We may not think about it much in this technological age of information overload, but a significant disaster and the resulting power outage can seriously compromise our ability to communicate.  Anyone who endured the power outage a few months ago when both a 5.8 magnitude earthquake and Hurricane Irene hit the east coast may remember how difficult it was to contact family, friends, and even 911 during this time.  However, there are practical steps you can take to improve your ability to communicate during, and immediately after, a disaster.

To prepare at home:

• Keep a car-phone charger as a back up for charging your cell phone and have additional charged phone batteries on hand.
• Although many of us have long since gotten rid of our corded phones, the FCC and FEMA both recommend keeping at least one non-cordless phone in your home if you have a traditional land line, as it will work even if you lose power.
• Your cell phone should contain “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) contacts that can be reached by emergency personnel in the event you are injured and unable to use your phone.  (Make sure these ICE contacts are aware they are your emergency contacts.)
• Remember battery powered radios?  They’re not as ubiquitous as they once were, but battery powered radios are useful for getting information during power outages.  You should have a battery powered radio and spare batteries for it.
• Sign up to receive text alerts from state or local governments in the event of a disaster. 

During a disaster or power outage:

• The FCC and FEMA recommend text messaging, email or social media for non-emergency communications during a disaster, as data based services are less likely to experience congestion than voice networks. 
• To conserve your cell phone battery, reduce the screen brightness and close apps you are not using that draw power.
• If you charge your cell phone in your car, be sure your car is outside and not in the garage.

Lastly, don’t forget to rotate out your spare batteries from time to time to ensure you always have fresh spare batteries.  I learned this the hard way when I discovered all our spare batteries were dead during a ten hour power outage last summer.  Lesson learned.  Now I’m prepared.

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Winter is the season when people in colder climates have their homes closed up for months at a time.  Windows seldom get opened and fireplaces and wood stoves are utilized for warmth and comfort.  Indoor air pollution can be a real problem.  While there are costly air purifiers on the market, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and medical experts agree that air purifiers don’t alleviate carbon monoxide, viruses and dust mites.  There are steps you can take that cost little or nothing to reduce many allergens in your home such as pet dander, smoke particles, dust and pollen.

• Keep harmful gases under control.  The EPA states that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.  A do-it-yourself radon test kit costs about $15.  If test results indicate a problem, call a qualified radon mitigation specialist.  Don’t store pesticides, chemicals, solvents or glues in your home.  Avoid idling your car in an attached garage.  Use other fuel-burning equipment outside and away from your home.
• Reduce sources of pollution as much as possible.  Do not allow smoking in your home.  Avoid other sources of indoor pollution, such as candles, scented cleaners, air fresheners and wood burning fires.  Keep pets out of your bedroom and off soft furniture.  Vacuum often.
• Minimize dust mites by encasing pillows, mattresses and box springs in mite-proof covers.
• Ventilate your home to get as much fresh air inside as possible.  Open windows and doors when weather permits.  Use outdoor venting fans in the kitchen, bath and laundry room to eliminate odors, gases and moisture.
• Control the moisture in your home to control mold.  Mold can grow anywhere there is moisture, so dry any water-damaged areas within 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that evaporate at room temperature and are emitted by a wide variety of products.  Paints, varnishes, cleaning supplies and furnishings are just a few of the many products that can release VOCs into your home, both during use and while being stored.  When using any product that may release VOCs, be sure the area is well ventillated.  Use products such as paint that are low or no VOC whenever possible.
• Change filters regularly on central heaters and air conditioners.
• The humidity of the air in your home can affect the concentrations of some indoor air pollutants.  The EPA recommends an indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent.  A moisture or humidity gauge can be used to test the indoor humidity level.  Use a vaporizer or humidifier to increase the humidity.  Humidity can be decreased by opening windows, turning on an air conditioner or adjusting the setting on a humidifier.
• Carbon monoxide is produced from fuel-burning appliances and carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal.  (See my recent post on carbon monoxide detectors).  Carbon monoxide detectors are as important in your home as smoke detectors, so install several if you haven’t already done so.  Also, be sure that all fuel-burning appliances are properly installed, used and maintained.

Follow these tips, take a deep breath and enjoy the fresh, clean air in your home.

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For many of us, decorating and lighting the Christmas tree every year is a highlight of the holiday season.  We welcome the chance to reconnect with family and friends and enjoy the beauty of the season.  Unfortunately, the unsafe placement, lighting and decorating of Christmas trees is responsible for fires that result in property damage, personal injury and even death each year.  So I think a few timely reminders about Christmas tree safety are in order.  (These tips follow recommendations from the National Fire Protection Association and the Home Safety Council.)

