Clutter Conversions » safety

Holiday Organizing Tips

clutterconversions — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:13:56 +0000

Gifts

Prepare a list: who you are buying for, what are you getting them and how much money do you plan to spend on them. This will help you purchase items that are usable and wanted for someone and keep you within your budget. Gift buying should be completed 2 weeks before the Christmas and wrapped one week before.

Decorations

Avoid stashing everyday household items in closets and cabinets, by storing them in the containers that your holiday decorations were stored in. Think safety when decorating! Do not set items in areas that people can trip over or knock off and break.

Entertaining

If you entertain during this time, make sure your walkway and entrance is well lighted. Turn the heat down two hours before guests arrive.

Meal Preparation

Prepare your menu for Thanksgiving and Christmas now. Make a list of items you need to prepare both meals and compare to what you already have. Double batch anything you can and freeze if you are going to serve it for both meals. Ask yourself what you can do before such as setting the table or cooking items the weekend before your meal.

Following these few tips can help you enjoy your family and friends more during the holiday season while decreasing stress and saving money.

September is National Emergency Preparedness Month

clutterconversions — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:52:41 +0000

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has designated September as National Preparedness Month, are you prepared? You may think, “It can never happen to me”, but if it does, are there enough supplies to last me and my family through the ordeal? Are you sure?? If you get prepared, you will be sure!! How do you get prepared for the unknown? Here are some simple steps and products to get you started but you do have to take into consideration which part of the country you live in and what has happened in the past.

Step1: Get A Kit of emergency supplies. Basic Kit:

Water (one gallon per person per day)
Non-perishable Food (at least a 3 day supply)
Battery powered or hand cranked radio or NOAA weather radio w/tone alert and extra batteries
Flashlight and extra batteries
Whistle to signal for help
Filter Mask or cotton t-shirt to help filter air
Moist Towlettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for sanitation
Wrench or Pliers to turn off utilities
Manual Can Opener
Plastic sheeting and Duct Tape
Important Family Documents
Items for unique family needs (medicines, baby formula, diapers, etc,)

Think about 2 kits: A big one for your home and smaller version for your vehicle

Step 2: Make a Plan:
Develop a family emergency plan and practice it. Who is going to do what and where when disaster strikes. If you have family or friends that live far away from you, consider using them as the contact person everyone needs to contact because it can be easier to contact them than within your own area.

Step 3: Be Informed about what might happen:
Make yourself aware of what can happen in the event of a natural or man made emergency

Businesses need to be prepared also. If you own a business, you need to have an emergency plan for your employees. Prepare a written plan, give them each a copy and personally go over it with them explaining to them that in the event of an emergency, who is in charge (chain of command), how do they communicate with you and what is their expectations in helping to get the business up and running again. People often want to get back to work because getting back into the routine of work provides them some distraction from outside stressors and gives them the comfort of a paycheck to fix any problems they may have.

You can find tons of useful articles, tips and products at www.ready.gov, www.thereadystore.com and www.redcrossstore.org

Vacation Travel tips

clutterconversions — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:59:38 +0000

Being organized will help you have an enjoyable vacation but you have to plan for it!

The first thing you should do once you have made the decision to take the vacation you so truly deserve is to make a “packing list“. Make a list of the things you need to pack, making sure you’re only taking along what you will absolutely need in order to reduce the number of bags you’ll need to take. This is also the time to make your grocery list if you plan on camping or needing any snacks. Look to see if you have the right amount of coolers. The list is made for each person in your family going on the trip and it includes everything that person needs to take. For example; what types of clothing, medicines, entertainment items, any special foods and all personal items. You store this on your computer so that you can print it out every time you need it. Items will need to be deleted or added for each trip but at least you will always have the basics. You can print the list and check off the items as you pack.

Secondly, you need to pack smart!

If you are using the airlines to travel the FAA guidelines now limit carry-on baggage to one bag plus one personal item (i.e. purse, briefcase, laptop or backpack.) Some airlines have recently leveraged fees for checking bags or for checking more than one bag.

The Pack-It-System sold by The Container Store® compresses clothing in luggage to make the most of the space. This allows security personnel to quickly look through clothing and other packed items and speeds up the security check process.The Pack-It-System® is made up of see-through mesh side panels so that you can quickly see what is inside. Since your clothing is neatly folded and secured, it is quick and easy to put the items back into your luggage after passing through security.

If you are traveling by car make sure you have small toys and games easily accessible for children to use during the ride. Use clear bags so the children can see through them to pick out what they want instead of having to pull everything out.

Third, Pack for Safety
If you are traveling by air the TSA may pick your bag for screening and may need to break into it due to stricter security checks. There are three options for locking your bags; travel locks, locking luggage straps or cable ties. The advantage to using the cable ties are that they are inexpensive, disposable, easily cut by TSA agents but still deter criminals for messing with them.
If you are traveling with children pack a kit with first aid supplies. Store it either in an outer pocket of a suitcase or in your carry on or day bag or in the glove compartment of your car. Consider carrying a small supply of the following items: bandages, pain reliever, stomach medicine, first aid ointment, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, stain removal pen and a sewing kit.