Daily Preparedness

Who knew it would take me that long to clean out the junk drawer? As previously written, organizing the kitchen can take you awhile, especially when forward momentum is hindered by Lyme Disease and life. Onward and upward, people!

Pantry

• The best way to begin is to pull everything out of the pantry, tossing items that are damaged, look suspicious or too old to be used. If in doubt, throw it out. At the least, consult with food storage experts to know what can be saved. Hint–be certain that you can’t salvage parts of prepared foods. For instance, the cheese powder in boxed macaroni and cheese will go bad, but the macaroni lives on for years. You can repackage the macaroni in a sealed container and toss the cheese powder if it looks darker than normal.
• Set aside items that you need to use soon. When replacing items in the pantry, be certain these are up front & marked as ‘use soon’.
• Clean the floor & shelves. Inspect for evidence of bugs or rodents. If you find evidence, treat the area appropriately before proceeding. Mark your calendar to recheck the area in two weeks, then a monthly for at least six months.
• Check that shelving is secure before reloading. Look carefully at the plastic brackets that often hold metal shelving. They can become brittle and chipped, leading to a shelf falling without warning.
• If you have solid shelving, consider lining the shelves to make clean up easier. Inexpensive plastic place mats make great shelf and drawer liners.  Fabric stores often carry vinyl coated fabrics intended for tablecloths. These can make your pantry shelves very colorful and are easily removed & washed. Avoid adhesive backed plastics as the residue they leave is hideous.
• Analyze what you want to put in the pantry and decide if the current shelving is adequate.
• Need more shelving? Add it with simple shelf brackets, removable shelving, tiered racks that sit on existing shelves or any manner of devices readily available.
• Need stronger shelves? Use inexpensive metal shelf brackets to stabilize the middles of shelves.
• Think about ’stations’ as in preschool and kindergarten rooms. Place together like items.
• Put items that you use frequently in the easiest to see and reach places.
• Add door shelving if you need places for small bottles, condiments, etc.
• Use plastic shoe boxes or other organizing aids to corral small items such as gravy packets, drink mixes, etc. Recycle existing or old containers for this purpose. Even plastic food storage containers missing lids can be used to organize a pantry or cabinet. Empty plastic juice bottles work well for storing small grains, specialty flours, etc. They often fit in door-mounted shelving.
• If the outer packaging is bulky, repackage items into tighter quarters. A good example are the little ‘Crystal Light’ type containers. The small tubs inside the larger tub will fit into a plastic shoe box and reduce the shelf space needed. Recycle the outer container to hold even smaller items. Write on the outer container with a sharpie so that you know what is in the container.
• Sharpies (or any permanent marker) can be your best friend! Use them to label expiration dates, which container is open, the contents of a shoe box–nearly anything. Think about restaurant organization–they almost always mark containers with notations such as ‘Open’, ‘Use First’, ‘Use Last’, etc.
• Glass canning jars are great organizational aids. They allow you to see what you have on hand, are pretty much rodent and bug proof, can be vacuum sealed and are nearly eternally reusable.
• Empty #10 cans can be re-used if you purchase the corresponding plastic lid. (available from LDS Home Storage Centers). You can line the can with a plastic food storage bag and you have a wonderful canisters.
• If your pantry is deep, consider the newer slide out shelves, racks, etc. that are readily available in a range of prices.
• As you purchase new items, place the new to the back. If you store a large quantity of any item, you might want to mark the labels with use by dates. Some people prefer to mark their labels with purchase dates, but I have found that the use by dates are more important to see at a glance.
• Racks made to hold and roll forward canned goods can be a worthwhile investment. They are now available from a variety of companies in plastic, wood or cardboard. You can also make your own.
• If your shelving is wire and you need a more solid platform, cover the wire shelves with a layer of acrylic or similar material. Many home improvement stores now carry acrylic/plastic/etc. materials that they can cut to fit your shelves. Providing a solid platform will allow you to use tiered shelving, roll-outs, etc.
• Place items you want your children to be able to access at their level. Likewise, place items you do not want them to access up high or behind a childproof door.
• Items like sugar, flour, etc. are often best stored in some sort of canister. The original packaging is not meant to hold up for repeated access or storing at home. Leaking sugar and similar items are an invitation to critters.
• Add a measuring cup to dry items you frequently use, such as sugar, flour, rice, oats, etc. Purchase inexpensive measuring cups and place the size you use most often for that item in the canister. You now have a scoop that will make cooking faster. Just be sure that your hands are always clean when you are dispensing from the canister.

Kitchen Cabinets

• Again, take one cabinet at a time and allow yourself enough time to finish the job.
• Remove all items, clean the cabinet, inspect the shelves and then consider what needs to go where.
• Add shelves as needed or measure before going shopping for tiered shelving, pull out racks or other organizational items. Be sure you check to see what you have at home first.
• Move items you use infrequently to less convenient locations. Keep the easy to reach and see shelves open for items you use frequently.
• As you sort and organize, make note of items you need to replace or replenish.
• Place dishes and glassware you frequently use in cabinets nearest the dishwasher.
• Group like items together OR items that you use for the same process–think ’stations’ as in the pantry. For instance, place baking items together.
• Repackage items as needed.
• Place items that often become sticky, such as honey & molasses, on a plastic tray to make clean up easier.
• If you frequently pull out large canisters for a small amount of product, consider having a secondary small container in a nearby cabinet. For instance, I bake ‘30 minute artisan bread’ multiple times a week. The recipe requires that cornmeal be placed on the baking sheet and flour dusted on the top of the loaf just before baking. Tired of hauling out the flour & cornmeal canisters, I placed flour and cornmeal into separate small easily-closed containers that allow me to shake out the small amount required. One container is a large salt shaker, the other a shaker for Parmesan cheese.
• If your lower cabinets are difficult to reach, consider investing in the roll out shelves & racks.
• Toss or donate items you do not or will not use!
• There are a variety of organizational products on the market; entire sets of plastic storage containers that fit into a rotating holder, pan racks, pan lid racks, plastic bins (I like the inexpensive toy bins sold by IKEA and inexpensive plastic trash cans for holding small things), plastic shoe boxes and spice racks galore. Be certain to think through what you need and measure carefully before hauling home a group of misfits. As always, compare price and quality.
• Don’t forget to utilize the inside of cabinet doors. 3-M hooks, special door racks, magnetic racks, over-the-door racks and other useful items are available to organize everything from spices to knives and your car keys. Use the inside of a cabinet door near your phone to post frequently called phone numbers. Don’t forget to include the poison control center, physician & family contacts on that list. Or paint the inside of a door with chalkboard paint or white board paint and have an instant message center.

