Posts by thegoddess:
Reasons That Weight Loss Camps Are Successful
April 18th, 2010For years weight loss camps for kids were filled will teen age girls who were willing to eat sparingly and exercise dutifully for a few weeks in exchange for quick weight loss. These programs were often advertised as “diet camps” and nothing more.
Over the past 20 years, the obesity rate in children has climbed significantly. There are two reasons for this epidemic, which are:
- A change in the way kids eat
- A change in how often kids exercise
Families are so busy that fast food and sugar-laden drinks are normal, every day meals rather than a treat. Instead of going outside and playing, kids are often found inside sitting on the couch playing computers and video games. Children don’t normally walk to school anymore either. Instead, they are bussed or dropped off and picked up by their parents, even if the school is a short distance away.
The modern childhood lifestyle creates plump toddlers. These plump toddlers then become chunky kids who in turn become overweight teenagers and fat adults. Weight loss camps are designed to stop this from happening and provide kids and teens with strategies that will last their entire lives. These modern teen weight loss camps do not like to be called fat camps; they much prefer being known as fitness camps.
The best weight loss camp for any child is the one where he will become engaged in the process and learn to change his eating habits and his exercise routine in a way that will benefit him long after camp is over. The goal of fitness camp is to teach kids the relationships between eating and exercise and how both are necessary for healthy living. Weight loss is about calories taken in versus calories expended and understanding that relationship is crucial to establishing a healthier lifestyle.
There is a prominent reason behind these camps’ success and that is children are exercising with children who have similar issues. During gym classes, overweight children have a hard time staying caught up with the rest of the average weight peers, either they’ll try hard or give up. However, when overweight children workout together, they can cheer each other on and don’t have to fear of being made fun of for being clumsy or for struggling to keep up. This creates an environment of positive peer pressure versus the negative peer pressure that many kids are used to dealing with.
These camps make physical exercise fun and try their hardest not to make kids feel embarrassed. All of the other kids are very supportive and kids should benefit from this extra encouragement. Everybody at these camps has experienced similar things and this makes it easier for them to support you.
Nothing makes a child feel more self confident than knowing he tried hard and did his best – and it was good enough. A week (or a month) of weight loss fitness camp will not undo years of overeating and sedentary behavior but it can start an obese child or teen on the path to a healthier future.
Joe Busch specializes in writing articles related to healthy weight loss for kids. He focuses on proper diets, exercise, and weight loss camp. Parents with children that struggle with their weight should consider what used to be called a “fat camp” to jump start the process.
‘Til Death Do Us Part
February 19th, 2010Most of us enjoy hearing those words, ‘Til Death Do Us Part, during a wedding ceremony, where the new couple is floating in bliss, and they envision being by each other’s side until death separates them. From my perspective, however, I see people who have a very passionate relationship with their material possessions, sometimes more so than with each other! If I didn’t know any better, I would say they feel confident that they can take their possessions with them when they leave this earth. I’m not confident that St. Peter will allow such things through the pearly gates.
With almost two decades in the estate industry, helping people make decisions about the dissolution of personal property, I have seen it all. And in all those years, I have tried to figure out why people have such a hard time letting go. It is important to note that often the Depression Era generation is the one that has accumulated the most. Their parents did not have much and probably possessed more utilitarian items, because of the time period. When their parents passed away, they did not distribute or sell those items — they absorbed them. This means the Boomers will have two generations of stuff to deal with when their Depression Era parents pass away.
Here are a few thoughts on why people hold on to so much:
* You just never know when I’m going to need this.
* There are so many things I could use this for.
* If I hold onto it long enough, it will become valuable.
* It is already old, so it must be valuable.
* I did without as a child, and I will not go without again.
* It was a gift and I will honor the giver by keeping it.
* The more I leave the kids, the more they will have to remember me.
* I worked very hard for these things and I will pass them down.
* They bring comfort and familiarity.
* Sentimental reasons
* Too overwhelmed to let it go — emotional attachment
* I’ll let the kids deal with it after I’m gone.
