Day 70: Christmas safety tips

My Project: 365 Creative Writing Prompts

Day 70: Christmas safety tips

It’s the season to be jolly, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful. By paying attention and as such preventing hazards with Christmas trees and decorations, you might save yourself a rush visit to the hospital or veterinary clinic during the celebrations.

Candles

Candles are perfect to create atmosphere and a sweet aroma, but they are also huge fire hazards. To avoid accidents keep lighted candles away from the Christmas tree or decorative tree branches.  Place candles in a spacious area, on a flat hard surface in non-flammable candle holders.

Open Fire

Before making use of the fireplace, check the flue.  Checking the flue should be done annually to prevent chimney fires. Before lighting a fire be sure that all flammable materials such as wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, tinsel and chemicals are well away from the fireplace. To keep children and pets safe it is recommended to make use of a fireplace screen.  

Tree

Place the Christmas tree out of harm’s way. Preferably in a corner where it can’t be knocked down by children 

or pets. Be sure that the tree has a sturdy base so that it doesn’t fall over. If you have a real tree, keep it watered. Prep your tree by cutting or drilling a hole into the trunk, this will make for easy water absorption. Do not place your tree near a fireplace.

Christmas lights

Christmas lights should be checked before placing in the tree. The wire should not be frayed and no wires should be exposed. Sockets should be in perfect condition. If you see any damage, throw the lights out. Indoor lights should never be used outdoors and neither should outdoor lights be used indoors. Use a sturdy stepladder or chair to place the lights in the tree.

Tree Decorations  

If you have small children or pets, give preference to plastic decorations over glass ones. Accidents happen and it’s easy to miss a fragment of glass from a broken Christmas ball on the floor or carpet.  Should a child running barefoot or a pet step into such a fragment this will require a trip to the doctor or vet.
Give preference to pearls or a satin ribbon over tinsel to decorate the tree. In your absence, a pet may get curious about the shiny object, chew on it and choke.

Accidents happen all the time and bitter tears are shed afterward while people exclaim ‘If only I’d know’.  Don’t become one of them.  Think about what can happen and act responsibly.

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Day 33: How to keep your jewelry safe

My Project: 365 Creative Writing Prompts

Day 33: Jewelry – How to keep your jewelry safe

For today’s assignment, I’m supposed to write about keeping jewelry safe. Personally, I don’t have to worry about that because I don’t have valuable jewelry.

Well, strictly speaking, that isn’t quite true. I do have a few pieces which my mother left me. I never wear any of them though because I’m terrified of losing them.

Still, there may be others who might benefit from a few tips on how to keep jewelry safe.

Whether it is a jewelry set with precious stones, a Swarovski collection, or items you picked up here and there, we all have jewelry that is valuable to us for different reasons. If your jewelry has more sentimental value than dollar worth, how to keep your jewelry safe requires no more than common sense.  On the other hand, a more expensive collection will cost you more money to protect. 

Have your jewelry insured

Before you start thinking of where to store your jewelry, have your valuables appraised and insured. Jewelry insurance costs you only a few dollars a month but gives you peace of mind. 

Should anything get lost or stolen, you will be able to get a replacement or collect the value of the missing piece.  Read your insurance policy carefully or check with your agent for clarity. If you have an authenticity paper for precious stones, store them in a safe place.

Trust your jewelry to a safe

The safest place for you to keep your jewelry is a safe deposit box in a bank for the obvious reason that you may sleep better at night. The downside is that you have limited access to them, and you will pay an annual fee for use of the box.

If you’re staying in a hotel, ask if your jewelry can to be stored in the hotel safe rather than keeping valuables in your room. A wiser rule is to leave your valuable jewelry at home when traveling.

Consider buying a safe for your home.  Not only will a safe protect your jewelry from burglars or children who want to play dress up, many types of safes are rust and fire resistant. You can make up your own private combination that is best committed to memory.  

Remember, writing down the numbers increases the risk that your security might be breached.

If a safe is not an option, keep your jewelry safe in another type of box that can be locked, or put your jewelry in a cabinet that can be locked. You can also keep your jewelry in a not so obvious place.  For instance, in a shoebox among other shoe boxes or in a tin among other tins.

Keep your jewelry safe by being alert

When putting your jewelry on and taking it off, avoid places the items can fall into such as grates and vents. 

Take jewelry off before washing your hands.  Not only can water and soap dull semi-precious or custom jewelry, rings easily slip off soapy hands and end up in the drain pipe.

Keep curtains or blinds closed when taking jewelry pieces from their storage place. You never know who might be watching.

Be sure your jewelry fits

When in doubt about a good fit, put a ring on your finger and hold your hand upside down. If the ring glides down it needs to be taken to the jeweler for resizing.  

Rings shouldn’t pinch your fingers either. If they do, chances are at some point during the day you will take them off and might not remember where you put them. Rings should slip comfortably on and off your fingers.

Be sure that valuable bracelets and wristwatches are designed with a locking mechanism that works. If not, you can have a safety chain fitted.

Another way for how to keep your jewelry safe is to know when to wear valuables and when to leave them in their storage space. Events that attract large groups of people also attract pickpockets, who can expertly steal your handbag and jewelry without you even noticing it.

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8 Ways to ensure backyard safety

When summer comes around and family and friends stop by for a visit, everyone wants to sit outside and enjoy the pleasant weather rather than being cooped up indoors.  Making your backyard safe will reward you with peace of mind over any potential scraped knees, cut hands or worse – having to call 911! 

Making your backyard safe may require a stroll around the area with eyes wide open:

Continue reading at:

http://connymanero.weebly.com/blog/8-ways-to-ensure-backyard-safety

Complaining helps

A lot of people, including those near and dear to me, claim that contacting the government over issues of concern is a waste of time.

They seem to think that, because so many complaints are received, government officials cannot possibly read them all, let alone respond to them.

Well I have news for them.
I complained about the lack of A/C in our building due to negligence of the building’s management and Board of Directors and in addition mentioned that the building’s elevators are far from safe.

And guess what, within three business days I received the following response:

Hi Conny

Thank you for contacting 311 Toronto.

I have placed a service request for both of your issues. For the air conditioner the reference # is 619142 and for the elevators the reference # is 619154. An investigator will be looking at these issues within the next 5 business days. If you need to follow up on these requests you can contact 311 Toronto (just dial 311) and quote the reference numbers above.

I hope this information helps.

Regards,

Daniel E.
311 Toronto

See, some people DO care.