Keep Your Family Warm AND Safe: The Best Present You Can Give

Last updated on September 12th, 2015 at 10:46 pm

Its winter, those words do not strike fear into the hearts of many down here in sunny south Florida, but as for the rest of the country, I am sure it means a whole lot more. No matter where you are or how cold your area may become, staying warm in the winter is a must and doing it in the safest possible way should be a priority for you and your family. According to the N.F.P.A. (National Fire Protection Agency) heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths. Almost half of home heating equipment fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February. Some simple steps can prevent most heating-related fires from happening.

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.
• Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.
• Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
• Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.
• Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
• Test smoke alarms monthly.
• Test Carbon Monoxide Monitors as well. Some heaters put off Carbon Monoxide.
• Have a Family Approved and Practiced Emergency escape and meet plan in case a Fire or other emergency should occur.

So as you can see, these are just a few tips to keep us all warm and safe through this winter season. Please feel free to add to this list and check your warming equipment every year before its put into use.

Thank you and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the beach here in Miami.

A Not So Shocking Holiday Season (tips to keep your family safe)

Last updated on September 13th, 2015 at 12:11 am

Halloween has just ended and now it’s time to take down the Halloween decorations and bring out the big light shows for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It seems to me that driving around every holiday season, I see more and more lights and inflatables and decorations and among all these things I see extension cords all over the place. I see them in trees, running across yards and roofs and even hooked up to neighboring houses. And that is not even mentioning what is plugged in on the inside of the house. While there is nothing wrong with putting up lights and decorations, there is a level of safety and awareness that goes along with our holiday decorating fun.

The website HolidaySafety.org has some great safety tips to keep in mind this coming holiday season:

Safety Tips

1. When using electricity outdoors, always plug extension cords into GFCI-protected outlets.
2. When working outdoors, use only weather-resistant, heavy gauge extension cords marked “for outdoor use.” These cords have added safeguards designed to withstand the outdoor environment.
3. Keep all outdoor extension cords and light strands clear of snow and standing water, and well protected from the elements.
4. Purchase cords from authorized retailers and check to see that they have been approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
5. Select a cord that is long enough to meet your needs. Never attempt to extend the length of an extension cord by connecting it with another extension cord.
6. Never use a cord that feels hot or is damaged in any way. Touching even a single exposed strand can result in an electric shock or burn.
7. Make sure the extension cord you use is rated for the products to be plugged in and is marked for either indoor or outdoor use.
8. Examine extension cords before each use. Cracked, frayed, or otherwise damaged cords should be replaced immediately.
9. Unplug and safely store after every use. Store cords indoors to keep them protected from damage caused by water and excessive heat.
10. Do not place extension cords in high traffic areas, under carpets or across walkways where they pose a potential tripping hazard.

We all want to have a safe and happy holiday season and put up our decorations, both inside and out, so taking just a little extra time and having a safe and well thought out electrical plan can help make happy memories this holiday season.

Know the Risks for Children: Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

Last updated on March 2nd, 2018 at 02:53 pm

Did you realize your dream of raising your family in an older home or urban area with “character”?

Do you have or oversee children in a school or daycare built before 1978?

Are you concerned about the health and welfare of kids living in older, disadvantaged (and often industrial) areas of your community?

Then you need to be concerned about lead poisoning.

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 20-26, 2013

Prevent lead poisoning. Get your home tested. Get your child tested. Get the facts!

Rates of childhood lead poisoning have fallen dramatically over the past few decades after the removal of lead from gasoline, yet it is still considered the most preventable environmental disease among young children, with approximately half a million U.S. children having elevated blood lead levels. Children under age 6 are most at risk for lead poisoning and its effects due to their rapidly developing bodies and brains and their tendency to put things in their mouth. According to Dolores Weis, Executive Director of Improving Kid’s Environment (IKE), an Indiana-based non-profit focused on reducing environmental health threats for children, contamination with just a small amount of lead can lead to permanent, lifelong health issues including behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity), slowed growth, hearing problems, and aggressive patterns of behavior. These are real and serious issues with effects felt across our society:

• Childhood lead poisoning can reduce IQ levels by 4-7 points and these deficits have been shown to persist through adulthood – meaning more kids needing special help to succeed in school and more adults who may struggle finding work in today’s high-skill economy
• Significant data now shows a strong correlation between childhood lead levels and adult violent crime rates, both across the U.S. and internationally – elimination of leaded gas has had a significant impact on reducing crime rates over the past 30 years

 A Legacy of Contamination

The biggest source of ongoing childhood lead poisoning is lead-based paint. “We have a legacy that must be addressed – the legacy of deteriorating lead-based paint” says Weis. And, as outlined in two videos produced by IKE and WFYI, central Indiana’s public TV station (with support from the Indiana and Marion County Public Health Departments), this is not just an issue for blighted neighborhoods, but is also a real risk for middle and higher-income families renovating an older home. These videos make the issue very clear and real and are worth the 15 minutes viewing time.