As an appraiser of residential contents, this is the part where I hope Boomers will listen and enlist the assistance of a personal property appraiser. When in doubt, always have the contents of an estate appraised prior to distributing or selling the contents. Most times, the heirs are not surprised to learn that much of what mom and dad amassed doesn’t have much value. There are some children who feel it might all be “junk” and then discover, through an appraisal, that some pieces have significant value, pleasantly surprising them. Family stories through the years can also add to the anticipation of great-grandfather’s chair being much more valuable because it is so old. Age is not the only determining factor of true value.
Another important task that the older generation should realize is that many of their heirs generally won’t keep many belongings and heirlooms. The Boomer children already have houses that are full from being married 20 years or so, and adding more will only fuel marital strife. The younger generations appear to want nothing but cash assets. Even if your Boomer children do take items, their children definitely don’t want them now, and most likely, they will feel the same in the future. They are not interested in antiques or traditional possessions, when they could take the cash they receive and go to IKEA or Pottery Barn.
Holding onto possessions for the sake of not wanting to let them go will leave a massive burden for the children and heirs. Gifting now, and making plans for the distribution of your possessions while you are still here (and in control of these decisions) is the best plan of action!
copyright 2010, The Estate Lady, LLC
Julie Hall, known as The Estate Lady, is a professional estate liquidator and certified personal property appraiser. With more than eighteen years experience, she has assisted thousands of individuals in the daunting and often painful process of managing their deceased parents’ affairs. Her experience has been sought across the United States and Canada. http://www.theestatelady.com She has authored a best-selling book titled “THE BOOMER BURDEN: How to Deal With Your Parents’ Lifetime Accumulation of Stuff”, currently available on Amazon.com. With increasing numbers of boomers and older adults across the globe, they are all leaving behind a lot more than their children bargained for. THE BOOMER BURDEN will guide loved ones on how to appropriately handle their parent’s belongings while keeping one’s sanity…and that is priceless. Julie writes a weekly blog which is available at http://estatelady.wordpress.com, called The Estate Lady Speaks.
Early Signs on the Road of Aging — 17 Signs For Boomers to Notice About Their Parents
February 14th, 2010Right now, your gut may be telling you something is amiss with one or both of your parents. Feelings of frustration, panic, and being overwhelmed accompany these thoughts, and before long, your head begins to spin with the thoughts of “Where do I begin?” and “What if…?” You need to decide right now that you will actively manage this challenge rather than being passive and letting it manage you.
We see the early signs of aging and tend to ignore them for a lot of reasons. For one thing, we don’t like to think about our parents growing old. We get stuck with this image of them, maybe right after retirement, when they’re happy, full of life, and enjoying the freedom of not having to work. We also have an uncanny sense of knowing our place. For all our lives, our parents were the ones teaching us, nurturing us, helping us when we got in a jam, and telling us what to do. It just doesn’t feel right to tell mom she needs to clean out her refrigerator more often.
We also ignore these early signs of our parents’ aging because they cause us to think the unthinkable: our parents can’t live forever. This alone is a choking thought and surely one to bring tears to anyone’s eyes. The first thing you can do to prepare for the inevitable is to pay attention to the early signs of aging and illness.
What are those early signs? Basically, any change you notice in your parents’ behavior, attitudes, and surroundings can be an indicator. Forgetfulness is one of the most common symptoms of the aging process, and by itself it is no real cause for concern. But there are other signs to notice:
1. Declining mobility
Common ailments such as arthritis coupled with a loss of physical strength will make it hard for your parents to climb stairs, bend over and pick things up, perform household chores, and pursue hobbies they once were able to do.
2. Vision problems
This is usually evidenced by difficulty in reading, sitting closer to the television than normal, a loss of peripheral vision or blurry vision, and squinting when they talk to you.
3. Loss of interest in favorite hobbies
Your mom, who has sewn all her life, hasn’t touched the sewing machine in months. Your dad seldom fusses in his garden anymore.
4 Irritability
A once gregarious and fun-loving parent rarely laughs and gets irritated and impatient easily.
5. Hearing loss
You have to repeat yourself often or notice that the television volume is consistently loud. Your parent is often reluctant to admit there’s a problem or to seek help.
6. Confusion
Older people often misplace things or lose track of which day of the week it is.
7. Repetition
Your parents tell the same story within a short time period.
8. Short-term memory loss
Your mom forgets the boiling water on the stove. Your dad can’t remember what day of the week it is.
9. Fatigue
Your parent tires easily, needs to sit down and rest in the middle of an activity, nods off during the day, and sleeps more often and longer than usual.
10. Unopened mail
It is not unusual for an older person who is struggling or having difficulty to let the mail pile up, often for weeks.
11. Changes in the home environment
The house begins to look shabby. The yard becomes overgrown. The house has more clutter than usual. Simple maintenance tasks are left undone, such as cleaning the bathroom or emptying the trash, and there are strange odors in the house.
12. Unusual spending and/or hoarding (collecting)
You notice strange financial habits, especially ordering products from infomercials or an increase in the amount of magazine subscriptions.
13. Preoccupation with finances
Your mom expresses worries about money. Your dad complains more than usual about prices, taxes, and so on.
14. Change in appetite or not eating well
Your parents appear to be losing weight or not eating well. Their kitchen cabinets are crammed with out-of-date canned goods or perhaps only boxes of cereal and crackers.
15. Staying alone, isolation
Your parents used to enjoy visiting friends, but lately they make excuses and stay home alone, watching television or staring out the window.
16. Depression or anxiety
17. Bruising from stumbles or falls
What should you do if you notice any of these signs of aging in your parents? Let’s begin with what you shouldn’t do, and that’s overreact. The most common – and unhelpful – form of overreaction is to nag your parents about these things. That will only make the situation worse.
Most people react to these signs of aging by either forcing the issue with their parents or ignoring it. Don’t try to fix it. Don’t nag. Yet don’t ignore these signs either. Just pay attention. Begin keeping a diary or log and write down what you notice. By paying attention and keeping a record, you will be able to objectively determine if these behaviors are happening infrequently and thus are not really troubling, or if they are getting worse and may need intervention.
The second thing you should do when you notice these signs is to begin to think about the future. This is one of the hardest things for Boomers to do. No one likes to anticipate the inevitable. Deep down, we know no one lives forever and eventually our parents will pass on. But who likes to think about that? Yet I have found that when my clients allow themselves to think a few years ahead, they are much better prepared for the day when all they have left is their parents’ empty house. Being in denial will help no one, least of all your parents. Dont’ wait to deal with these issues until a moment of crisis.
What do you do now?
1. Begin a diary. Record any unusual or alarming behavior that you notice in your parents.
2. Call or visit your parents. From now on, pay specific attention to your parents’ health and well-being. While you’re at it, tell them you love them. There’s no time like the present.
3. Begin a conversation with your siblings. Gently and tactfully raise the issue of your parents’ future.
copyright 2010, The Estate Lady, LLC.
Julie Hall, known as The Estate Lady, is a professional estate liquidator and certified personal property appraiser. With more than eighteen years experience, she has assisted thousands of individuals in the daunting and often painful process of managing their deceased parents’ affairs. Her experience has been sought across the United States and Canada. http://www.theestatelady.com She has authored a best-selling book titled “THE BOOMER BURDEN: How to Deal With Your Parents’ Lifetime Accumulation of Stuff”, currently available on Amazon.com. With increasing numbers of boomers and older adults across the globe, they are all leaving behind a lot more than their children bargained for. THE BOOMER BURDEN will guide loved ones on how to appropriately handle their parent’s belongings while keeping one’s sanity…and that is priceless. Julie writes a weekly blog which is available at http://estatelady.wordpress.com, called The Estate Lady Speaks.
Intangible Gifts Bring Joy In A Difficult Economy
February 7th, 2010As an expert in personal property, my days are filled with visiting estates, consulting with my clients, and ascertaining what has value versus what does not. I help Boomer children make sound estate decisions after mom and dad have passed on. Also, I work closely with seniors helping them make a plan for their heirlooms, and appraising the worth of their collectibles.
My world revolves around beautiful things and what each item may be worth. Sadly, I have to watch people fight over them after a loved one dies. Having met with thousands of individuals in my life, I have learned from each and every one of them.
As I think about the current economic situation, and the many that are shadowed by their financial and employment concerns, I can’t help but go back to those experiences which have “showed me the way”, have enabled me to live a grounded life. Following are some problems and solutions for you to reflect on during these financially challenging days.
