LESSON TEN-HOUSEHOLD SAFETY: Remember that a large part of survivability is assessing risks and
taking the responsibility to lower risks. Follow all LESSON-by-LESSON guidelines on the previous pages plus
the fire and crime safety. When it's time to spring forward and fall back you should change the smoke alarm
batteries, check all medicines, and review all important documents and their safekeeping per Lessons One
and Three and pages 117 to 120. Make sure to test smoke alarms monthly.
If you have children then you will need to teach young ones right from wrong, good from bad, especially when
dealing with safety. NO is a valuable safety word that is the best education that you can teach your children.
BABY PROOFING: We baby proof to stall young enquiring minds and hands from injuring themselves, until they
know what 'yeech, no, hot, don't touch, etc' are. Infants and toddlers are curious about their new environment.
Be a safe parent, teach them today, otherwise they will not know until you teach them.
Label contents on generic bottles, get all chemicals and medicines up, away and hopefully locked from
children. Use baby smart devices on doors, drawers, and outlets.
POISON SAFETY: As above, get all chemicals, soaps, medicines and poisons, up and away from children.
But in case of accidental poisoning call 911, your emergency room or the National Poison Control at 1-800-212-1212 or search on the net for local poison centers. A poison is anything that you can eat, breathe
or touch that can cause illness or death. Accidental use of medicines are the cause of most poison deaths.
If using chemicals or cleaners then follow all instructions and ventilate area.
If a poison is inhaled, avoid breathing the fumes and open windows and doors wide. If poison gets on the skin
then flush with water for 10 minutes then wash with soap and rinse. Flush an eye with lukewarm water poured
from a large glass 2-3 inches above the eye. If poison is swallowed, then don't give anything by mouth until
you have called a doctor.
Use this checklist to poison-proof your home or shop. Don’t keep cleaners, soaps, medicines, personal
products, etc. under the sink or on counters, open areas, refrigerator top or window sills. Keep them up and
out of reach. Keep alcoholic beverages, ashtrays empty and plants out of reach. Keep painted areas in good
condition and paint chips are poisonous too. Don't keep medicines in or on dresser or bedside tables. All
perfumes, cosmetics and powders, etc. out of reach. All bleaches, soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, etc.
out of reach and in original containers. Insect spray, weed killers, gasoline, car products, thinner, paint
products, etc. in original containers and in a locked area. (Thank you to the Poison Control Center.)
MEDICATION SAFETY: Keep the medicine chest cleaned out twice a year. Keep all medicines in original top
containers. Keep all medicines, sprays, mouthwash, etc. out of reach of young hands. DON’T FLUSH
MEDICINES DOWN THE TOILET–IT MAKES OUR FISHES SICK OR HIGH. CRUSH THEM AND MIX
WITH WATER AND USED COFFEE GROUNDS OR KITTY LITTER AND SEAL WITH DUCT TAPE. For
Identity Safety, Black out your Name, contact information, prescription numbers, birth dates and other
information that is confidential.
Tell your medical staff if you have allergies to any drug, and all the medications currently taking including the
store bought. Do learn the names of medicines and make a list and carry it in your wallet or purse. Ask
questions to your doctor or pharmacist about why, how often, how long, side effects and refills. Don't take
more or less of a prescribed dose, don't stop taking a medicine without checking first with your doctor. Don't
drink alcohol or other medications without asking first, and don't take someone else's medications. MAKE
SURE THAT YOU HAVE SOME SORT OF A MEDICAL ALERT TAG IF NEEDED.
CARBON MONOXIDE (CO): Carbon Monoxide is a toxic and odorless gas which is produced when natural
gas, propane, and wood burning fireplaces aren't operating properly or do not have the proper amount of
ventilation. Have a Carbon Monoxide Detector for your home to warn you if the ventilation is not working
properly.
CO is dangerous because it interferes with the bodies ability to process oxygen. Signs of CO poisoning
include flu-like symptoms headache, nausea, upset stomach and drowsiness. All your gas appliances and
fireplace need sufficient air to burn. If there isn't then they will look and draw from elsewhere such as from
inside your house.
When this happens, air can be drawn from the appliances exhaust vents from outside. Air that is drawn down
the exhaust vent from outside the house prevents the byproducts (CO) from venting up the exhaust vent to the
outside. Then CO can enter. One way to make sure that CO doesn't accumulate is to ensure that a correct and
sufficient source of outside air (crack a window open) to gas appliances and fireplaces. Also get UL approved
CO detectors, so when levels get too high, then you can ventilate, evacuate and get the problem fixed by a
professional or the utilities company. Make sure your exhaust vents are not blocked with dust or other particles
and have your fireplace professionally cleaned once a year.
LEAD AND RADON POISONING: Lead poisoning occurs mostly older homes, where it was originally painted
with lead-based paint, or used lead pipes which rust, before the EPA instituted non-lead paint or copper/PVC
painting. Lead poisoning mostly occurs to small children in these older homes. It can damage the brain and
can lead to slow learning.