Finally, stand back and admire your work!

In the midst of an ongoing year-long fight with Lyme Disease, the importance of streamlining, organizing and ‘making do’ have never been more important. Many days, I have two or three ‘usable’ hours, which is why I refer to Lyme Disease as my ‘full time job’. Whether you are facing chronic illness, a crowded schedule, working outside the home with a family to take care of or would prefer to spend your free time doing anything BUT housework, developing systems to deal with the realities of running a home can allow you to keep the Health Department at bay and reduce your stress.

How do you go about organizing and running a home so that the home isn’t running you? And how does that relate to provident living and preparedness? “Organize every needful thing,” is not only often quoted scripture, it is the backbone of living a productive, happy and provident life. What good is a 72-hour kit if you can’t find your car keys when it is time to evacuate? How can you deal with an emergency (or an ongoing problem), if all of your energy is consumed with finding the bare necessities? How can you thoughtfully prepare and plan if you live in the midst of chaos? How many accidents occur because family members are stressed out or tripping over items out of place?

Over the next few weeks, we will delve into ideas that may help you analyze and develop systems that will allow you the freedom to pursue your interests, reduce the clutter of life and prepare yourselves for whatever tomorrow brings. PLEASE, if you have ideas, share them!

“A place for everything and everything in it’s place.” No, you don’t need to go all OCD over this one, but at least have a reasonable, accessible place for the items in your home. Make it a place that suits the item.

For instance, the car keys. We have had as many as five drivers in the house with cars that were often on a variable schedule rotation. It quickly became obvious that car keys could not belong to one person and needed to be available at all times. A simple solution? Car keys no longer belonged to one person. Each car’s key was separate from the others and hung inside a kitchen cabinet. Duplicate keys were separated so that there was always a spare available. When someone comes home, they hang the keys in the cabinet—NOT stash them in their pocket, purse, backpack or thrown on the counter. If needed, label the keys to identify which car they belong to and add a house key. Problem solved!

The diaper bag or your purse? No, don’t just stuff it behind the recliner. Maybe you should put a hook in the front closet and hang it there. Find a logical place and stick to it!

This same method works for tools, office supplies, salt & pepper shakers–anything that you need to have on hand. Identify the most logical place (closest to where it will be used and preferably not sitting out) to store it and return it to that place as soon as you are done with it. Pegboard, drawer organizers, plastic containers, shelving, cubbies, decorative boxes, hooks in closets & cabinets, under beds….wherever you need to store something, simply be logical and consistent. If you need the same item in multiple places (like scissors, tape, pens, toilet paper, even cleaners), purchase multiple and store them where they are most commonly used. This approach minimizes having to make multiple trips to locate what you need.

“Don’t sweat the small stuff, containerize it.” Life is full of small items we need and yet seem to never have a place to ‘be’. Whether it is your sewing supplies or the countless remotes, controllers, etc. that have invaded our homes, corralling the small items yields big benefits. A simple basket in the family room that corrals the remotes, drawers in the bathroom that hold make-up (a silverware organizer will keep the drawer orderly), a basket for mail, a wall organizer for hair bows, toy bins, glass jars for screws, shoe boxes for greeting cards, a pencil case for stamps and address labels, a net for stuffed animals, a file box for family papers–whatever you need to find, sort it by like items and contain them! The containers should fit the item, be easy to identify and fit in a logical location.

“Keep flat surfaces clear.” Any flat surface in a home seems to be a magnet for ’stuff’ to congregate. Instead of setting the mail on the counter, put it in that basket. Keep your kitchen counters cleared (they are easier to clean & more about this in a subsequent column), minimize items on your bathroom counter, If need be, have a container for each family member in the bathroom and near the door you most often use.

“Life is trashy.” Humans produce trash. To control the trash, place waste baskets in every room of your house. They can be small, large, plain or decorative, but keep them lined and have them handy. It is much easier to dispose of that tissue appropriately if you don’t have to interrupt your favorite show to carry it to the kitchen trash. Lining the trash cans keep them clean and easier to empty. Even a 3-year-old can empty a small wastebasket lined with an old shopping bag. For ‘cleaner’ trash, keep the spare bags in the bottom of the trash can. Make it a habit to empty the trash frequently BEFORE it smells! The day before trash pick-up is the ideal time to make a sweep of the trash cans.