1. We exit this world the way we enter it.
When we enter this world, we own nothing. When we leave this world, we own nothing but a beautiful spirit that houses love and memories earned over a lifetime. You can’t take anything with you, so why fight over things? Yes, sentimental things are of great importance, but if you can’t divide equitably, find a way to share or just let them go. No need to lose a sibling over them. This would truly upset (and dishonor) the deceased loved one.
If this has already taken place, the best gift you could ever give anyone is making amends and dissolving the estrangement. No excuses; just find a way, or at least make an attempt. In this way, you can at least say that you tried, and you can go forth with your life, knowing you did all you could do. If this hasn’t happened to you, do everything in your power to prevent it.
2. Things do bring instant gratification, but not long-lasting happiness. So, we keep buying more things to keep feeling good.
Too many of us fill our lives with things to ease unresolved pain and issues. As we continue to go out there, go into debt, and buy ourselves the latest electronic gadget, we are still left unfulfilled and discontented. We buy to feel good. We buy because we deserve it. We buy because we are depressed. But in the long run, each item ends up in the hands of family or a professional to sell it.
There are some who believe “He who dies with the most toys wins.” There are others who feel “He who dies with the most toys, dies anyway.” So what should we do?
** Dress the less fortunate by going through your clothing, shoes, etc. Do the same for the food in your pantry.
** Head into your attic and garage and start clutter-busting. So many things we have are not being used — and can be used by someone who needs them. Find those organizations and give them away.
** Start practicing the art of giving, and refrain from unnecessary purchases for at least six months.
** A cluttered house is often reflective of a cluttered life. Do yourself and your family a favor and clear out while you can, and help others in the process. The end result is a long-lasting and satisfied feeling.
3. Gift giving ideas: you never know what to buy for certain people, and it can be quite costly. What to do?
Why buy anything? Why not give the best gift in the world — yourself.
Go visit someone you have been meaning to see for a long time. Surprise a loved one you haven’t seen for years.
Write that letter, bake those cookies.
Volunteer for those needing your help or visit shut-ins.
Make that phone call to make amends, because you and your mother haven’t spoken in years.
Bring your children to an assisted living or nursing home, and watch the residents light up. Have your children draw pictures and then visit and sing for those in shelters or facilities.
Say what you need to say, and do so right now.
Ask for forgiveness and always offer it, no matter what.
Offer hugs to those who really need it.
Make gifts for everyone on your list.
Listen to your elders because you will learn so much.
4. Have a senior on your gift list, and don’t know what to give them?
Spend a full day with them and ask them to share stories of your family history — fun stories, challenges, family secrets, marriages, customs — and look through old photos. Record this day and create a book for them (with copies for your family members), so it may be passed down for years to come. Many children regret not having more family history, but realize this only after the loved one has died.
Find a special photograph and frame it. Ask an elder for a secret family recipe, so it can be carried on; then make it for them.
When we think of these financially challenging days, we also need to be counting the multitude of blessings we do have, rather than wishing for the ones we don’t have. Make it a special year for others, and it will come back to you, in the form of contentment and joy — both in giving and in receiving.
copyright 2009, The Estate Lady
Julie Hall, known as The Estate Lady, is a professional estate liquidator and certified personal property appraiser. With more than eighteen years experience, she has assisted thousands of individuals in the daunting and often painful process of managing their deceased parents’ affairs. http://www.theestatelady.com She has authored a best-selling book titled “THE BOOMER BURDEN: How to Deal With Your Parents’ Lifetime Accumulation of Stuff”, currently available on Amazon.com. With increasing numbers of boomers and older adults, they are all leaving behind a lot more than their children bargained for. THE BOOMER BURDEN will guide loved ones on how to appropriately handle their parent’s belongings while keeping one’s sanity… that is priceless. Julie writes a weekly blog, available at http://estatelady.wordpress.com, called The Estate Lady Speaks.
Enough Stuff Already! How to Help Your Elderly Parents (and Yourself) Pare Down
February 7th, 2010In twenty years of helping people settle their estates, one glaring fact always stands out: we have way too much stuff! Just start poking around your closets, under the beds, up in the attics or your garage, and you’ll agree. Our overstuffed and cluttered homes, and garages that can’t hold our cars, have created a new industry: professional organizers; thank goodness for them. Let’s not forget the good reason why all of these storage companies keep going up across your city. People can’t seem to let go of their “stuff.”
