unique needs.

Here at CustomSigns.com, we know that sometimes your industry may call for a sign of a specific size or even a specific shape. At our factories, there are no limits to what our machines can do! Whether you manufacture fire trucks, need valve tags, or have a need for any other type of industrial sign, we’ve got you covered. Our engraved signs are made up of some of the most durable materials we can get our hands on, guaranteed to survive the toughest conditions.

Oftentimes, these industrial signs are used for safety purposes, to label, organize, and prevent injuries or costly mistakes when repairing homes, or operating industry specific equipment on an everyday basis. To ensure that the text on your signs remain visible and clear, we engrave our signs to your specifications and then double check your order before we ship it out to you just to make sure that you are getting the professionalism and quality service that you are paying for!

Order from us today! You won’t be disappointed!

March 7, 2014April 2, 2019

How Creative Signs Ensure A Better Experience At The Zoo!

Lion’s, and tiger’s, and bear’s- oh my! Maybe throw in a couple giraffe’s, exotic birds, monkeys, and elephants and you’ve got yourself a zoo!

Here at CustomSigns.com, there’s no doubt we’ve seen some wild requests! As a result, we decided to do our homework on one of the worlds oldest institutions!

The history of zoo’s goes back over 3000 years ago to ancient Egypt according to some reports. At the time the practice was mostly limited to pharaohs but obviously in later years the concept of zoo’s expanded into what it is today. Now millions flock to the parks every year to see exotic and rare species of plants and animals. Parks like Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Sea World, and Bush Gardens have heavily capitalized on their unique residents.

There’s no question that Zoo’s are places for families and especially children, but how many times have you visited a zoo and seen full grown adults or children banging, leaning, or screaming on or at the glass or fence enclosures that keep them separated from the animals. Does it make your blood boil? Does it make you wonder how they would feel if it was them being put on display instead of the animals? Well we’ve got signs for that and any other sign or situation you can think of!

While standard signs like “Caution”, “Do Not Enter”, and “Do Not Touch” are fine and do the job, they can still be pretty boring and lacking in the fun department- which is the opposite of what a zoo should be!

Dare to get creative with your zoo signage and make sure the smiles don’t stop when your guests take the time to look at a sign in between looking at all the animals! Make sure your guests stay entertained constantly while still managing to get across important information!

To illustrate this concept, we’ve compiled a list of the most effective and creative zoo signs we could find- all of which could easily be made right here in our Customsigns.com factories with our laser engravers!

1. For all those children (and adults) who like to dispose of their trash in all the wrong places such as animal exhibits, we’ve found the perfect sign to install:

2. Want to remind people to not block the best views and to be considerate of others? Problem solved.

3. While zoo’s can be hectic and you cant have a security officer at every door, make sure your guests know which doors are a part of the attractions and which aren’t.

4. Want to find a gentle way to remind your guests and their kids not to repeatedly tap on the glass of exhibits? This should do the trick.

5. And remember to always keep things fun and creative!