Contaminated soil is also a major source of childhood lead poisoning. “Lead dust gets into the soil around homes from paint on the house, windows and porches and children ingest the lead when playing in the yard or when leaded soil is tracked into the house on shoes” say Weis. Improving Kid’s Environment has received several EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) grants to do home lead testing and repairs and Weis notes that the highest soil lead levels are along the edges – or dripline – of houses, and close to roads where decades of leaded gas emissions have built-up. But it is important to be aware that lead contamination can be found in a variety of sources including those below.

Lead Exposure Sources:

Paint in homes, schools and daycares built before 1978.

Older painted playground equipment.

Water pumped through leaded pipes.

Imported items including clay pots and painted toys.

Certain consumer products such as candies, make -up and jewelry.

Certain imported home remedies.

What can you do?

 According to the CDC, “stopping a child’s exposure to lead from leaded paint, house dust, or any other source is the best way to prevent the harmful effects of lead.” Testing young children at high risk for lead poisoning is one important step and the CDC has a short checklist to help parents assess the risk to their family. Ideally testing should happen by age 1 or 2. However, there are a number of steps parents can take to minimize potential lead exposure:

• Talk to your state or local health department about getting your home/paint lead tested
• Inspect and maintain all painted surfaces to prevent paint deterioration
• Regularly wet-mop floors and wet-wipe window components
• Make sure your child does not have access to peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint
  • Close and lock doors to keep children away from chipping or peeling paint on walls and apply temporary barriers such as contact paper or duct tape, to cover holes in walls or other sources of lead
• Wash children’s hands, pacifiers and toys often
• Use only cold water to drink and prepare food or baby formula
• Do not use containers, cookware or tableware to serve or store food that are not certified lead-free
• Prevent children from playing in bare soil around your home
  • Plant shrubs next to the home and cover exposed soil with grass or mulch
• Teach children to wipe and remove their shoes and wash hands after playing outdoors
• Pregnant women and children should not be present in housing built before 1978 that is undergoing renovation
• Ensure that home renovation contractors are lead-safe certified and follow lead safe work practices

Finally, if your family has been contaminated with lead or you are concerned about possible exposure, make sure your children are eating frequent well-balanced meals containing rich sources of iron, calcium and vitamin C which together can help reduce the absorption and harmful effects of lead. This CDC brochure provides more detail on how a healthy diet and protect your children.

For more information on Improving Kid’s Environment’s efforts to alleviate health risks to children – or to make a needed donation for this important work – please visit IKE’s home page.

Preparing a Healthy Home for the Winter Months

Last updated on May 10th, 2018 at 06:53 pm

Back-to-school is a season for fresh starts — and that includes your home. At the first signs of spring, most of us open the windows and pull out the cleaning bucket for a full-on assault on dirt, dust and clutter. We should do the same at the start of fall, says cleaning expert Donna Smallin, author of Cleaning Plain and Simple and the One-Minute Cleaner. “Fall is when you’re going to be closing the windows and preparing to be cooped up for a few months – and you want to be cooped in a clean house.”

Here are Smallin’s essential fall cleaning tips:

Detox the Bathroom

Now’s the time to bring out the heavy-duty cleaning products that remove layers of soap scum and mildew in the shower and tub. With the bathroom window open, spray the cleaners inside the shower door, on the walls, and on the tile ceiling. Then walk away for a few minutes.

While your shower virtually cleans itself, take stock of what’s in your medicine cabinet. Toss out any old or expired medicines, lotions and makeup. Medications and sunscreens have expiration dates on the bottom – they usually have a shelf life of one or two years. Lotions last only a year. And to avoid contamination, you should replace eye makeup every six months.

Once you’re done, go back to the shower and tub and rinse with a hand-held shower nozzle. Or turn on the overhead showerhead and use a long-handled scrubbing wand to mop up the cleanser. Help keep things clean and fresh by using daily shower sprays.

Prep the Kitchen for Holiday Hosting

Two areas need special attention before the start of the holiday cooking and baking marathon: The outside of the cabinets and the inside of the fridge. Using paper towels or a clean dishcloth, rub wood cabinets with oil soap, and wipe knobs and pulls with straight vinegar. Completely empty the fridge and do a thorough cleaning with soapy dishwater or all-purpose spray cleaner. Take out the bins and wash in the sink with soapy water … but watch the temperature. Hot water can crack the plastic. Dry and line them with a paper towel before putting them back in.

Turn on the oven self-cleaner, and while it goes to work, drag the step stool over to the fridge. Armed with all-purpose cleaner and paper towels, scrub the top to get rid of built-up grime. Go through your pantry and gather up all the unopened food you know you won’t use to give to your local food pantry. (Anything you donate before the end of the year is a tax write-off, says Smallin.) While you’re at it, toss out any spices that have overstayed their welcome; check online for how long specific spices keep their potency.