Don’t organize your junk — get rid of it! If not for yourself, then do it for your children. Your thought process should be, “I won’t leave all this clutter for my children.” Whether you are trying to help your parents clear out their clutter or attacking your own bulging closets, here are some basic principles to make the job easier.
Think “Three Piles.”
Imagine three huge piles labeled “Sell”, “Donate”, and “Discard”. Then as you go through the house, determine what you want to do with everything you find. Things of value that you don’t need anymore should be set aside for an estate sale. First, find out their true worth. They may be less valuable than you were told, or you may be in store for a pleasant surprise. Things that might be useful to others, such as extra winter coats, shoes, or small appliances (that still work) can be donated to agencies such as Goodwill, Kidney Foundation, or the charity of your choice.
Things that have just accumulated for no apparent reason should be discarded. This is the category where you need to be brutally honest with yourself. Do you really need to keep forty years of National Geographic or all those Cool Whip containers and pie tins? Every one of us has boxes and secret stashes of things we’ve saved, thinking they will come in handy some day. They probably won’t. Here’s a good rule of thumb: If you haven’t seen or used it in one year, chances are excellent you never will again. They are either beyond their usage at this point, or no one else wants them. Let them go and lighten your load!
Start at the Top
You’ll accomplish things a lot quicker if you have an orderly plan, and the best place to start is in the attic, and work down. Why? The attic is usually the hardest, so everything after that feels like a cake walk. Having a specific “road map” keeps you focused and provides encouragement and motivation as each level of the house gets de-cluttered. Make sure you have several helpers to work as an “assembly line” and then decide what should be done with all the items you have brought down. Over 90% of items in attics are usually discarded due to exposure to hot and cold, or items that are no longer useful.
Be Prepared
You will be far more successful clearing things out if you have what you need to do the job. A good pair of gloves and a dust mask will protect you from common hazards in every attic and basement. Keep a ladder or step-stool handy or you’ll never get to that top shelf where most of the clutter seems to end up. Other things to help you do the job efficiently: heavy-duty trash bags, a flashlight, masking tape and a marker to identify items going to family members, empty boxes for the hundreds of small items you’ll eventually want to sort, and bug spray (hornets have discouraged many well-intentioned attic cleaners).
Think Green
If you’re like most people, your “discard” pile will be among the largest. Don’t just haul it off to the landfill. Take a little extra time to separate things like paper, plastics, glass, etc., and take those things to a local recycling center. If you have a large amount of metal on your “discard” pile (old lawn furniture, non-working appliances, lawn mowers, even old cars) there are companies who will pay you to haul them away, thanks to the price of scrap metal. You will also likely find dozens of half-used cans of paint and other solvents that need to be discarded, so call your refuse company for instructions on how to dispose of these chemicals safely.
The Family “Jewels”
One of the biggest areas that create ill-feelings among family members are the “valuables” – items of either monetary or sentimental value that someone wants. This could be anything from a pricey piece of art to your mother’s hand mirror. If you’re clearing out your parents’ home after they have deceased, first find out if they left any documents to determine who gets what. For items not mentioned in the document, or if a document was never written, invite your siblings to go through the house with you, taking turns to select an item each would like to keep. Then, create a wish list, and have an appraiser assign a value to those items to keep it financially fair.
If you’re downsizing your own home, now is the time to talk with your children about those special things they would like to inherit. One important point to consider: if you or your parents have several items of value — paintings, art, collectibles, precious metals and jewelry — consider hiring a professional appraiser to determine the fair market value of those items.
Most of us know we have too much stuff lying around. The thought of trying to sort through our stuff is so daunting, we just try to cope with drawers that won’t close and closets you don’t dare open. It is an overwhelming prospect to many, so they dont’ clean out anything, and eventually leave it for their children. If you are overwhelmed, imagine how your children will feel, especially if they have to clean your house out in the midst of a crisis or grief.
