Safety Begins at Home

June is national safety month.  Be prepared for the unexpected.  It is never too soon to privide the safest home environment for you and your family.  Take the time to double-check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replenish emergency kits, look for unsafe conditions and formulate evacuation plans if you have not already done so.  Above all else, prevent accidents before they happen.

An ounce of prevention helps avoid home accidents...
Do things have a way of accumulating in your home?  Because you are there every day, potential hazards can be overlooked easily.  Periodic "proactive" inspections can help you avoid accidents and ensure the health and safety of you and your loved ones.  Here are things to watch for:

Fight fire before it happens.  Whether you are at home or away, fire is always a potential hazard.  By the time firefighters arrive, it may be too late- but you can take the following precautions:

• Keep fire extinquishers in the kitchen, garage, and patio.
• Use only space heaters with automatice shut offs and never operate them without someone in the room.
• Install smoke/carbon monoxide detectors in all areas.  Smoke detectors provide early warning and are your first line of defense.  Test them and change batteries regularly.  A good way to remember is with spring and autumn time changes.

Check electrical circuits.  When was the last time you checked your electrical appliances?  Be sure to do the following:

• Check for worn or exposed wiring (particularly on lamps) and overloaded circuits.
• Plug computers and televisions into surge protectors.
• Familiarize yourself with the fuse box and circuit panel and place flashlights and batteries nearby.

Take your time with tools.  Don't rush household chores- tools can fight back.  Most tools and utensils have sharp edges, particularily knives.  Learning how to use them properly can be a valuable safety lesson.  Here are a few reminders:

• Cut or stroke away from your body, not toward.
• If you drop a knife or tool, don't try to catch it.
• Don't use tools on live electrical items- unplug them.
• Always use tools in a well-lit area.
• If you get cut or injured, seek first aid immediately.

Put poisons in their place.  The most preventative cause of accidental death at home is inadvertant poisoning.  You can avoid this by keeping products sealed and out of easy reach from children.  Always keep products in their original packaging for quick access to warnings and instructions and discard any expired medications.  Consult your physician or pharmacist for assistance with the following:

• Household cleaners and office supplies
• Medications, vitamins, and cooking ingredients
• Garage and garden chemicals.

Home Emergency Kit & First Aid Kit
It is always good to be prepared for emergencys.  Here are a few things that you should have in your "Home Emregency Kit".

• Three gallons of water per person
• A three day supply of non-perishable food
• A first aid kit and medications
• Extra clothing
• Flashlight with batteries
• Radio/Weather Radio
• Family documents

Likewise, you should always be prepared when the need comes for first aid.  Here is a list of things that you should have in your First Aid Kit.

• Two pairs of Latex or other sterile gloves (if you are allergic to Latex)
• Sterile dressings to stop bleeding
• Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect
• Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection
• Burn ointment to prevent infection
• Adhesive bandages in various sizes
• Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as a general decontaiminant
• Thermometer: non-glass and non-mercury
• Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers
• Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Asprin or non-aprain pain reliever
  

Safety in the Home
Here are some tips on how to care for certain injuries- what you should do and what you shouldn't do.  You may want to consider putting these instructions in your first aid kit!

Cuts and Scratches
MINOR:  Stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound with a bandage.  Clean the cut with gentle soap and water to reduce risk of infection.  Apply antibiotic ointment and a clean bandage to allow the cut to heal properly.
MAJOR:  If the bleeding does not stop, apply additional dressing and bandages with more pressure.
For a serious injury, call 911.

Sprains
Use the acronym RICE to treat a sprain:
REST:  Avoid movement of the injury
IMMOBILIZE:  Splint the arm or leg is the person must be moved and doing so will not cause more harm.
COLD:  Apply ice to the injured area for 20- minute periods to control the pain and swelling.  Place a thin barrier between the ice and bare skin.
ELEVATE:   Elevate the injured area or leg only if it does not cause more pain.
For a serious injury, call 911.

Minor Burns
To care for a minor burn, first put out the flames or remove the person from the source of heat.
Cool the burn immediately by submerging the area in cold water; do not use ice.  Cover the burn loosely with a sterile dressing and avoid using ointment initially. 
For a serious injury, call 911.

Fractures
Stabalize the bone immediately to relive pain and to prevent further damage.  Use a newspaper as a temorarary makeshift splint, or a large towel as a sling.  Avoid applying ice directly to the skin.  Contact emergency services.
Having an air cast in your emergency kit can also be very useful.  In case of leg fractrues, the patient's legs can both be tied together.  Do not try to straighten the broken limb or move without support.

Concussions
Apply ice to the contact area to reduce swelling.  Mild concussions may be treated at home with bed rest, fluids, and a mild pain reliever.  A doctor should be contacted to asses the severity.
Often, concussions are not obvious at first, but it is best to be safe and seek medical treatment to ensure that there are no lasting ill effects.  Call 911 if the person is unconscious.  If conscious, watch the person in case he or she lapses into unconsciousness.

Online Resources

WebMD 
www.webmd.com
This site has detailed information about any injuries you may sustain at home and features advise for how to treat them.

Wikipedia
www.wikipedia.org
This site is like an Enclyclopedia with straight-forward content that makes finding those important articles effortless.



Copyright 2008 Buffini & Company.  All Rights Reserved.  Used by Permission LGK JUNE CAP S

GOING GREEN, SAVING GREEN.

Making your home more energy efficient is often as simple as pulling a plug - unplugging appliances when they are not in use can save $70 a year on your electricity bill.  Read our tips for more easy ways you can save money and reduce your impact on the environment.....

---

THERMOSTATS:   
   Installing a programable thermostat to keep air conditioning at 78 degrees F when it is hot outside and your heating system at 68 degrees F when it's cold can help save up to 20% in heating and cooling costs - or $100 a year on your energy bill.  If every family in the United States did this, we would reduce carbon dioxide by more than 90 billion pounds.

WATER HEATERS:
   Water heating accounts for about 13% of home energy costs, so turn your water heater down to 120 degrees or the "Normal" setting when home and the lowest setting when away.  Also consider wrapping your water heater in an insulated blanket.  You'll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year

LIGHT BULBS:
   According to climatecrisis.org, energy-saving compact florescent light bulbs (CFL) last 10 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs, use 60% less energy and can save 75% of lighting costs.  If every American home replaced five incandescent bulbs with five CFL bulbs, we would save as much as $6.5 billion a year in electricity costs and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that from more than eight million cars.

SPRINKLERS:
   Use a sprinkler timer.  Timers will automatically shut off your sprinkler system after a set period so you don't have to remember.  Also, use sprinklers that emit large drops of water, low and close to the ground (not the sidewalk or street), and water early in the morning.  This will ensure that the water soaks into the soil instead of evaporating.

GREEN ENERGY:
   The decision to switch to green energy (wind or solar powered) should be made on a cost-to-cost, region-by-region basis.  CIBC World Markets reports that buying a solar system can yield homeowners a 6% return on their investment and take 16 years to pay off.  Depending on the state that you live in, you also may be eligible for a refund or other incentive when you use solar energy.

---

Here are some ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and help stop global warming.

• Swapping out one incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
• For every mile that you walk, bike or carpool, you will save one pound of carbon dioxide.
• Recycling half of your home's waste will save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
• Property inflated tires improve gas mileage by 3%, and every gallon of gasoline saved prevents 20 pounds of carbon dioxide waste.
• Using less hot water reduces energy consumption.  Installing a low-flow showerhead and washing your clothes in cold or warm water can save up to 850 pounds of carbon dioxide.
• Adjusting your thermostat by 2 degrees in the winter and summer can save 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
• Planting trees reverses the effects of carbon dioxide.  A single tree will absorb 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide in its lifetime.
  
  
  

KEEP IT SIMPLE -
The Keys to Organizing your Home

---

GETTING STARTED

It takes planning to create an environment that is both harmonious and comfortable.  Learning to say goodbye to those "treasures" that we rarely use or even look at may cause you some temporary separation anxiety, but the space you create will make up for the loss.  It seems like a daunting task, but it can be fun and invigorating once the process begins, and it can do wonders for your spirit!  Remember, being committed to getting organized also means being committed to staying organized.

THE CLOSETS

• Sort closet items into groups.  Clothes that are worn often should be the most accessible in your closet.  Seasonal clothing should be packed away in storage containers ad placed on top shelves that can easily be accessed as the weather changes.
• Always keep your closet floor clear of shoes.  Allowing them to pile up on the closet floor can limit your access and lead to cause damage if the shoes are stepped on.  Shoe cubbies are a perfect low-cost solution.
• Keep like items together such as shirts, sweaters, pants, and dresses. 
• Use several different storage systems including sheves, drawers, shoe cubbies, and upper and lower poles to maximize space and keep items separated and organized.

THE KITCHEN

• Group things that pertain to a particular task together.  This will minimize your search and make better use of your time.
• Determine the general flow of your kitchen.  Keep glasses near the sink or the refrigerator.
• Maximize your work space by keeping countertops clear of unnecessary items.
• Consider creative storing solutions - for example, transfer spices to sleek, labeled glass tubes.
• Don't make your kitchen a collection area for everything "waiting" to be put away - mail, tools, books, the kids' homework, and everything else that does not belong there.

THE KID'S ROOM

• Your kids have toys and clothing that they have outgrown.  Now is the perfect time to teach them charity by helping them to collect items they can donate to others.
• Store toys in bins and boxes that are clearly labeled so kids can put them away themselves.
• Find colorful storage bins that make cleaning up as fun as playtime.

TAMING OF THE BEAST -
Creative Ideas for Organizing Your Garage

---

 

HOW TO DISPOSE OF UNWANTED ITEMS

• Check online for local disposal services
• Depending on their condition, try selling items on eBay or craigslist.
• Plan a garage sale, giving your friends and neighbors a chance to find an item they may need or want.
• Donate to local charities.
• Check with some neighborhood schools and see if they might have a gome for some of these items.
• Advertise in your local paper.  You might get lucky and have just what someone is looking for.

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

• Household items are greatly needed by many.  Clothing, toys, and home products are the perfect donation to your local charity.
• Everyone loves to browse through their neighbor's old treasures.  Plan a garage sale.  It can be a fun way to gather with friends and neighbors.
• We all know the difference between what can be recycled and what is trash.  Throw away any items that are no longer useful.
• There are countless items listed on eBay every day.  See if you can't turn some old items into easy cash.

HAZARDOUS WASTE

• Check online for local disposal services.  Ridding yourself of hazardous waste is a serious consideration, and not following the rules can result in heavy fines.
• There are many local services that you can either bring your waste to, or that will come and get it.  Don't take shortcuts on this even if you only have small amounts, which might seem easy to dispose of.

COPYRIGHT 2008 Buffini & Company.  All Rights Reserved.  Used by Permission.  LGK MAY CAP S