• A dry tree is a fire hazard.  Make sure your tree has plenty of water and add more water daily.  One to two inches should be cut from the tree base before putting it in a sturdy, non-tip stand.
• If you have an artificial tree, check to see that it is labeled as fire retardant by the manufacturer.
• The tree should be at least three feet away from any heat source, including fireplaces, heat vents, radiators, candles or lights.
• Never block an exit with your tree. 
• Locate your tree near an electrical outlet so no one trips over the electrical cord.  Thousands of people end up in hospital emergency rooms each year due to falls associated with holiday decorations.
• Check light strings thoroughly before putting them on the tree.  Connect no more than three strands of mini string sets and a maximum of fifty bulbs for screw in bulbs.  Follow manufacturer’s instructions for LED strands. 
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.
• Get rid of the tree when it begins dropping needles.  A dried-out tree should not be left in your home or garage or even placed against the outside of your home.  Check in your community to find a recycling program for your tree.

Lastly, if you haven’t checked your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms lately, take the time to do so now.  Enjoy a wonderful holiday season, safely.

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Do you have carbon monoxide detectors in your home?  One woman’s story of how a carbon monoxide detector saved her family’s life illustrates just how important these detectors can be.

I know of this story because I follow Shelley Holmes on Twitter (@WykehamGirl) and had been seeing her tweets about the days-long power outage she was living through in the northeast after the recent storms there.  Shelley was using a professionally installed generator for power at her home during this time.  Since the generator was feet away from the house, Shelley thought it was being used safely.  She was mistaken.  Carbon monoxide fumes from the generator had seeped into the foundation cracks of the house and were poisoning her family upstairs.  Only one of the two carbon monoxide detectors Shelley had in the house went off and she thought it wasn’t working properly because it stopped beeping when she moved it.  The other detector never went off.

Eventually the fire department was called.  They told Shelley to get the family out of the house immediately.  They all had to spend the night in an emergency shelter.  The house was unsafe to enter for 24 hours.  Shelley knows how fortunate her family is to have avoided a horrible tragedy.  Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and being exposed to it can cause death.  Now Shelley wants to share with people the importance of having both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

Here are the two questions I asked Shelley and her answers.

1) What do you want people to learn from the life threatening ordeal that you and your family experienced?

Strategic placement of carbon monoxide detectors in the home is essential, especially where combustion is involved.  One alarm per home is not enough!  In my home, I have installed two per floor! 

Even though appliances like a furnace, generator, woodstove, etc. are professionally installed, the risk potential of carbon monoxide poisoning is there.

Homes that are entirely electric should also have carbon monoxide detectors in case of fire.

Smoke detectors are also vital to have within the home!  Replace batteries for both types of alarms twice a year.

2)  What would you do differently in the situation you experienced?

Should any detector alarm go off, I will immediately get everyone, including myself, out of the house and call emergency services.

Shelley’s experience has had a profound effect on her and she is committed to spreading the word that both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be taken very seriously as the life saving home safety tools that they are.  She should know.

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Did you know that over six million residential burglaries occur in the U.S. each year?  If you’re heading out of town for the holidays, take a minute to review a few home security tips before you go. 

• Lock all your doors and windows, including the door from an attached garage into your home.  It seems like a no brainer, but almost half of residential burglaries are committed by entries through unlocked windows and doors, so lock up.
• Remove house keys from the “hidden” places outside your home.  Burglars know to look under doormats and flower pots for keys, so leave a key with a trusted neighbor instead.

• Put your interior and exterior lights on timers.  It should never be obvious that no one is home.
• If you have an alarm system, use it.  Make sure the shield from the alarm company is clearly visible outside your home, too.
• If you’re leaving your car parked in the driveway when you depart, make sure your garage door opener isn’t in the car.
• Ask a neighbor to pick up any newspapers or packages daily.  A pile of newspapers in the driveway is a sure sign to thieves the residents are away.
• Leave your window coverings in the usual position.  Your house should not look closed up.
• Never announce on your voicemail or answering machine message that you’re away from home.  That goes for social media, too.

Now all that’s left to do is have a safe, wonderful trip.

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With Thanksgiving approaching, it’s time to start thinking about holiday cooking.  As most Americans cook a turkey for their Thanksgiving Day meal, I think a quick refresher course on thawing and cooking the bird safely are in order.  Here are the food safety guidelines recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

For a Frozen Turkey:

• Allow one pound of turkey per person.
• Keep the turkey frozen until you’re ready to thaw it.
• To thaw your frozen turkey in the refrigerator, allow 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds and keep the refrigerator temperature at 40 degrees or below.  Allow 3 to 4 days for a 12 to 16 pound turkey and 4 to 5 days for a 16 to 20 pound turkey to adequately thaw.
• A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.
• Don’t forget to remove the bag of giblets from the inside of the turkey once it’s thawed.  These should be cooked separately.
• The USDA states that it is safe to cook a turkey that is still frozen, but it will take 50 percent longer for it to cook.  The giblets should still be carefully removed at some point during the cooking time.