Should your children offer to help you clean it out, let them. This is their way of telling you they don’t want to deal with it after you’re gone; they do want to help. Here’s the challenge: set a goal to clean out just one room. You will notice a difference immediately in how you feel in your home, and your children will be truly appreciative!
copyright 2009, The Estate Lady
Julie Hall, known as The Estate Lady, is a professional estate liquidator and certified personal property appraiser. With more than eighteen years experience, she has assisted thousands of individuals in the daunting and often painful process of managing their deceased parents’ affairs. http://www.theestatelady.com She has authored a best-selling book titled “THE BOOMER BURDEN: How to Deal With Your Parents’ Lifetime Accumulation of Stuff”, currently available on Amazon.com. With increasing numbers of boomers and older adults, they are all leaving behind a lot more than their children bargained for. THE BOOMER BURDEN will guide loved ones on how to appropriately handle their parent’s belongings while keeping one’s sanity… that is priceless. Julie writes a weekly blog, available at http://estatelady.wordpress.com, called The Estate Lady Speaks.
Important Home Fire Safety Checklist
December 23rd, 2009Each year the annual Fire Prevention Week takes place from October 4th, through October 11th which raises people’s awareness about the importance of fire safety. However, anytime is a good time to establish a home fire safety checklist so that your family can be prepared in the case of a fire. Establishing this checklist will help you to prevent injury or death from the leading causes of household fires: cooking, heating, electrical equipment and smoking materials.
The following checklist is an easy way to ensure that your family is prepared.
- Install and test the smoke detectors in all the bedrooms in your house. It is a good idea to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors each year. Make sure that you have smoke detectors on every level of your house, in the kitchen and in all bedrooms.
- Make sure there are working fire extinguishers are on all floors of your house. Read the instructions on your fire extinguisher so you and your family understand the proper use of the instrument. The normal reaction by an untrained person is to aim the fire extinguisher at the flames but this will not properly extinguish a fire.
To prevent any problems in the case of an emergency, a good acronym to remember for the correct operation of a fire extinguisher is PASS.
P is for Pull the pin which is located on the handle.
A is for aim at the base of the fire rather than at the flames.
S is for squeeze the level slowly so you don’t waste the flame retardant.
S is for sweep with the fire extinguisher from side to side at the base of the fire.
- Create and practice a fire safety plan so that your family knows how to exit the house quickly and safely in the event of a major fire. Make sure that there are at least two unobstructed ways to escape from each bedroom in your house; both a window and a door. Plan an emergency meeting place near your home and practice the proper evacuation routine with your children so that they will not hesitate in the event of a real emergency. Remember that the first rule in any fire emergency is to get outside as fast as possible and don’t go back inside.
- Identify the major fire hazards in your household. For example, make sure flammable containers that hold paints or hazardous materials are properly stored away from sunlight and far from any possible source of ignition. Check old appliances and extension cords to make sure the cables are not frayed or damaged. If you have a fireplace, make sure that a screen is always placed in front of it. Keep any oily rages in a tightly sealed container.
- Have an easily accessible emergency contact list in your home. Include the name and telephone number of an emergency contact in your family. Also have the emergency phone number for the local fire department. Make sure your children are familiar with calling 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.
Scott Mitchell is a fire and life safety expert at WPS Disaster Management Solutions. WPS is an industry leader in fire safety planning. In addition to fire safety plans, we also do disaster planning and training. Please visit our website at http://www.wps-plan.com
Fire Safety Planning: How to Protect Your Family
December 20th, 2009What is a Fire Safety Plan?
A fire safety plan is way to prepare yourself and your family to respond effectively in the case of an emergency. For commercial buildings, they are required by local fire codes and have to be approved by Fire Department Officials. However, for family homes they are often neglected because families are not properly educated about how a fire safety plan will vastly improve their chances of surviving harm in the event of a fire.
A fire safety plan often includes: appropriate routes to take to safely exit a building, a meeting place outside the building, contacts in case of an emergency, storage places for important supplies, locations of fire extinguishers and preventive measures to be enacted in the home to reduce the risk.
Who needs a Fire Safety Plan?
The majority of building owners are required by law to have a fire safety plan for their building. There is no law or enforcement mechanism for households but it is still imperative that you have a personalized preparedness plan in place for your family home, townhouse or apartment.
Developing a Household Plan:
- Keep your plan simple so everyone in your family can remember the key details in an extremely stressful situation. Take the time to make sure your children understand how they can reduce the risk of a fire in your home and review your safety plan each year.
- Identify escape routes to exit your home. Keep in mind you should have several escape routes depending on the circumstances of the emergency. It is recommended that you buy a ladder for rooms in a second or third story house.
