7 Ways to Protect Your Home and Family this Hurricane Season

Last updated on March 2nd, 2018 at 04:06 pm

Homeowner Tapes WindowsPost-hurricane, you always meet two types of people: Those who’ve gotten hit severely and wonder what they could have done differently, and those who’ve avoided damage — thanks to luck or solid preparation.

After Hurricane Sandy last year, Ira Pastor, an IT professional living in Merrick, N.Y., was unfortunately the first type. “We didn’t really prep,” he admits. “I never thought anything would happen.” But during Sandy, Pastor found himself huddling with his family in the dark — his house was flooding and electrical wires snapped and hissed outside. By the end of the storm, Pastor didn’t recognize his neighborhood anymore. Now, eight months later, he is still cleaning up. “I think we’re going to sell our house,” he says. “It just doesn’t pay to live here anymore.”

Climatologists predict that the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season, which began in June and ends in November, will likely be extremely active. Do these seven things now to protect your home and family, and you’ll avoid ever finding yourself in Pastor’s predicament.

1. Get impact-resistant windows.

It only takes a Category 1 storm (winds of 74 mph) to break a regular window, but impact-resistant windows can withstand hurricanes of the highest classification, Category 5 (winds exceeding 156 mph). That’s because they’re made of laminated glass (an interlayer is permanently bonded between two pieces of glass, forming a barrier that protects against hurricane-force winds) and heavy-duty, reinforced steel frames that hold the windows in place.

Cost: Around $1,000 per window

2. Install a storm door and windows.

If impact-resistant windows seem a bit too pricy, a more affordable solution is to install storm windows over your current ones, as well as a storm door. Both feature heavy weather-stripping to reduce air infiltration; a stabilizer bar runs along the middle for extra strength. Most door manufacturers sell pre-hung doors in kits so installation is easy. The kits include all the hardware you need to install the door, such as hinges, pneumatic closers and latches.

Cost: Around $75 per window, $300 per door

3. Reinforce your garage door.

About 80 percent of residential hurricane damage starts when wind enters through garage doors, according to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. To keep you and your kids safe, consider replacing your garage door system with an impact-resistant one or hire a contractor to add struts, sturdier rollers, hinges and braces for additional strength.

Cost: Around $1,200 to replace garage door system, $600 to hire a contractor to reinforce your garage door

4. Secure your roof.

Your roof’s ability to withstand high winds depends on its shape. Gable-end roofs (aka triangular) are more susceptible to damage than hip-shaped or flat roofs. If your house has a gable-end roof, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes recommends you check that it’s braced properly. To do this, go to your attic and see if the gable end has been reinforced with any framing boards. Properly braced boards should connect back to roof trusses or framing boards to create horizontal or diagonal support, like this. If your roof is not properly braced, hire a contractor to do the work.

Cost: Around $100 per gable end

5. Get a standby generator.

One downed power line can leave you in the dark for days, unless you invest in an automatic standby generator. Wired directly into your home’s electrical system and fueled by natural or LP gas, a standby generator reacts instantly to power loss, safely switching from utility to generator power. When the power is back, it shuts itself off and returns to standby mode.

An added benefit: Properly installed units don’t pose a carbon monoxide poisoning risk, unlike other gas-powered heating alternatives that use oil, kerosene, wood, propane and charcoal.

Cost: $2,000 to $15,000, depending on number of watts (can range from 8,000 to 60,000)

6. Stock up on emergency supplies.

The American Red Cross recommends that you store at least three days’ worth of food, water and supplies in an easy-to-carry emergency kit (in case of evacuation), and a two-week supply at home in case stores are closed and you cannot leave the affected area. Supplies should include a flashlight, radio, first-aid kit, medications, batteries, personal documents, cell phone, emergency contact info, cash, emergency blanket and a map. Remember to check your supplies every six months and replace outdated items.

Cost: Varies, depending on number of family members and age of kids

7. Inventory your stuff.

Finally, if you ever do incur damage during a storm, an inventory of all your stuff will speed up the insurance claim process afterward. If you haven’t already, create or update your inventory and store it in a safe place away from home. Get started at the Insurance Information Institute’s KnowYourStuff.org.



July 18, 2013 | Filed Under Community | 1 Comment 

Happy 4 Year Bloggiversary Pediatric Safety!!

Last updated on March 2nd, 2018 at 04:07 pm

Happy Birthday PedSafeWe can’t believe it’s been four years since the launch of Pediatric Safety. We started out as this little site on blogger with these huge dreams of raising awareness of the dangers little kids faced when being transported on ambulances. Because there was no way to safely secure them, we had 1.8 million children under 5 years old being transported each year by ambulances; over 5 thousand ambulance crashes a year; resulting in an average of 4 child fatalities per year. And no-one knew about this or talked about this – unless they were involved in emergency services. Most parents had no idea…after all, who was going to tell them it wasn’t safe?

So we started PedSafe to tell this story…to raise awareness, gather some momentum for change and hopefully start saving some kids lives! It didn’t take long to realize that we couldn’t do it on our own. We’d have to go out and look for support and ask all the people who care– the parents and doctors and nurses and emergency responders and teachers…basically everyone who cares about kids – for help. And as we started talking and tweeting and looking for help we realized there was a whole world of child health and safety issues that people wanted and needed to talk about – needed to depend on each other to support them through – and if we worked together, we could make this into something so much more than where we started.

PedSafe girls Square Button Final

And so, on July 17, 2009 Pediatric Safety was born – a community for everyone who cares about the health and safety of kids. We created an Awareness section to communicate the latest news; a Community area with a forum where folks can get together, exchange stories and ask questions; an Innovations section where some very creative parents and caregivers could show off the inventions they created to keep kids healthy and safe…and an Involvement section where our cause – ANSR for Kids (Ambulances Need Safety Regulations) – could find a home.

Since our launch, we’ve had the fortune to meet and work with some wonderful folks – a pediatrician, a nurse and child safety expert, a family psychologist, a water safety specialist, a family dentist, an EMS safety specialist and a special needs parenting expert – all of whom volunteered their time to help make this site a community where you can find answers and hopefully give answers to others when they need them. Together we’ve shared over seven hundred posts and eight thousand tweets about child health and safety. At its heart, Pediatric Safety is a place where people can support each other – the village needed to raise a child. If we’ve been able to accomplish even a little of that, then this has been 4 years well spent.

So…in honor of these 4 years together, we’re going to publish 4 of our favorite posts from the past – one each Friday – for the next 4 weeks. Thank you friends – for taking this journey with us!  And please, if there’s something more we can be doing for you going forward, let us know. We look forward to sharing the days ahead.

With love and gratitude,

Stefanie and Audra

July 17, 2013 | Filed Under Awareness, PedSafe Announcements | 5 Comments 

Child Health & Safety News Roundup: 07-08-2013 to 07-14-2013

Last updated on March 2nd, 2018 at 04:07 pm

twitter thumbWelcome to Pediatric Safety’s weekly “Child Health & Safety News Roundup”- a recap of the past week’s child health and safety news headlines from around the world.

Each day we use Twitter to communicate relevant and timely health and safety information to the parents, medical professionals and other caregivers who follow us. Occasionally we may miss something, but we think overall we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping you informed. But for our friends and colleagues who are not on Twitter (or who are but may have missed something), we offer you a recap of the past week’s top 15 events & stories.

PedSafe Headline of the Week:

 Talking to kids about healthy relationships can help them steer clear of abuse http://t.co/2hEszwUITA  great tips worth reading!

July 16, 2013 | Filed Under Awareness | 1 Comment 

Food Peer Pressure and Your Family: Helpful Strategies

Last updated on August 29th, 2015 at 10:32 pm

I’ve been conducting my very own, very unofficial behavioral eating lab here at the house now that it’s summer. And it all started with a question from my 8 year old, Hannah…

Food peer pressure“Mommy, why don’t you buy those super processed, full of additives already- put-together lunches of meat, cheese and crackers?” (OK, so she didn’t say that, but I can’t say the brand, so you guess). Me: “Um, I like to make things for your lunch that is closer to the way God made them and those are not.” Hannah: “Well, all my friends have them and I feel like I am the only one that doesn’t get to eat them.” (Moment of silence while I was thinking about the best way to handle this situation.) Me: “How about we make our own, one-of-a-kind lunch kit? We can do some meat, cheese and crackers, and even add some more good stuff to the mix. It will be fun!” Hannah: “OK, but can you make it look like the super-processed, full of additives already put together lunch (again, she said the brand name)?” Me: “OK!”