For Roasting a Turkey:

• Oven temperature should be set no lower than 325 degrees F.
• While many of us have roasted a stuffed turkey in the past, this is no longer recommended.  Cook your stuffing separately in a casserole dish.  Use a food thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the stuffing reaches 165 degrees F.
• The internal temperature of the turkey should reach at least 165 degrees F for the whole turkey to be safe to eat.  Check this at the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast with a food thermometer.
• The temperature check described above should also be used even if your turkey already has pop-up temperature indicator just to be safe.
• Approximate times for cooking an unstuffed turkey are 3 to 3 3/4 hours for a 12 to 14 pounder and 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours for a 14 to 18 pound bird.

For Storing Leftovers:

• Any turkey, stuffing or gravy left out at room temperature longer than 2 hours should be thrown away. 
• Refrigerated turkey, stuffing and gravy should be used within 3 to 4 days.

Kitchen Safety Tip:

• Anything that comes into contact with raw turkey and its juices should be washed thoroughly with soap and water, including hands, dishes, utensils and the sink and countertop.

The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline can answer more questions about food safety.  Their number is 1-888-MPHotline. 

Enjoy a safe and delicious holiday meal.

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When I decided to post some timely tips about winterizing your home, I didn’t realize it would snow in October.   However, if you haven’t already performed some of these tasks around your home, it’s still not too late. 

Here’s a checklist to get you started:

• Check your furnace.  It should be serviced each year by a professional.  All flammable material should be removed from the area around your furnace.  Furnace filters should be checked monthly and changed regularly.
• Check your duct work where it’s exposed and repair any gaps.  Insulated ducts help keep air heated as it moves through unheated spaces in the attic or under the house.  Ducts should be thoroughly cleaned out at least every few years.  Dirt, animal fur and other debris collects in the ducts and can cause respiratory problems.
• Have your chimney inspected by a certified chimney sweep.  It’s a good idea to buy a protective chimney cap with a screen to keep out birds and rodents.
• Check around your house for obvious leaks.  Use weatherstripping around doors and caulk windows.  Masonry sealer can be used to seal leaks in brick areas.  Install storm windows if you have them.  Electrical outlets can also leak air and should be insulated with foam insulation gaskets.
• Add extra insulation to your attic.  You should have 12 inches of insulation in the attic.  If you have less than that, add more insulation on top of the insulation that’s already there. 
• Clean all gutters.  If rain and melting snow can’t drain properly, ice dams can form and cause water to seep into your home.  Downspouts should carry water at least ten feet away from the the foundation of the house. 
• Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.  Pipes that run through unheated spaces should be wrapped with pre-molded fiberglass sleeves or fiberglass insulation.
• Reverse the direction of your ceiling fan.  It will then push hot air downward keeping the room warmer.
• Check your smoke detectors and have extra batteries for them on hand.  It’s also a good idea to install a carbon monoxide detector next to your furnace.  If you don’t have a fire extinguisher or have an extinguisher older than ten years, buy a new one.

Finally, make sure you’re prepared for power outages.   Have batteries for flashlights, as well as candles and matches on hand.  Flameless candles are useful for extra lighting, especially if you have small children and are reluctant to use real candles. 

Stay warm and safe this winter.

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Halloween can be a time of fun-filled activity for kids and adults alike.  Many people enjoy decorating their yards with themed decorations, making costumes for themselves or their kids and preparing unique snacks for Halloween parties.  However, in the midst of all the fun, it’s worth thinking about a few safety tips so your fun evening doesn’t become a nightmare.

If you have children going trick or treating:

• Be sure each child has a flashlight or light stick so they are visible in the dark.
• Masks should have large enough eye holes to allow for peripheral vision.  Costumes should be fireproof and not long enough to trip on.  Any props should be flexible plastic or rubber to avoid injury.
• Young children should be supervised at all times.  If older kids are trick or treating without an adult, they should stay in a group and each should have a cell phone.  Know what route they’re taking and tell them not to deviate from that route.
• No child of any age should ever enter the home of someone they don’t know.
• Feed kids dinner before they go out so they won’t be tempted to gorge on candy.
• Warn kids that vandalism and animal abuse are totally unacceptable.