Detail the Family Room

It’s time to face whatever’s lurking behind all your heavy furniture. Move everything away from the wall and wash the baseboards with oil soap. (The room will smell great!) Use a magic sponge to remove scuffmarks from the walls. Vacuum behind the curtains and between the cushions. And have your carpets professionally cleaned (or do it yourself) if it’s been a year or more.

Weather-proof Your Bedroom

Change out summer bedding and curtains for colder-weather ones. Wash everything before you store it for the season; dirty clothes can attract insects, according to Smallin. Bring out your fall and winter clothes, but before you put away your summer stuff, go through it carefully. Store only the things you loved wearing this past season, and donate the rest. And if you haven’t done it in the past year, clean the carpet – including inside the closets.

De-bug the Fixtures

Last but not least: Take down your lighting fixtures and ceiling fans, and see what’s been living inside them all summer. Bugs and spiders love it up there (guaranteed you’ll find a web or two), so give your fixtures a good wiping and cleaning.

5 Germ Hot Spots You Need to Clean for Family Health

Last updated on August 13th, 2015 at 06:20 pm

Home is where the heart is – not to mention the dirt, dust, bacteria and mold. “Most people clean what they can see, but there’s a lot more to cleaning a home than just wiping down your bureau,” says Richard Symes of Clenz Philly, an eco-friendly home and commercial cleaning service in New Jersey and Philadelphia. The payoff to a more thorough clean: better air quality, fewer allergy symptoms, a house you can show off to your guests, and best of all, peace of mind.

Here are five germ hot spots you’re probably missing when you clean, and the most powerful tools to add to your cleaning arsenal today.

Germ Hot Spot No. 1: Your Front Door

According to Symes, 85 percent of the germs and dirt in your house come in through the front door. Keep them out! Double-team them by placing a doormat outside your door and in your house. Shuffle your feet on the mat before you enter, then remove your shoes once inside.

Germ Hot Spot No. 2: Corners, Cracks and Creases

First, steel yourself. Then, look high — in ceiling corners, on top of shades, blinds and picture frames, and on the blades of ceiling fans — and you’ll find neglected dust. Next, look low — under baseboards, under furniture and in the corners of kitchens and bathrooms — and you’ll probably see colonies of dust bunnies and layers of dirt and grime. Don’t let them continue to thrive. Do a top-to-bottom house cleaning every other week (more frequently if you have kids and pets, especially shedders).

Germ Hot Spot No. 3: Beds and Furniture

Millions of microorganisms live in your mattress. Their dead cells and feces (you read right) are the No. 1 cause of allergies in a home, says Symes. Get your bed and pillows steam-cleaned once a year to sterilize your sleeping environment; wash sheets once a week and duvet covers once a month. Get your couches and upholstery professionally cleaned every six months to a year too. And don’t forget your curtains: wash or dry-clean them every few months. In between, lay them on the floor and vacuum lightly or do a couple of passes with a lint brush or lint roller.

Germ Hot Spot No. 4: Showerheads

Potentially disease-causing germs can get trapped in showerheads and grow into biofilm, a layer of slime that delivers a bacteria blast along with your hot water. Clean the showerhead with a wire brush every week and replace it every year to prevent germy buildup.

Germ Hot Spot No. 5: Sponges and Dishtowels

Moisture and bits of food on clingy surfaces make these common kitchen items a dangerous source of E. coli, salmonella and other virulent bacteria, not to mention yeasts and molds. Rinse sponges after every cleaning with soap and water, and disinfect them once or twice weekly by zapping them in the microwave for 60 seconds. Wash all towels weekly to avoid mold spores.

Cleaning Tools You Need

You don’t have to break your back struggling to reach corners or spend days cleaning. These tools will help you get the job done faster – and get better results:

• Grout brush: It gives you access to areas that a sponge or cloth can’t reach — corners, under baseboards and around window locks. Just spray with household cleaner, brush and wipe.
• Steam machine: High-pressure steam naturally disinfects and cleans tile surfaces. It works by flushing the dirt out rather than packing it in.
• Microfiber cloths: They’re made with loops that act like tiny claws, gripping and holding dust — not kicking it back into the air like cotton cloths do. You don’t even need to spray!
• Vacuum with HEPA filter: Unlike standard vacuum bags, which are fine for collecting small chunks of stuff, HEPA filters suck up dust, retaining 99.9 percent of the small particles they encounter.
• Air Freshener: An air freshener that eliminates cooking, pet and other household odors instead of masking them can transform your house from seeming lived-in to feeling brand-new. To find this type of product, look for the ingredient cyclodextrin. Then finish your cleaning by spraying down rooms, breathe deep and say hello to the fresh scents of spring at anytime!

7 Ways to Protect Your Home and Family this Hurricane Season

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

Post-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.

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