If you think that or unsure if your house has lead paint contact a professional or buy a test kit. It is best to try
to seal lead paint chips with a plastic sealant or hire a lead proofed based quality contractor. If lead and rusty
pipes, then flush system by running cold water for 30 seconds, but do not drink the water. This is a stopgap
measure until the plumbing can be replaced. Replace lead based doors instead of sanding. Inhaling lead dust
can cause cancer. Install paneling, sheet rock, or floor tiles to replace lead area. Never vacuum lead dust, use
a wet rag or mop instead and dispose of it. Eat foods high in iron and rich in calcium. These can help block
lead absorption.
Radon is a natural occurring isotope which creates gas and can lead to lung cancer or other ills. Get a radon
testing kit and/or hire a professional to ventilate.
GENERAL SAFETY: Remember to be safe by fire proofing, child proofing, poison proofing and make your
home safe from trips and falls. Falls are the number one reason for accidental deaths. Tripping over rugs,
toys, rakes, wires, books, etc. cause most falls. See First Aid on pages 35 to 37. Be careful of power lines
especially with ladders or other metal objects plus kites and balloons towards the power lines. It’s the voltage
that injures or kills not the wattage.
GUN SAFETY: Keep them unloaded, locked and away from children. Ask the NRA or local police for
gun safety classes. Of course gun control is a tight three shot group right where you want it.
CAR SAFETY: The best bet is plenty of preventive maintenance (PM–see pages 110 and 111) on a weekly
basis, or prior to a long trip or before a storm. Check lights, brakes, fluids, tires, full spare tire and jack, tools and
your vehicle kit from Lesson One. Also wear seat belts, follow all traffic laws (signaling, etc.) and don't drink and
drive. Call a taxi or use a friend or a DD (designated driver), they're cheaper than a DUI by a $10,000. If you
are having addiction problems try AA, NA, GA, etc., call 211 or look on the web or phone book.
PARTY AND HOLIDAYS SAFETY: If you're hosting, then ask for keys, have a designated driver or let them stay
overnight, don't give in, you could be liable. Serve food with high protein and carbohydrates which slows the rate
of alcohol absorption. Last call should be an hour before the event is over, and have other non-alcoholic drinks
available. Use DDs–Designated Drivers or Taxis or some cities have Tipsy Tows on some occasions. AA
or NA call 211.
Be careful during the holidays. Don't leave tree lights on when away or going to bed. Many fires start that way.
Use good cords that are UL rated for out doors. Do not connect no more than three holiday light sets to one
outlet. If you use a real tree, use plenty of water and stay mix and keep lights away from water, paper and
tinsel. After the season, please recycle your real tree.
Don't run cords behind radiators, under carpets, doors and around pipes, etc. because the cord’s insulation
will overheat. Don't plug in too many, over three, into one socket or together. The wires may overheat,
destroying the insulation and causing a fire. Finally have a fire extinguisher handy. Check your fuse box or breaker
box for amperage loads on different circuits or total amperage load. See the next lesson.
LESSON 11 -UTILITIES SAFETY AND EVACUATIONS: Remembering that Survivability is being prepared for
anything, anywhere, at anytime, then the possibilities from problems dealing with utilities should be foreseen.
These could be from natural disasters, eventual breakdown or a man-made occurrence. Use only One (1)-Six
(6) plug Power strips per one (1)-two (2) plug outlet otherwise there would be to much of an amperage load
that could cause overheating and a fire.
WATER SERVICE: One good prevention step is to keep several gallons of water on hand just in case of a
water line break. Have exposed pipes insulated and heated. If there is a water break inside your home, know
and find the main water shut-off valve inside the building. Turn the valve in the direction of the arrow, usually
clockwise. Once a main or line is repaired, flush all sinks for a several minutes to get the sediment out. Be
aware of flooding from broken pipes or a disaster, there could be mold and other diseases in the HVAC or
the drywall and will need to be cleaned or replaced. See Lesson 21 on page 46 for more information on
floods.
ELECTRICITY SERVICE: Turn off electricity ONLY is you see sparks or a fallen wire. Find the main circuit
box, usually on an outside wall of the house or in the garage. Locate the main circuit breaker or fuse (it will
be labeled). Switch the circuit breaker to the off position or pull out the fuse. Have electrical service restored
by a licensed electrician or supplier.
GAS SERVICE: If you smell gas, (natural gas, propane, benzine and kerosene and must have mercaptan
added to it to have a bad smell) open windows and evacuate the building. Don't use the phone inside, light
switches or electrical appliances or anything that will cause sparks. Grab primary kits and evacuate
immediately. Use your cell phone outside or a neighbors phone to call 911 and utility company. Once the leak
is repaired let the utility company restore and light all appliances.
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