- Learn proper fire evacuation procedure. Explain to your family members how to crawl on their hands-and-knees under the smoke and how to cover their mouth and noses with their shirts to assist in breathing. It is also essential that your children know how to stop, drop and roll to put out any fire on their clothing.
- Identify meeting places so you can quickly account for everyone’s safety. This is very important to establish so firefighters can easily verify that the building is clear. Choose two meeting places, one beside your home and another at a nearby park or public area.
- Identify the location of fire extinguishers, make sure they are well-maintained and that your whole family knows how to properly operate one. There should be at least one fire extinguisher for every level of your house. One should also be installed near your kitchen since cooking is one of the most common causes of house fires.
- Have an emergency family contact established in advance. Use a close friend nearby or close relatives like uncles, aunts or grandparents.
Review your fire safety plan every 6 months with your family members. Have a proper fire drill so your children can hear the sound of the smoke detector and know that they must exit the home immediately. Show your children how to properly use a fire extinguisher to put out a small fire. An easy way to remember is to teach them to P.A.S.S. Acronym.
Pull the pin off the fire extinguisher
Aim at the base of the fire
Squeeze the handle of the fire extinguisher
Sweeping motion from side to side to extinguish the flames
Important Advice:
It is vital to regularly test your fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and alarms every 4 months. Make sure there is at least one smoke detector on each level of your house.
Scott Mitchell is a fire and life safety expert at WPS Disaster Management Solutions. WPS is an industry leader in fire safety planning. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.wps-plan.com
Disaster Planning for the Elderly and Disabled
December 20th, 2009When planning for large scale emergency situations, it’s easy to forget that some segments of the population have special needs that go beyond the average and require more than a survival kit and an evacuation plan. Many elderly and disabled persons have very specific medical needs that must be met regardless of external happenings. Limited mobility, access to medication and frailty from pre-existing conditions are only some of the many possible complications faced by the elderly and disabled in an emergency situation. These factors can often be life-threatening if left unattended.
As the percentage of elderly and frail members of society grows, and an increasing number of patients receive treatment in home care or nursing facilities, it can be difficult to ensure that proper medical treatment will continue to be administered in a disaster scenario. Responsibility for the care of elderly members of society during fires, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes is split between the family and friends of the elderly, the healthcare system, and the community as a whole.
There are a number of important precautions that can be taken to help ensure that the proper measures are taken to deliver necessary care in a disaster scenario:
Pertinent medical information
In the event that a disaster hits and an individual with special medical needs is separated from his or her caregiver, it’s important for them to be able to make others aware of their conditions. Medical bracelets and other visible cues can help alert members of the public to individuals with medical needs so that they can then help them get the necessary treatment for their specific condition. Another option is to keep a written note with a list of medical conditions, prescriptions, and any other important information. Registering with special needs registries in your catchment area can also help officials recognize individuals with special medical needs more quickly.
Designated contacts to provide assistance
To make sure that patients with special medical needs are taken care of in an emergency situation, a set of designated contacts should be established who will be responsible for their assistance. These contacts could be family members, members of the community, or paid healthcare providers. Contacts can take responsibility for any number of duties, including transportation, administration of essential medications, or general assistance. Adding clear accountability makes contacts feel responsible and avoids situations where the elderly and disabled are disregarded and left to be “someone else’s problem”.
Personal disaster plans
Having a personal disaster plan gives elderly or disabled individuals personal agency, and a feeling of control over their situation. This helps avoid the potential for feelings of helplessness and confusion in the event of an emergency. Planning should include dependable transportation options, evacuation routes, and knowledge of nearby medical facilities. A special kit containing extra batteries and backups of important medical devices should also be prepared in case the individual in question is isolated from medical facilities for an extended period of time.
These factors combined with a well implemented regional emergency plan are the best safety measures to ensure the well-being of elderly and disabled members of the population during an emergency situation.
Scott Mitchell is a fire and life safety expert at WPS Disaster Management Solutions. WPS is an industry leader in disaster planning and emergency planning. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.wps-plan.com
The Chair That All Kids Love – Bean Bags
December 2nd, 2009Bean bags are a favorite among children and college age people. A bean bag is a bag that usually made from plastic or some other fabric that is filled with small foam pieces that are as small as a bean.