“Perfect the 30 second clean up.” An amazing amount of cleaning, straightening and organizing can be done simply while you are walking through your house, stuck on hold or waiting for a website to load. As you walk from point A to point B, pick up items that need to be returned along your path. For instance, you are in the living room headed for the kitchen. Along the way, you see a piece of paper a child dropped–pick it up and toss it in the kitchen trash. Or you are taking the dish cloth to the washing machine—wash the off the refrigerator handle and then the trash can on your way. Stuck on hold? Declutter any surface near you, throw something away from the junk drawer, wipe off a table or fold some laundry. Straighten up your desk while that website loads. Wipe out the sink with the washcloth you just used on Junior’s face. Pick up trash in the car while you are at a red light. These little acts add up quickly and reduce the frustration of mess & ‘waiting’.

“Let cleaners work for you.” No, not the kind you hire (but that is nice if you can do it), the kind you buy in the store. Be sure you read the instructions before using–as in the bathroom cleaner that needs to sit for 3 minutes before scrubbing. If you are going to use the product, use it so that it works for you. Look for and consider products that make cleaning easier. Automatic shower cleaners can do a passable job if used regularly. Battery operated sweepers are lighter than vacuums, pick up small particles well & can be used by children. Vacuum any floor surface you have–it is usually faster than sweeping. Wool dusters are fast and effective on a wide variety of surfaces. Good old-fashioned powdered cleansers like Comet work incredibly well and are cheap. Keep duplicate cleaning supplies where you need them. No one wants to drag the toilet bowl brush from bathroom to bathroom.

“Child labor is a good thing.” Children of all ages learn valuable life skills, develop a work ethic and become more responsible when they are expected to help at home. Even the youngest children can learn to pick up their own toys, put their coat away, hang up their back pack, take small items to the trash and gradually learn all aspects of household maintenance. Begin early, set a good example and be consistent. Be certain that you teach the child how to do a job and provide them with child-appropriate tools & cleaners. Chore charts with clearly defined responsibilities are invaluable!

“Lists and calendars make the world go ’round.” Be certain that everyone uses them! Have a standard grocery list easily accessible and teach family members to mark down items that need to be purchased. Write down important tasks that need to be done. Leave notes for each other as reminders or just ‘I love yous’. Mark all events on the calendar and check it daily. Don’t forget to jot down birthdays, routine maintenance items, school programs, pharmacy refills, etc. Use post-it notes or whatever works for you to remember what you need to do, who you need to call, etc. Don’t run errands without a list. If your children are ‘forgetful’ when doing their chores, make a list of what is required to clean a room and place it in that room. Want to put something on the ‘frig? Purchase inexpensive strips of adhesive magnetic strips and any light weight item can be posted on a metal surface.

“Let someone else do the work.” Okay, most of us can’t get someone else to do all of our work, but whenever possible take advantage of programs and systems that take some of the work off of you. Some examples might be automatic prescription refill programs, automated reminder systems, pre-approved bill paying by credit card or through your checking account (be sure it is a reputable company), put yourself on lists for no junk mail & sales calls, subscription services for items you need on a regular basis (like water filters, items you mail order regularly, etc), and email reminder systems. Every item you can get ‘off your plate’ is one less item you need to deal with.

“Armies run on their stomachs — and so do families.” Keeping your family or yourself fed is a major user of time, energy and planning. One of the first priorities in organizing your home is to keep your kitchen clean and operational. Before cooking, have the dishwasher cleaned out so that you can put prep utensils in there as you cook. We’ll discuss the fine tuning of the kitchen in a later column, but keep in mind that if your kitchen and bathrooms are clean, you will find that the rest of your life runs smoother (and with less illness)!

“Get it off your plate–delegate.” Everyone should have responsibilities and you might need to let go of your own desire for perfection. No one member of the family should carry the whole burden. Break big jobs into small jobs and divide them up. Pitch in and don’t let yourselves get buried before you begin to dig out! If you really can’t keep up with the demands of your life/home/job, take a good hard look at all you are trying to accomplish. Maybe you need to streamline, pass on portions of the responsibility to others or re-order your priorities.

“Identify the problem, find the solution.” Look at where the ‘bottle necks’ and ‘break downs’ are in the functioning of your home. Think like an efficiency expert in a factory. Analyze each problem and see if you can come up with a system that automates what can be automated, organizes everything that can be organized and divides jobs up into ‘do-able’ portions. You may never have the time to deep clean the kitchen like a cleaning pro. But, you can empty the leftovers before trash day. Wipe down the door one day and the shelves another.

In the next few weeks, we will be examining each area of a typical home and discovering ways to make it run smoother. Excuses aside (we’re just too creative, too busy, too sick, too important, too whatever), it is possible for every family to have a home that is clean enough to be healthy, organized enough to be efficient and happy enough to be inviting. Sometimes, it just takes rethinking!

It is the time of year when the call of new yellow pencils, notebooks, pens, erasers and a long laundry list of supplies is haunting your mind as you prepare for the return of the school year. Nearly everyone returning to school will include in their shopping list a backpack. For most students, the foremost criteria for choosing a backpack is how attractive, ‘in’ or ‘cool’ the backpack looks. But, it is becomingly increasingly common for students (and not just students) of all ages to incur a variety of injuries, pain and damage due to improperly designed, fitted, loaded and carried backpacks. How do you choose and use a backpack so that it is a help not a hindrance? And what added items should you include to promote a safe school year?

First, let’s go shopping!

• Don’t fail to look at sporting goods and outdoor outfitters (such as LL Bean) for high quality, durable and well made backpacks. A few extra dollars now and a bit of care along the way may prove your best investment.
• If you are carrying a laptop or netbook, be certain that the backpack has, or will hold, a protective sleeve for your electronics.
• Choose a backpack with wide, padded and adjustable straps. Be certain that the wearer can adjust the pack so that the majority of the weight is carried along the back of the shoulder line.