If you have pets:

• Halloween can be a stressful time for pets.  Your pets should be confined indoors and secured so they can’t run outside when the door is opened for trick or treaters.
• Keep pets away from candy.  Chocolate is toxic to cats and dogs and pets can choke on chewy candy and gum.
• Decorations can be hazardous to pets, especially candles.  Keep them away from these items.

If you’ve decorated the exterior of your home:

• Be sure there is a clear path to your front door and your decorations won’t be tripped over in the dark.
• Consider using flameless candles or battery operated lights for jack-o-lanterns and other outdoor decorations. 

If you’ll be driving:

• Drive slowly and pay extra attention to your surroundings, as kids will be everywhere.  This is not the time to use your cell phone.
• If you are dropping off kids and picking them up later, make sure your car is easily identifiable in the dark, perhaps by a lit decoration on your dashboard.

Have a safe and spooky Halloween!

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Ads for “gas-saving” products seem to be popping up everywhere these days.  Many consumers are seeking ways to improve the fuel efficiency of their vehicles, so I decided to do some research on whether any of these products have been found to actually work.

Some of the ads highlight glowing testimonials by satisfied customers touting fuel savings of 20 percent or more.   But as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) points out, few consumers have the ability or the equipment to test for precise changes in gas mileage after installing a gas-saving device.  Some products even claim to be approved by the federal government, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states on their website that there is no government agency that endorses gas-saving devices for cars.

Consumer Reports tested four products that claim to deliver better fuel economy: the Fuel Genie; TornadoFuelSaver; Platinum Gas Saver; and the Fuel Doctor FD-47.  None of these devices were found to work. 

Rather than spend money on gas-saving products that don’t work, get the most mileage from your current vehicle with better driving habits and proper vehicle maintenance.

• Drive at a moderate speed.  Aerodynamic drag increases at greater speeds, meaning it takes more fuel to power the car through the air.
• Having a roof rack or car-top carrier on your car reduces gas mileage.  At highway speeds, more than 50 percent of engine power goes toward overcoming aerodynamic drag, so reducing drag means increasing gas mileage.
• A cold car engine can reduce fuel economy by almost 4 mpg, according to Consumer Reports tests, so keep your engine warm by combining short trips whenever possible.
• Avoid idling, as it wastes fuel.

Keeping your car properly maintained with the oil changed regularly and the tires properly inflated is money well spent.  Buying gas saving products not proven to increase gas mileage is money wasted.  In the event you’ve bought a gas-saving product and are dissatisfied, the FTC says to contact the manufacturer and ask for a refund, even if the guarantee period has expired.  If you’re not satisfied with the company’s response, the FTC advises you to contact your state or local consumer protection agency or the Better Business Bureau.

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Conserving water saves money and lessens our impact on the environment.  Pumping and treating water requires energy.  In California, 6.5 percent of the energy used in the state is for pumping and treating water.

Here are some suggestions for changes we can all make that can save thousands of gallons of water a year. 

• Limit showers to five minutes and save up to 12,000 gallons of water a year.
• Use a nozzle on your garden hose.  An unrestricted hose flows at a rate of 12 gallons per minute.  A nozzle restricts the flow of water.
• The biggest water user in your home is your toilet.  Install water-efficient toilets and save 15,000 gallons of water a year.
• If you’re thinking of buying a new washing machine, consider a front-loading washer.  They use 35-50 percent less water than standard models.
• Install a high-efficiency shower head.  They keep water pressure high but can cut water use by up to 50 percent.
• If you wash fruits and vegetables under running water, use a bowl instead.  It saves water.
• Water lawns before sunrise or after sunset to minimize evaporation.
• Dish washers and clothes washers should be run only when full.  It could save up to 1,000 gallons of water a month.
• Faucet leaks are huge water wasters.  Fixing leaky faucets could save 140 gallons of water per week.

Reverse osmosis water treatment units are popular in many parts of the country and they’re big water wasters.  They use up to 5 gallons of water for every gallon of purified water they produce. 

Dispose of hazardous materials properly.  One quart of oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water!  Our city has a hazardous waste disposal day every few months when residents can take hazardous waste to a city disposal facility.  Check the website for your town or city for information on hazardous waste disposal.

For years we were told to flush old prescription medications down the toilet.  Now traces of all kinds of meds have been found in drinking water.  Do not flush your old meds.

If you have a pool, check it regularly for leaks and consider using a pool cover.  Here in Arizona, many of us couldn’t get through the sweltering summers without our pools, but they can waste a lot of water.  Pools lose thousands of gallons of water a year through evaporation.  Undetected leaks can waste even more water.  So do what you can to conserve the water in your pool.

Even the smallest changes can make a significant impact on your water usage, so make a few changes today. 

www.srpnet.com

www.wateruseitwisely.com/region/arizona/

www.monolake.org/about/waterconservation

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