Summertime means Vacation Time...Safe Travel Tips

Check out these Safe Travel Preparedness Tips: How to Be Ready When On The Go from FEMA.gov...

Before you leave

• Know your destination’s vulnerability to natural disasters (hurricanes, storm surges, earthquakes, flooding, wild fires etc) and be alert.
• For young children, make an identification card stating the family name, hotel and phone number, including your name and cell phone number. Use a safety pin to attach it to a piece of their clothing. If they wander off, someone will be able to identify them. If you have little children who don’t know your name or your cell phone number, write your cell number on their arm with a permanent marker. You can get really creative with magic markers for short day trips.
• Pack a travel-size emergency supply kit with water, snacks, a first-aid kit, flashlight, small battery-operated radio, extra batteries and an emergency contact card with names and phone numbers.
• Pack extra supplies of critical items, such as prescription medications and baby formula, in case your return is delayed by a disaster.
• Make copies of all essential documents: passports, prescriptions (write down both the generic and the name brand names for your medications), ID’s, insurance cards, etc. Laminate if possible!
• Let family and friends know your itinerary and how to reach you.

READ MORE TIPS FROM FEMA

July 31st is National Heat Stroke Prevention Day

Don’t think heatstroke could happen to your child? It only takes a few minutes for a car to heat up and become deadly to a child. See how it happens in this video.

Top Tips

Reduce the number of deaths from heatstroke by remembering to ACT.

A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so kids don’t get in on their own.

C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.

T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

Learn More

Learn more about heatstroke and other areas of safety in and around cars, including car seat safety, booster seat safety and seat belt safety; driveway safety; how to avoid getting trapped in the trunk; and how to prepare teens and preteens for driving before they get behind the wheel.

Metro Atlanta Events for August 2014

August 9th - 17th: Downtown Restaurant Week

August 14th: Brad Paisley: Country Nation World Tour at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood

August 15th & 16th: Atlanta BBQ Festival at Atlantic Station

August 17th: Mary Poppins Sing Along at the Fox Theatre Atlanta

August 16th & 17th: Piedmont Park Arts Festival

August 23rd & 24th: Grant Park Summer Shade Festival

August 29th - 31st: Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival at Callaway Gardens

August 28th: Aerosmith: Let Rock Rule at Philips Arena

Sleep...how to get enough.

“… Sufficient sleep is not a luxury—it is a necessity—and should be thought of as a vital sign of good health.” - Wayne H. Giles, MD, MS, Director, Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

No doubt about it, sleep is important. It effects our health, our relationships and nearly everything we do.

So how can you get a good night's rest? Here are some tips from the CDC...

• Go to bed at the same time each night, and rise at the same time each morning.
• Sleep in a quiet, dark, and relaxing environment, which is neither too hot nor too cold.
• Make your bed comfortable and use it only for sleeping and not for other activities, such as reading, watching TV, or listening to music.
• Remove all TVs, computers, and other "gadgets" from the bedroom.
• Avoid large meals before bedtime.

Atlanta Water Damage Clean Up

Disaster Preparedness for Older People

Check out this great article from ReadyGA about disaster preparedness for older people...

If you are one of the almost 800,000 Georgians over age 65, emergency planning should reflect your unique needs. Surviving tomorrow’s disaster often depends on the preparation made today.

Beverly and Randy helped their elderly mother prepare for emergencies. Now they don't have to worry about her safety in the event of a disaster:

Prepare
Start with the basic Ready kit items, then add supplies to meet your unique daily needs:

• Extra eyeglasses, hearing aids and hearing aid batteries, wheelchair batteries and oxygen.
• Extra medications and copies of all prescriptions, in case there is no access to a drugstore or medical facility. Include dosage and a list of allergies.
• Contact information for your doctors; copies of Medicare cards insurance.
• Copies of important documents in a watertight container:
  • Family records, wills, power of attorney documents, deeds, bank information, tax records, cash or travelers checks, names and contact information of your support network

Plan
Next, determine any special assistance you may need, and include in your emergency plan.

• Create a support network of family, friends and others who can assist you during an emergency, and share your disaster plans with them. Practice your plan with them.
  • Make sure they have an extra key to your home, know where you keep your emergency supplies and how to use lifesaving equipment or administer medicine.
• If you undergo routine treatments administered by a clinic or hospital, find out their emergency plans and work with them to identify back-up service providers.
• If you have a communication-related disability, note the best way to communicate with you.
• Don’t forget your pets or service animals. Not all shelters accept pets, so plan for alternatives.
  • Consider loved ones or friends outside of your immediate area
  • Prepare a Ready kit for your pet

READ MORE TIPS...

Playground Safety Tips

Here are some great tips about playground safety from SafeKids.org:

Falls are the most common type of playground injury, accounting for more than 75 percent of all playground-related injuries. Lack of or improper supervision is associated with approximately 45 percent of playground-related injuries.

• Actively supervise children on playgrounds.
• Take your kids to playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces such as rubber, synthetic turf, sand, pea gravel, wood chips or mulch. If your child falls, the landing will be more cushioned than on asphalt, concrete, grass or dirt.
• Dress appropriately for the playground. Remove necklaces, purses, scarves or clothing with drawstrings that can get caught on equipment and pose a strangulation hazard.
• Teach children that pushing, shoving or crowding while on the playground can be dangerous.

READ MORE SAFETY TIPS

"Brand New Belongings" House Burn and Space Heater Safety Tips

Hotel Preparedness

Beat the Summer Heat

Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.

Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.

Spend more time in air-conditioned places.

Eat well-balanced, light, and regular meals.

Drink plenty of water.

Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.

Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.

Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.

Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day.