• If the pack is going to weigh more than a few pounds (less than 7% of the wearer’s weight), choose a backpack with a waist belt which will help equalize the pressure on the spine, shoulders and neck.
• Purchase or add reflective tape so that the wearer is more easily seen in the dark.
• Look for a backpack with easy to reach pockets, especially for small items that the wearer may want to access without taking off the backpack.
• An ergonomically designed backpack will conform the proper alignment of the spine.

Now that you have purchased a great, back-saving backpack, let’s pack it up!

• Do not fill the backpack to more than 15% of the wearer’s body weight.
• Keep identifying information inside the backpack. If the design is a common one and you want to easily identify your backpack, personalize it with a charm, patch or other identifier that does not include your name or other personal information.
• Distribute items so that the weight is evenly distributed. Falls occur frequently when backpack wearers are ‘out of balance’ due to shifting or unevenly distributed loads
• Be certain to include an ID card in the backpack. Include name, emergency contact info, important health information, etc. Place this card INSIDE the backpack where it is not easily seen.
• Pack sharp objects, even sharpened pencils, where they will not weaken the fabric or seams.
• Periodically clean out the backpack and be certain you are not carrying items you do not need.
• For YOUNG CHILDREN, you might want to have a specially marked pocket for papers you need to read, sign, etc.
• Older students, if allowed, might carry a small power bar, granola bar or other ‘emergency food’, water & a tiny flashlight. College students and commuters may want to carry water, a bit of money in small bills, a small flashlight and necessary medications.

You are packed up and ready to go…time to lift and carry that backpack properly!

• Learn to pick up your backpack as you would any heavy object. Bend your knees and lift with your legs, not your back.
• Do not ’sling’ your backpack onto your back. It is not good for you and you may hit someone behind or beside you!
• Carefully put on one shoulder strap on at a time. Be certain the straps are adjusted so that the majority of the weight is on your upper back—just below the shoulder line. It may look cool to have your backpack slung low on your back, but you are causing harm to yourself!
• If you have to stoop over with the weight of the backpack in order to carry it, that backpack is TOO heavy!
• NEVER NEVER carry your backpack on one shoulder. Doing so not only causes your spine to be at an unnatural angle, you may unevenly develop muscles in your shoulders and chest. This uneven distribution of muscle mass can become unsightly AND pull other parts of your body out of whack.
• Carrying your backpack on your front is not better for your back than carrying it on the back. Either way, the backpack needs to be aligned, packed and carried appropriately.
• Fasten the waist buckle, especially if the backpack is 15% of your body weight! Let your entire torso share in carrying the load.
• While carrying your backpack, walk with good posture! Stand up straight with your shoulders back.
• If someone should grab your backpack, immediately ask them to stop. Injuries occur when friends or others jokingly add their own weight to that of your backpack.
• If at all possible, remove the backpack near a surface about table level. With your back to the table, remove one shoulder strap at a time and lower the backpack down your back to the table.
• When you get home, keep your backpack off of kitchen counters or other surfaces where food is prepared or served.

The essence of provident living is to always live today while preparing for whatever tomorrow brings. Preventing, rather than treating, injuries is the best way to be prepared everyday!

Comment from a physician: The really sad part is the failure rate for back surgeries. I’ve seen a lot of patients with multiple surgeries, no relief from the pain, and even some who got worse after the surgery. There’s even a specific diagnostic code for ‘failed back surgery’ cause it’s that common. Good advice to review!

Tim

Though this is the season of giving, one gift we would all like to avoid is all too common this time of year–upper respiratory infections due to ‘colds’, flus and other ailments quickly passed from one to another. This year, it seems that the varieties of germs floating around has the propensity for quickly accelerating into bronchitis and/or pneumonia. These unwelcome holiday guests can put a serious damper on your ability to deck the halls with another other than kleenex, vaporizers and prescription medication. However, like most unwanted guests, there is much you can do to prevent acquiring or passing on these little critters of misery!

First and foremost, if you are playing host to a germfest, STAY HOME as much as possible. Miss church meetings, call in sick to work and isolate yourself. If everyone would do this, the chances of an epidemic are reduced to nil. At the least, follow common sense and keep your germs to yourself.

What can you do to reduce your risk of infection or of spreading infection? Read on!

