Men of a Certain Age

I am a firm believer in taking good care of your health.  For those of us that are over 50 years old, our doctor will likely recommend a colonoscopy, at least every five years.  The following is a column that Dave Barry, a Pulitzer Prize-winning humor columnist for the Miami Herald from 1983 to 2005, wrote about his first time going through this procedure.  If you don’t think this is funny you’d better check your pulse!

Colonoscopy Journal: 
  
I called my friend Andy Sable, a gastroenterologist, to make an appointment for a colonoscopy.

A few days later, in his office, Andy showed me a color diagram of the colon, a lengthy organ that appears to go all over the place. 

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Cooking and Kitchen Safety - Fire Prevention

We have had numerous kitchen fires to respond to. One in particular was extinguished rapidly by a fast thinking and fast acting young lady. She knew in advance what to do so when she had to she jumped into action saving the home from any major structural damage and herself from any harm.

I know that just reading the above may not help you so please read the below and visit the linked site so you too will be properly prepared:

Cooking Safety

Families spend a lot of time in the kitchen. It is often the favorite place to be together. But many injuries can happen there. To stay safe when you are cooking and eating, here are some tips. http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/SafetyGuide/sg_cooking_w001.asp

Thanks, and stay safe!

Peter Kanavas - Contents Department Manager

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

 

I just got back from a wonderful trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. My husband and I have been before about 4 years ago and we always wanted to go back with family and friends so we finally did. We took my sister and brother-in-law and their 2 boys who are 5 and 8, my cousin and her husband, and our friends Eddie and Jennifer and their 4 year old daughter. We spent about a week in the parks and we had perfect weather almost the entire time. The sky was clear and blue and the fall colors were at their peak. We love these parks and were excited to share them with everyone. Here are a few highlights from our trip...

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Georgia Winter Weather Awareness Week: December 6-10, 2010

Winter storms are considered “deceptive killers” because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. Seventy percent of fatalities related to ice and snow occur in automobiles, and approximately twenty-five percent of all winter-related fatalities are people caught off-guard in the storm. Prolonged exposure to extreme cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia. Powerful winter storms can also have thunderstorms associated with them. These storms can dump as much as three inches of snow or one inch of ice in an hour.  So how can you prepare for winter weather? Here are a few tips.

• Monitor radio/TV or NOAA Weather Radio.


• Stay inside. Long exposure to cold increases the risk of frostbite or hypothermia.


• If you must go out, dress in layers.


• Avoid overexertion. The strain from the cold may cause a heart attack and sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.


• Keep your gas tank at least half full.


• Drive with caution and carry a disaster supplies kit in your trunk.


• Have an alternative emergency heating source, such as a fireplace or wood stove. Use appropriate safeguards and have proper ventilation.


• Make sure your home is properly insulated.


• To keep pipes from freezing, wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers, cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture, let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing, and know how to shut off water valves.

Disaster Preparedness Tips

For Families:

• Make sure your family has a plan in case of an emergency. Before an emergency happens, sit down together and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go and what you will do in an emergency.


• Determine a neighborhood meeting place, a regional meeting place and an evacuation location.

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Disaster Preparedness Quiz

1.  How much water per person per day should your disaster supply kit have?

A. One gallon
B. One liter
C. Two gallons
D. Twelve ounces

The answer is A - one gallon per person per day for at least three days.
  
2. Which of the following is not a safe water source in the home?

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National Preparedness Month September 2010

 

This September is the seventh annual National Preparedness Month.  NPM 2010 will focus on changing perceptions about emergency preparedness and will help Americans understand what it truly means to be ready and how preparedness goes beyond fire alarms, smoke detectors, and extra food in the pantry.

Learn more about making a disaster supply kit, making a family emergency plan, staying informed and how you can get involved!

Champion Responds to Stockbridge Fire

 

    On August 14th, a fire ripped through a Stockbridge, GA home destroying almost everything in it's path. The fire was started by a lightning strike in the back of the house. Paul Samuelvich from Champion Construction Systems, Inc. was on the seen to board up the few windows and doors that remained.

How to Communicate With Your Insurance Company

The following is excellent advice from the organization United Policyholders. They are a consumer advocate group. This information is directly from their website www.unitedpolicyholders.com  I have highlighted some things that Champion has been telling customers for years.

Speak Up - How to communicate with your insurance company:

Effectively communicating with your insurance company is an incredibly important part of the claims process. Many insurance companies will try to handle your claim by telephone, with no records. You must make sure that everything in the claim gets documented in writing. How you communicate makes a world of difference in the amount of benefits you collect and how fast you collect them. We recommend that you:

1. Document every communication with your insurance company in a notebook or diary so you can keep track of the status of your claim.

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Atlanta Area Events August 2010

August 1st:

American Idol Live! at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Atlanta

August 4th - 8th:

Cats at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta

August 5th:

Sugarland at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta

August 9th:

Justin Bieber My World Tour at The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Atlanta

August 11th:

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Crosby, Stills and Nash at Philips Arena in Atlanta

August 11th:

The Wiggles at The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Atlanta

August 24th - 29th:

Sound of Music at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta