Organizing for Safety – Part 5

Posted on 05/10/2013 by Joyce

Continuing from last Friday’s post, here are more ideas on organizing to create a safe driving experience…

Twice yesterday someone almost hit me. They switched lanes quickly – and my guess is they did so without doing a “shoulder check.” Turning your head and double checking before switching lanes is vital. Relying on the side and rear view mirrors may cause a problem due to blind spots; smaller vehicles and motorcycles can get overlooked.  

I notice it’s usually folks on cell phones who switch lanes without doing a shoulder check – and/or using their turn signals. Cell phones can make driving safer, but only if they are kept in your purse or briefcase and used for emergencies. Driving while talking on a cell phone has been banned in many states in the US, and other countries.

We’re all very aware of the safety benefits of driving with a seatbelt. In addition to making sure you’re buckled in before beginning to drive – make sure if you have passengers they are buckled in before you start out. 

Another good safety tip: get in the habit of always using your turn signals, whether they are needed or not. Establishing good habits is the best way to make sure you carry out safety behaviors all the time. Think of using your turn signals as communicating to other drivers. Leave the turn signal on for five or six rotations – not just two. This gives the other drivers time to notice and adjust – and warn you, if needed.

Another good safety tip: slow down when the traffic light turns to yellow – rather than speed up and through. It’s a good opportunity to practice being patient.  : )  It’s also a smart habit to cultivate because you may get a ticket or in an accident. And just a mention – technology that takes a photo when you run a red light is on the increase. 

More next week on Organizing for Safety.

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Organizing for Safety – Part 4

Posted on 05/03/2013 by Joyce

Today’s post is a continuation of organizing to create safety in your life. To create a more safe driving experience, it’s a good idea to review safety tips from time to time – whether you are a new driver or a more experienced one. 

Most of us take for granted the tires and lights on our car are in good shape and in working order. To be safe, before driving take a quick look. Also, make sure windows are clean and visible, and that nothing is in the way of your vision. And make sure your windshield wipers are wiping well and you have plenty of fluid.

If you’re going on a long trip, it’s especially important to review these items, however it’s a good idea to check each time you drive. Statistics show most accidents happen closest to home. 

When you get in the car, make sure all mirrors are set in place for optimal vision. This is especially important if you share the car with other drivers. 

And if you do share the car with other drivers, make sure the driver’s seat and driving wheel are set in the best positions before you begin to drive. Give yourself a few extra minutes to carry out these activities. Trying to adjust the mirrors, etc., while you’re driving can be very distracting. Getting distracted for a second or two causes the majority of accidents.

Think of all the things that can distract you for a just a second or two – fiddling with the radio, talking on a cell phone (dialing, answering), sending and receiving text messages, and more. 

Another cause of accidents is driving in an upset emotional state. Just a moment or two of upset can cause a huge problem. Don’t let other drivers get the best of you. Make an effort to breeeeathe deeply and stay calm.  And be sure to allow yourself enough time to reach your destination. This is really important in creating a safe, calm driving experience.

See you next Friday with more ideas about organizing for safe driving.

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Organizing for Safety – Part 3

Posted on 04/26/2013 by Joyce

Continuing from last week; more ideas on organizing for safety…

~ Shred documents: A crosscut shredder is best. Shred credit card solicitations and anything else that has information that could cause a problem if it got in the hands of some unsavory character. The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year.

~ If you are getting too many solicitations in the mail, consider opting out. Go to www.optoutprescreen.com. You will no longer receive offers for credit cards – which creates less of an opportunity for someone to steal and a need for you to shred. If you are concerned about the security of your mail or are not present to receive it, consider getting a locking mailbox.

~ Photocopy everything that’s in your wallet – in the event you lose it or it’s stolen. Make sure you have a list in your files of all your credit cards and the numbers to call. Don’t carry checks in your wallet or purse. (And of course, never carry your social security number.)

~ Write on the back of your credit cards “Request ID.”

~ Keep tabs on your credit card accounts online: check them regularly, and set up email alerts. 

~ Create folders for your credit/debit accounts. Put the original account agreement and welcome kits in them and all subsequent updates and bills.

~ Check your free credit report on a regular basis.

~ Do not use debit cards. Or if you do, use them places where you have a relationship with a merchant you trust. Don’t use them in convenience stores, and certainly not in the “bad parts of town.” If someone steals your information, it’s much more difficult to get the money returned than with credit cards.

~ Make sure and reconcile your bank statements regularly.

~ Create folders for every bank account. Keep all statements and account agreements in them for ready access.

~ And a reminder: be careful to whom you give any personal information whether it is over the phone or the Internet. 

More about Organizing for Safety next week.

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Organizing for Safety – Part 2

Posted on 04/19/2013 by Joyce

Continuing from last week’s post; more ideas in regard to organizing a safe environment: 

If you or your family members have difficulty walking or are disabled, consider paving the walkway from street to door – so it’s wheelchair accessible as well as easier to negotiate with a walker. This is, of course, especially important during the winter months. Keeping salt on hand for the walkways is also important, to eliminate snow and ice, and to reduce the potential for slipping and falling.

Inside your home, make sure fire extinguishers are readily available in the kitchen and anywhere else a fire would likely start. Make sure you have the right kinds of extinguishers, and they are in good working order (full) and not expired. And make sure everyone knows where the fire extinguishers are stored and how to use them. Read the directions and become familiar with them. Practice using them outside some time, so if/when the need arises, it’s not the first time they’re being operated. Fire extinguishers can only be used once, so before practicing make sure you have others on hand.

Take a few minutes and review the keys on your keychain and only keep the ones you use. If you cannot figure out what some of the keys are for – remove them and put them aside in a safe place you’ll remember. I suggest putting them in an envelope and dating it. Let some time (like a year or more) pass and then let go of ones that are out of date.

It’s good to review the keys on your keychain and only keep the ones you use because otherwise it’s hard to find what you need when you need it. Also, the weight of the keys can affect the steering column in your car. If you need to carry a lot of keys, buy one an “easy release” mechanism that allows you to detach the majority of your keys from the one key that’s used in the ignition. 

Also, have backup keys made if you only have one for some particular lock and it would greatly inconvenience you if you lost it. 

Remember: “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” JFK

See you next week with more ideas on Organizing for Safety.

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Organizing for Safety – Part 1

Posted on 04/12/2013 by Joyce

From time-to-time it’s wise to review how you’re organizing to create safety in life. 

On my last blog post I talked about organizing your important papers and placing them in a fire-flood proof safe that is positioned on one of the lower levels of your home or business. As mentioned, at the least, it’s a good idea to have a file cabinet that locks.

The reason this is that family and friends may have access. While we all hope our friends and family are honest, the statistic bear out that unfortunately it is those closest to us who sometimes become dishonest at our expense. This is most often the case when an individual has substance abuse issues, which often aren’t recognized for a variety of reasons. The simplest way to protect yourself and keep the peace in your family is that when organizing, make sure your important papers and possessions are locked up. That way there are no temptations.

Another important safety tip in regard to family members is to have a list of all their doctors, medications, vitamins and supplements – in the event they have a health crisis and cannot speak for themselves. This is especially helpful with elderly family members. If you live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as I do, there is a larger than usual number of elderly folks. When organizing, be aware that as people age there are certain preparations and precautions that are important to take. Among them:

Review heart attack and stroke signs and symptoms, and how to respond in case of an emergency. And make decisions who – in addition to 911 – you would call in case of an emergency.

Also, it’s important to spend some time organizing the environment you’re in and the things you habitually use to make sure they’re safe. The steps pictured above may or may not be safe – depending on who’s using them, when, and for what reasons.

See you next week with more ideas about Organizing for Safety.

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Organizing Your Important Papers – Part 2

Posted on 04/05/2013 by Joyce
Continuing from last week’s post about organizing your important papers…
 
Ask yourself: what else comes to mind that’s vital or important to have stored in a safe place if a fire or flood occurs? This leads to the next question: do you have a fire-flood proof safe? If not, it’s a good idea to get one. If possible, position the safe on one of the lower floors of your home or business. 
 
I have a client who knew of a situation where a house burned down and the safe was positioned on the third floor. It fell to the ground and was destroyed – as were the contents.
 
Where are your important papers stored and are they safe? At the least, it’s a good idea to have a file cabinet that locks.
 
That concludes the “physical” part of organizing your important papers, now a bit about the mental/emotional aspects…
 
Organizing on this level is demanding not just because it takes time, it’s because you are psychologically facing some very uncomfortable truths – that you and your loved ones won’t be here one day. Most people don’t like to think about this reality, and that’s why taking time to organize papers doesn’t seem important when there are always more pressing matters.
 
A couple weeks ago I saw a car accident; one of the drivers was killed. The other day I learned that a friend of mine (age 52) suddenly died. Those events impressed upon me that it’s not just when we’re elderly that the paperwork needs to be in order.
 
However, with that said, engaging in this process does become a more pressing issue with age. If you are elderly, it’s a good idea to have copies of your Advanced Health Care Directive with you when you travel, as well as other important contact information.
 
Unfortunately there’s no magic wand that will get this done – schedule some time on your calendar and start the process….
 
See you next week!
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