1. WASH YOUR HANDS. Soap, water and a little bit of friction are the best ways to combat the spread of germs. Use warm water, soap and scrub for at least 15 seconds. Wash often and thoroughly, but always before preparing or eating food, after using the restroom and any time you have contact with an infected person.
2. USE A TISSUE INSTEAD OF A HANDKERCHIEF. Handkerchiefs are pocket petri dishes for bacteria and virus’. Keep them for ceremonial uses and use disposable tissues for the serious work. Throw away your soiled tissues immediately.
3. KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF YOUR FACE. When you touch your eyes, nose or mouth you are passing all of those germs you collected as you went about your daily life right into the areas where they like to grow.
4. COUGH AND SNEEZE AWAY FROM OTHERS. Cough into your sleeve, a tissue or turn around for pity’s sake! Did you know that the average speed of your sneeze is 100mph! Just think of a sneeze as a rocket propelled germ rocket–a biological weapon if there ever was one, so keep it to yourself.
5. MOUTHS ARE NOT FOR MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS. If you have the bad, bad habit of sticking pens, pencils and similar objects into your mouth–STOP IT RIGHT NOW! Also avoid licking your fingers in order to turn pages. Let’s not even discuss the germ count on money!
6. IN THE OFFICE. Clean your work area, keyboard and phone often. Keyboards and phones are great homes for all sorts of nasty stuff. Individually wrapped alcohol wipes are great cleaning devices and are safe on nearly all keyboards, remotes and phones. Don’t forget to wash your hands after using the bathroom, copy/fax machine, touching items in the lunchroom or anything frequently touched by others.
7. GERMS CAN SET UP HOUSE NEARLY ANYWHERE. Clean doorknobs, light switches, refrigerator doors, bathrooms, kitchen counters, telephones and remotes at home. A spray disinfectant is a good item to add to the cleaning basket.
8. CARRY HAND SANITIZER. This quick, easy to use solution to hand washing is affordable and easy to use. Just remember that it relies on friction to work so don’t skimp in the hand rubbing portion of the routine. Be certain to get between your fingers.
9. TEACH THE CHILDREN WELL. Children are germ machines on two legs. Those in school are exposed daily to a wide variety of germies and they bring them home with them! Insist that your school follow a strict ‘You are sick, you are going home’ policy. Teach them to wash their hands frequently, saying the ABC’s as they scrub. Stick a small bottle of hand sanitizer in their backpack. Insist that your child stay home when they are sick! Keep their backpacks off of kitchen counters and eating surfaces.
10. DON’T SHARE CUPS, CHAPSTICK, MAKE-UP. Use paper cups in the bathroom and teach your children to NOT share their chapstick or other personal care items. No drinking after others. For older children and teens, warn them about drinking out of cups prepared by others at a party. Insist that they drink only from a container that they open and that they keep in their possession–this one isn’t so much about germs as it is about what others might put in their drink. The consequences can be much worse than pneumonia.
11. DON’T SHARE FOOD OR UNTENSILS. This includes at home as it limits the passing of nasties from one child to another. A good dishwasher and powerful soap will also help stop the spread of germs.
12. USE DISPOSABLE PRODUCTS. This is particularly important when a bug hits your house. Use paper towels, paper plates and cups. If you use hand towels in the bathroom or kitchen, replace them frequently. Have a separate towel for the sick person to use. Replace kitchen sponges daily. Sanitize them by boiling or running through the dishwasher on hot water (the dishwasher is still not likely to sanitize it).
13. PLAN AHEAD. Have soup, cough drops, tissue, paper products and lots of fluids stored in case someone does get sick.
14. VENTILATE. Weather permitting, open windows even briefly to allow fresh air to circulate through your house.
15. MOISTURIZE. Add humidifiers to the bedrooms if dry air is a problem. Consider using a netti pot or nasal saline spray daily if you must be in contact with those who are likely to be sick.
16. PRACTICE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING. Keep kitchens and bathrooms clean at all times. Don’t just straighten these rooms, sanitize them! Replace towels and bedding frequently. Clean toys regularly in hot soapy water.
17. EAT HEALTHY. It is often difficult during the holidays, but remember that your body needs good nutrition to fight off germs. Avoid too many sweets, drink plenty of healthy fluids such as water and take your vitamins.
18. GET ENOUGH REST. Another tricky one during busy seasons, but try to get adequate sleep every night. If you do come down with a cold, allow yourself extra sleeping time to fend off the invasion before it escalates to something worse.
19. EXERCISE. Getting 30 minutes of exercise three or more times a week builds your immune system. Park further away from your office door, take the stairs, ride the exercise bike while watching a holiday special or just walk around your house briskly as you dust and sanitize.
20. RELAX! Take time to unwind. A body under stress is more likely to get sick than someone who is well rested and relaxed. Don’t attempt to be Martha Stewart this holiday season–remember she has a full time staff and orders carry out.

Stay healthy!

Preparedness and provident living extend well beyond the edible goodies in your pantry and the water safely stored!  The well-prepared home is one in which a family can shelter for at least two weeks without having to depend on outside support.  Even better, is a home that would allow you to stay in place for months if need by!  This level of preparation is not intended to fulfill some doomsday scenario, but to allow you to weather the storms of life–illness, weather events, unemployment, unexpected expenses, inflation and a wide range of small to large disasters.  A prepared and provident home takes advantage of sale prices to stock up and then uses up their ‘bargains’ until the next sale rolls around.

Hygiene: feminine products, hand sanitizer, baby or other disposable wipes (if you don’t have water, this would be your primary source of hygiene for the whole family), toothpaste, mouthwash (even if you don’t use regularly, it will keep mouth healthy & can disinfect other items), diapers, toilet paper, facial tissue, bleach, dishwashing soap (not dishwasher soap), dishwasher soap, laundry detergent, spray disinfectant, paper towels, garbage bags, basic household cleaners, disposable abrasive pads, ‘comet’ or similar powdered cleanser.

Health: vitamins, pain relievers, thermometer, cold medication, prescription medication, rubbing alcohol, cough drops, anti-diarrhea medication, laxative, a well stocked first aid kit, hydrogen peroxide, disposable latex gloves (if anyone is allergic to latex, order non-latex gloves), N-90 facial masks, antacid, & any other over the counter meds your family uses regularly.

Safety/comfort: candles (the best are those encased in glass container), matches, fire extinguisher, flashlights, batteries, battery operated radio, heat source (firewood, portable heater, etc—NEVER use a BBQ inside and NEVER store an extra propane tank inside your home or garage), smoke detectors that run on batteries, extra warm clothing, fans, sufficient blankets and/or sleeping bags, hats, mittens, rain gear

Tools: basic tool box to include a screwdriver, hammer, nails, pliers, screws, etc, tool to turn off gas line (can only be re-opened by professional), bung wrench if you store food in plastic buckets, plastic sheeting, duct tape, painter’s tape (these items can help seal up windows, etc. to keep home warmer as well as patch holes in the roof & package excess trash), snow shovel, regular shovel, paper, pencils.

Eating: disposable plates, cups, pans, & flatware, paper napkins, aluminum foil, BBQ (only outside), & camp stove.  Don’t forget extra fuel!

Car: keep at least ¼ to ½ tank of gas at all times. Have your car emergency kit packed and updated. And keep your car well maintained!

Pets: Remember to think of your pet needs as well.

Cash:  Every home needs a reasonable amount of cash in small bills (NO larger than $20) stored.  In many natural or man-made disasters, access to checking accounts, debit cards and credit cards is cut off.   All transactions are made with cash, and change is often not available.

Entertainment: Have you considered how you would keep yourself and your children busy if you don’t have electricity or cannot go out to your local ‘amusements’?  Be certain that you have books, games, hobbies and an idea of how to entertain yourself and your family at home.  Practice once in awhile–it’ll be good for your relationships and your wallet.

Information: Do you have a ‘hard copy’ of quick recipes, phone numbers, important addresses, etc?  Be wary of keeping all of your vital information electronically.  Technology is wonderful and we all rely on it, but keep at least a minimum of information in a format that is easy to access regardless of whether you have power or internet access.

Think through the specific needs of you and your family. Adapt these suggestions to meet those needs and then evaluate what you have on hand. Many of these items, such as paper towels, need only be stored in a larger than normal quantity.

The concept of being prepared daily is to prepare today for not matter what tomorrow brings. This process of living often includes the concept of visualizing “What-If this..or that…happens?” We can never visualize all possibilities, but being prepared will allow us to face challenges and overcome them! Although it is important to prepare with commodities such as food, water, sanitary needs, etc, it is also critical that we become ‘paper prepared.’ Everyone has accounts, statements, certificates and other items that we may need to refer to at a moment’s notice. This may be nothing more serious than needing to call the cable company because our TV isn’t receiving a signal. Or it may be as serious as a mandatory evacuation or the death of a loved one.

No matter the scenario, having our ‘paper’ world organized is critical to achieving a state of daily preparedness. The first, and probably one of the most vital, steps in becoming ‘paper prepared’ is to organize and maintain a ‘What-If’ Notebook.

A ‘What-If’ Notebook houses copies of all of the information you need to have at your finger tips. And completing it is really easy! Just follow this simple ‘recipe’:

Ingredients:

A 3-ring notebook marked on binding with the words “What IF?”

Some page protectors

Access to a photocopy machine

Blank pieces of paper

Pen

Gather the following documents and place in notebook with page protectors, which will protect the pages and make them easier to access and allow you to quickly add items as you receive them. Your notebook should contain these documents:

1. Important ‘certificates’—birth, death, marriage, diploma, divorce papers, titles, Social Security statements, disability, custody agreements

2. Insurance policies—at least front page of each. You can also simply add a bill for the insurance, so long as the statement includes policy number, contact information for the insurance company and type of insurance.

3. Location of will or trust papers. Contact information for trustee or attorney.

4. As bills come in, simply photocopy each of the following and place in notebook (or place an original bill): insurance, utilities, phone, credit cards, mortgage, loans, cable, ‘easy pass’, anything you or someone else might have to shut off, change or refer to.

5. Driver’s license and other important IDs, including passport. Photocopy in B&W at a different size than normal.

6. Names (and relationship), addresses, phone numbers, email addresses of close friends and relatives. . (a friend told me that after they went through a hurricane, she couldn’t remember her own mother’s phone number!)

7. Letter authorizing a trusted relative to discuss your medical care with a healthcare professional.

8. Advanced directive for medical care. Have this notarized!

9. Names & contact information for doctors.

10. Prescription drugs, including dosage, pharmacy & physician. You can ask your pharmacist to print this information out for you. Slip a small photocopy of this into your wallet!

11. Important medical history and allergy information.

12. Who should be contacted in case of an emergency13. Name, phone, address, and email of out-of-state contact persons.

14. Inventory of household goods, especially valuables.

15. Blank paper & pencil

16. Anything else you think you might need to refer to if your entire home were lost, you had to evacuate or face a life-altering change.

As you work on this notebook, keep it in one location. Near where you pay your bills is a great location as you can easily slip in statements and bills as they arrive. Make a note of the location of your notebook and attach the note to your 72-hour kit. That way, you will know where it is and grab it should you have to evacuate. Also let your grown children or other trusted family member know where you keep the notebook.

Your ‘What-If’ Notebook is a recipe for paper preparedness that will make your everyday ‘normal’ life easier, less stressful and more organized!

In the musical “Annie”, there is that classic song with the lyrics, “Tomorrow, tomorrow, there’s always tomorrow, you’re only a day away..” The younger we are, the more we believe that our tomorrows are endless and probably merely improvements on today. As we contemplate our future, we are full of hope, enthusiasm and great plans for all that life has in store for us. Often in this type of contemplation, we don’t want to think about the realities of life, the nitty-gritty ‘what ifs’ about living; illness, dying, aging, handicaps, health issues, caring for elderly parents and hardships. But, life can deal any or all of these to without warning. Being prepared is our only true defense! Here, then, are a dozen things we all should do to prepare for anything that ‘tomorrow’ might bring, for we all know that ‘tomorrow is only a day away…’!