I know I am not a mom on a deserted island here. There are several families out there that are health-minded, committed to focusing on whole foods that have to deal with this type of scenario. And unfortunately, other well-educated, well-intentioned parents are breaking down and choosing these lunch kits for convenience, but some even get them because of – well, let’s call it was it is – it’s food peer pressure. Kids don’t want to feel like they are left out and parents will save them from feeling that way at all costs. I get that. But think of these types of situations as teaching opportunities for our children. Just like anything in life, we need to resist the tendency to go with the flow just because so many others are doing something. I see children as young as Hannah’s age getting smartphones! Just because our family may be able to afford getting her a smartphone, doesn’t mean we will do it. We need to stick with our principles in parenting. This is no different. It’s not always the easier road, but it’s the right road.

Kids are not the only ones that are affected by food peer pressure. My husband has been the brunt of male co-worker jokes for eating healthy at a past employer. They were all overweight and out of shape; and they ate what they thought was considered “men food” (greasy, high fat foods). Luckily, Jeff didn’t care what they thought. Now he works somewhere that has a much healthier environment. They don’t commune for high fat group lunches, and there is a great gym that he goes and works out at regularly at lunch time. What influences do you encounter at home or work, or even lunch with friends? Are you undergoing positive or negative peer pressure when it comes to healthy eating?

Positive Food Peer Pressure

Back to my in-home behavioral eating lab. Studies and experts say that kids eat healthier when they eat with their friends. I have been studying it for myself. There have indeed been many occasions where peer pressure has helped the group of kids eat better. One time we were at our neighbor’s house having dinner and I was bragging to my neighbors about how Evan loves broccoli. His friend overheard me bragging on him, and he said, “I love broccoli, too!”  The other kids chimed in one by one and said that they, too, loved broccoli. It resulted in a competition of who could eat more broccoli at dinner.

Today, another situation occurred that reminded me I needed to make this blog post. We had one of Hannah’s friends over for lunch and I presented a super colorful plate of raw vegetables in the center of the table along with some low-fat dip. I said, “Hmm…I’m trying to figure out who likes super power foods more?” All the kids chimed in, “Me!” “Me!” “Me!” And they proceeded to devour the entire plate of veggies. As they ate, I explained how they were making their bodies super strong and smart. That seemed to encourage them more. Hannah’s friend asked for more grape tomatoes so I had to refill the supply!

So you can use food peer pressure to your advantage. Stay strong and encouraged to choose whole foods that can also be convenient and quick to prepare like the pre-packaged stuff. Set a positive peer example for the sake of your children, family and friends!

July 11, 2013 | Filed Under Community | 5 Comments 

Child Health & Safety News Roundup: 07-01-2013 to 07-07-2013

Last updated on March 2nd, 2018 at 04:08 pm

twitter thumbWelcome to Pediatric Safety’s weekly “Child Health & Safety News Roundup”- a recap of the past week’s child health and safety news headlines from around the world.

Each day we use Twitter to communicate relevant and timely health and safety information to the parents, medical professionals and other caregivers who follow us. Occasionally we may miss something, but we think overall we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping you informed. But for our friends and colleagues who are not on Twitter (or who are but may have missed something), we offer you a recap of the past week’s top 20 events & stories.

PedSafe Headline of the Week:

Treating kids’ fever properly: http://t.co/NYW6nUmP17
Most caregivers mistakenly believe fever will have harmful effects on children

July 9, 2013 | Filed Under Awareness | Leave a Comment 

Child Health & Safety News Roundup: 06-24-2013 to 06-30-2013

Last updated on March 2nd, 2018 at 04:09 pm

twitter thumbWelcome to Pediatric Safety’s weekly “Child Health & Safety News Roundup”- a recap of the past week’s child health and safety news headlines from around the world.

Each day we use Twitter to communicate relevant and timely health and safety information to the parents, medical professionals and other caregivers who follow us. Occasionally we may miss something, but we think overall we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping you informed. But for our friends and colleagues who are not on Twitter (or who are but may have missed something), we offer you a recap of the past week’s top 15 events & stories.

PedSafe Headline of the Week:

Please: ask if there is a gun where your child plays ow.ly/mjnVz
Important article…Please Read!

July 2, 2013 | Filed Under Awareness | Leave a Comment