Bean bags have many uses and come in many different sizes. The smallest of bean bags are commonly called hacky sacks. These small bean bags are usually the size of a large egg. The outer shell is usually made from thick leather or plastic.
A hacky sack is usually used to play a game. The game entails keeping the hacky sack in the air as long as possible. The person that is play the game kicks the ball with the inside of their feet and bounces it high into the air. They then hit it with their knee or elbow to keep it in the air.
An even larger use for the bean bag is used in a popular game called Corn Hole. Corn Hole requires two boards that are set at an angle with a hole at the top of each. The game is usually played with two teams and each team has two players.
The players take turns throwing a bean bag that is about the size of a piece of toast at the boards and trying to get their bean bag to go into the hole. If they get it on the board or in the hole, they get points. The team with the most points at the end of game wins.
An even larger use for a bean bag is a favorite for many children. It is called the bean bag chair. A bean bag chair is a large bean bag that works as a chair for a person. It is very comfortable and it fits to a person form as they sit in it.
Many children use the bean bag chairs to sit in while they play their video games. Since these chairs are filled with very light weight packing peanuts, it is very easy for a child to move from one area to another. If they want to sit closer or farther away from the television or screen, they just pick it up and move it.
Bean bag chairs are also used for furniture for some college students. When a person is in college full time, it is probable that they do not have the money to furnish their dorm or apartment with high end furniture. Because of this they are turning to bean bags.
Bean bags come in many different colors and sizes. They are light weight and durable and are very inexpensive. When compared to the cost involved with purchasing a couch or even just a chair, a bean bag is the more economical way to go.
Bean bags have many uses and are loved by people of all ages. Whether they are being used as a piece of a game or as a piece of furniture, there is always a use for a bean bag. If you have not owned one yet, try it today.
Annie is an expert furniture and interior design writer. Her current area of specialism is
bedspreads,
home decor and
oak coffee table
The Bean Bag: What’s Next?
November 29th, 2009The bean bag is an icon of the past. Considered to be Mod furniture, it offered fun, comfort and an affordable alternative to its counterparts. At one time its popularity soared through the roof and then it declined; however, it is now coming back because of its many different uses.
Bean bag furniture was appealing to adults and children, back in the day. It offered a sense of a ‘cool, modern’ feeling that was also relaxed, fun and represented a not so serious style. With the changing times and lifestyles, the bean bag furniture’s popularity seemed to disappear.
As an alternative to more expensive furniture, the bean bag furniture is now making a comeback. It is very apparent in the college dorm and in children’s rooms across the globe. The comfort, style and sense of fun that it offers makes it a great place to sit while playing video games, reading or studying for tomorrow’s tests.
But, did you know that bean bag furniture can be useful in other ways? Bean bags make comfortable beds that can be molded to the child’s body to help support legs or other body parts that are in casts. A normal bed may not give the same level of comfort of support; however, rest assured that the bean bag can.
People who have casts that have been shaped to different positions, such as a sitting position, can experience a good night’s sleep with a bean bag. Push here or push there to help adjust the internal beans to take the shape of the body and it will offer a great means of support and comfort to anyone. Then, they will definitely get a good night’s sleep. Another great thing is that it is completely portable and easy to move around.
How about games? Bean bags make perfect game pieces. Between juggling and foot ball (trademarked, Hacky sack) many people have found out that the bean bag, just smaller versions, are perfect to have fun with. Because of this, adults and children worldwide have now made the bean bag more popular than ever. You can choose from a wide range of colors and designs that will fit anyone’s style.
However, bean bags must be taken care of and great care should be taken not to bust the bag. If it does bust, there will many different small pieces of material everywhere and those can present small children with a choking hazard. Be careful and explain to children not to rough house with the bean bag.
Wouldn’t you like to know what they were thinking whenever they developed the bean bag back in the day? What specific purpose was it supposed to serve? No matter what it was originally designed for, the bean bag has taken many different turns. It has been around for a long period of time and even though at one point the popularity declined, it is sure to stay. New forms and ideas for it will probably be developed; however, some of us will always remember our days in the past with the bean bag.
Annie is an expert furniture and interior design writer. Her current area of specialism is children’s furniture,computer desk and oak coffee tables