1. Have you granted trusted relatives the right to discuss your medical care with your physician or other medical personnel? Federal and state laws make it illegal for medical personnel to discuss your care with anyone unless you have given permission for them to do so. This is good, but could be a problem should, say your loving daughter believes you are exhibiting the signs of a stroke. If daughter calls your doctor, the doctor, legally shouldn’t discuss her with you. My Mother & I discovered this when she passed out and then was less-than-fully-functioning for a while. Her doctor had her write a letter listing those she authorized to talk to him and their contact information. The letter also gives the doctor the right to call one of us if he believes there is something we need to be aware of. This also applies to your children over the age of 18 (16 for some matters), so have them execute such an authorization before going off to college. You might want to consider granting someone a medical power of attorney. This is often part of a living trust and some wills. This gives an individual the right to make medical decisions for you in case you are incapable of doing so for yourself.

2. Have you recently checked your will or trust? A living trust greatly can reduce the process should you become incapacitated or pass away. Consider changing from a will to a trust. The trust can divide your assets as you see fit and protect you in case you are incapacitated. Periodically review the terms and see if they fit your current circumstances and wishes.

3. Do you have an Advanced Directive? This document details your wishes should you be terminally ill or if you need to be resuscitated. Your doctor, hospital or attorney can provide you with the simple form.

4. Consult an estate attorney before you add anyone’s name to any your real or personal property. Some families attempt to circumvent probate this way, but it can leave all parties open to all sorts of liability and tax issues. It may be better to form a ‘Limited Liability Corporation” if non-spousal relatives wish to own property jointly. Each state’s laws differ so be certain to contact an attorney.

5. Do you have someone you can trust to help you review your financial situation? Who will take care of your finances if you are incapacitated? Again, a trust with two executors can be a great thing.

6. Do you have your financial and insurance information in one place that someone knows about? A simple three ring binder can work. As you pay bills for insurance, etc. or receive statements, simply put one copy of each form in your notebook. You might want to add any charge accounts you have, especially those that have credit life. You don’t have to replace the copies as you receive your statements–just add any new ones you open. Photocopy the deed to your house, your car registration and any other document and put those copies in your notebook. Now, add contact information for those you would need to contact in an emergency. It wouldn’t hurt to give a copy of this to your executor. It is a great back up in case you have an emergency or lose your home.

7. Put passwords on all of your accounts—bank, credit union, credit cards, etc. Don’t open an account where they won’t let you use a password. The password will protect you from someone else changing the information on your account. This is a simple and yet effective way to prevent someone stealing your credit! If you think you won’t remember the password, chose a word and write a sentence about it in your address book. For instance, if your password were “Mercedes”, write down, “My first car was a Mercedes”. That will help you remember.

8. Do you have copies of your birth certificate, marriage license, service records, car registration, divorce decree, passport–all those pesky life documents we need? Put them with your account notebook or notate in the book where you keep them.

9. Write down your wishes for your “Final Farewell”. If we don’t speak our minds, those we love won’t know what we want and may spend more time or money than we would have wanted “Paying tribute to us.” Family feuds are often started over, “What Mother would have wanted.” For instance, I would rather my children go on a lovely cruise than spend $25,000 on a casket for me. (Did you know you could order discounted caskets online now??? Not legal in all states, but in many. For instance, you can order a traditional, tasteful, handmade casket produced by monks for as low as $695.) Shopping ahead of time is much, much better than buying prepaid funeral plans. Research burial options and decide ahead of time.

10. Be very, very, very, very cautious of anyone offering to sell you insurance, prepaid funeral plans, financial management, etc, etc. Have a trusted friend or relative who will talk through the many offers you might receive before you make a decision. Never enter into a long-term contract without taking at least 72 hours to think about it. The same is true of investments and other major purchases. Trusted, reputable institutions will never pressure you or use scare tactics.

11. If you are married, are you a full partner in knowing everything there is to know about your financial situation, the insurance you have, liabilities, etc.? If you aren’t, you should be!

12. Is your home safe for you? Before you fall, have grab bars installed in your bathroom. If you need them other places, have them installed now. Check for tripping hazards. Have a phone that does not rely on electricity. If you think you might require assisted living, start shopping early. Choose one that will accept Medicare in case you outlast your resources.

And one bonus:

13. Decide at the beginning of each year which charities you wish to support. Decide how much you can reasonably afford and then donate it. Throw ALL OTHER letters from charities into the trash BEFORE you open them. You can also decide every quarter or twice a year.

We have all heard the horror stories of thieves stealing an individual’s credit identity to rack up bills that result in a host of nightmares for the victim. But, have you considered the possibility that the same sort of criminal may be targeting your medical identification?

Alarmingly, there has been an increase of cases involving criminals who use the ‘medical identity’ of another to receive medical care in someone else’s name. The victim of the fraud ends up with bills for medical care they did not receive and, in some instances, diagnosis and treatments listed in databases that do not belong to them. The financial cost can be overwhelming and the possibility of malpractice frightening.

What can you do to safeguard your medical identity? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Treat your medical insurance card like you would a credit card. If lost, report it immediately to your insurance company. Don’t show your insurance card to or loan it to anyone other than trusted healthcare providers. At the medical facility, do not stand at the counter and rattle off insurance information that includes the numbers, social security number or birth date.

2. Read those EOBs! Insurance companies issue Explanation of Benefits when a provider is paid in your name. Look over those EOBs and quickly report mistakes to your insurance company. Shred EOBs if they include policy number, etc. Check that procedures billed to insurance company are accurate. Fraud schemes include providers billing for more expensive procedures, procedures not performed, charges for a specialist that wasn’t seen, ‘nurse’ visits when a trip to the lab would do, equipment not used and ‘splitting’ one procedure into multiple procedures in order to bill at a higher rate.

3. Check out benefits paid every year. Do a yearly check up on claims paid on your behalf. Quickly report any that you do not recognize. Make sure that your address or other contact information is accurate.

4. Watch out for scams! Clinics and physicians have been prosecuted for filing false bills covering tests and procedures that have never been performed. To avoid being a victim, avoid clinics that waive co-pays, offer ‘free’ tests, exams, transportation, etc. Again, check those EOBs for errors! I recently found an $11,000 error.

5. Check your credit rating. If someone has run up medical bills in your name, especially with false address, etc. you may likely find claims from credit agencies on your credit rating.

6. Ask for an accounting of disclosures. You have the right under HIPAA to get this document from every health care provider you visit. This document will let you know to whom information was released, when it was released and what information the provider received. As some medical databases are not interconnected, this is another way to track errors in your medical history.

7. If you find errors, what should you do? First, contact the provider and your insurance company. It may simply be a ‘coding’ error or honest mistake on the provider’s part. If it is not an error or you suspect fraud, contact your insurance, and keep records of who you speak to. Most insurance companies will aggressively pursue cases of suspected fraud. Report the fraud to your police department and receive a copy of the report. Other agencies will also investigate medical fraud. These include:

· City, County, State and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
· Justice Department through the Assistant
· U.S. Attorney General’s Office
· Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
· Postal Inspectors
· Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
· Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
· Offices of Inspectors General (OIG)
· U.S. Department of Labor

For more information, check out these websites:

www.WorldPrivacyForum.org
www.BCBS.com/AntiFraud/
www.Consumer.gov/IDTheft/

(This information comes primarily from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, which inspects and issues accreditation to hospitals and other organizations that deliver medical care.)

The Speak Up program urges patients to get involved in their care. Research has shown that medical errors are a serious problem in the health care system. Informed, involved patients have the lowest occurrence of life-threatening errors. Remember, you are an important part of your healthcare team! By following the guidelines below, you can be your own best defense.

Speak up if you have questions or concerns. If you do not understand the answer, ask again. It’s your body and you have a right to know what is happening. Your health is too important to be embarrassed by asking for clarification. Speak up if you think you are receiving the wrong medication, test, or procedure. Ask your doctor to mark the part of your body that will be operated on. Don’t hesitate to tell the health care provider if you think they have you mixed up with another patient.

Pay attention to the care you are receiving. Don’t assume anything! Expect healthcare providers to introduce themselves, have a visible ID batch and double check your identity before proceeding. Notice whether caregivers wash their hands before tending to you and gently remind them if they fail to do so. Hand washing is the single most effective deterrent to infection. If something doesn’t seem right, STOP and ask the person to clarify. If you are not comfortable with the answer, ask for a supervisor. If you are not comfortable with the process used in a procedure, demand that the healthcare provider stop.

Educate yourself about your diagnosis, medical care and treatment plan. Ask the doctors you visit what training, certification and experience they have in treating your condition. Know what it means for a doctor to be ‘board certified’. Use legitimate websites to check your doctor’s qualifications. Gather information from your doctor, pharmacist, insurer, the library and respected websites about your condition. Thoroughly read all forms before you sign them. Make certain you understand any equipment or medications you are prescribed. Know how to use (or take) them and what side effects to watch for.

Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate. This is vitally important if you must be hospitalized for out-patient or in-patient treatment. Your advocate can help you keep track of information provided to you, ask questions you may not think of, write notes of what is said and Speak Up for you if you can’t. Make certain your advocate knows your wishes regarding your care, life support and resuscitation. Ask your advocate to review consents or other forms you are asked to sign. If necessary, put in writing that your advocate can discuss your care with your providers. Your advocate should thoroughly understand the care you require when you are released.

Know what medications you take and WHY you take them. Medication errors are the most common health care mistake. Ask about the purpose of any medication you are prescribed, its benefits, side effects and potential hazards. Make certain that all prescribing doctors know ALL medications, vitamins and supplements that you take. This MUST include all herbal remedies, naturopathic medications or other things you ingest. If you do not recognize a medication (the shape, color, etc) changes or seems unfamiliar, double check that it is for you and the correct medication! Before swallowing any pill, make certain that you, your advocate and the person dispensing the pill know what you are taking. Read the contents of IV bags and know how long they should run. If you are not well enough to do this, ask your advocate to do it for you. Alter the nursing staff if the IV becomes painful, stops flowing or begins to flow more rapidly. Watch IV lines for excess air bubbles. Be certain that your physician, nurses and pharmacist know about any reactions that you have had to medications in the past. Use the same pharmacist for all prescriptions—this will help rule out adverse medication interactions. Make sure you can read the prescription handed to you. If you can’t, the pharmacist may not be able to either.

Use an ambulatory care center, surgery center, primary care or other type of healthcare organization that has been inspected and certified by a nationally recognized accreditation board such as JCAHO. Ask about the centers experience in caring for your condition. How frequently do they perform the procedure you need? If you have a choice between facilities, ask your doctor which one offers the best care for your condition. Ask them why they make that recommendation. Be certain that you understand about follow-up care and what to watch for before you leave the center. Be certain that you have numbers to call in case you have questions. Check www.jcaho.org to find out if the care center is accredited.

Participate in all decisions about your treatment! You are the center of the health care team. You and your doctor should agree on exactly what will be done during each step of your care. If you are an inpatient, be certain that nurses are following doctors’ orders. Understand why more tests or medications are being ordered. More is not always better. Keep copies of your medical records and share them with your health care team. Don’t be afraid to get a second or third or fourth opinion. Do not be afraid to change doctors if yours doesn’t want you to be actively involved in your care. Seek out others who have undergone the same procedure you are considering. Look for support groups, online message boards and reputable websites. Sharing information with others who have gone through what you are facing can be most helpful in facing what lies ahead. They can often help you prepare strategies that will ensure the best outcome possible.