Organize for Summer Safety

More household accidents happen in the summertime than any other time of the year.  What a bummer! Just when the weather beckons us for outdoor fun, millions of us spoil it by getting hurt. We get scrapes, burns, bruises and broken bones. Water related accidents are sometime more serious and lead to death.

Take a little time now to organize a few things to minimize hazards and to prepare a method for quick response should an accident happen.

Update your list of emergency response numbers, and put the list where everyone in the family can access it. If you have small children, program 911 into your phone at number 1, and teach the children to push it if certain emergencies occur.

Check for items on the stairs, deck, patio and lawn that could lead to stumbles and falls, and remove them. Garden hoses can be stored on a simple hook, a tire rim, or one of the many decorative holders and hooks carried by hardware store. Wonderful racks for garden tools can also be purchased at most hardware and department stores. Provide a tub or easily opened outdoor chest on the deck or patio for kids’ toys. The same kind of storage can be used for grilling equipment and outdoors games.

Create a “designated parking area” for riding toys. You can buy signs at novelty stores and catalogues, or make your own.

Invest in a fire extinguisher to keep by the grill. A portable one is available at local stores for as little as fifteen dollars.

If you are lucky enough to have a pool, provide poolside storage for toys and towels. Include a big bottle of waterproof suntan lotion in the poolside supplies.

Put together or purchase a basic first aid kit. The Red Cross has a list of suggested contents at www.redcross.org.

Sometimes accidents happen no matter how careful and vigilant we are. With your kit to handle bumps and bruises, and your list of emergency numbers handy, you are ready when your best efforts don’t prevent accidents. A quick response will allow folks to get on with their fun activities, or, perhaps, save a life.


Beverly and Kristen
http://www.keytransitions.net/

Update Emergency Supplies and Plan

Every year about this time we start talking about organizing emergency supplies in time for hurricane season. Well, hurricane season is here. So, if you haven’t already reviewed your emergency kit and plan, now is a good time to do it.

Check the expiration date on all food, bottled water, medications (including over-the-counter products), and pharmaceuticals (like contact solution or lubricants), and replace expired products.

Review any prescription medications and make sure they are the correct type and dosage for your current use.

Inspect clothing and make sure they are the right size and in good repair.

Make sure batteries are fresh and flashlights and radio are in working order.

Evaluate your ability to handle your evacuation kit. Sometimes there are temporary or permanent mobility issues that have arisen since the last check that make handling the weight or bulk of the kit difficult. A small soft-sided thermal chest on wheels makes a portable kit that can be handled by people who have difficulty lifting heavier weights.

Take a careful look at your emergency plan to see if it accurately reflects information for the whereabouts of household members and emergency contact numbers.

When you have everything current, tuck the kit away in an easily accessible space, and hope you don’t have to use it.

Beverly and Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Organize Essential Documents

The National Association of Professional Organizers reports that most people identify paper as their biggest organizing problem. The most daunting task is knowing where to start.

Consider dividing your paper problem into categories. Some suggested topics are current mail, bills, correspondence, essential documents. Then decide how you will separate each major category into smaller segments that will allow you to file the documents as they come in, act on them in a timely manner, then archive them for an appropriate amount of time.

Give special consideration to essential documents-those records that you might need for emergency, legal or financial consideration. These documents need to be safeguarded in a waterproof, fireproof safe that can be removed from the home if there is some type of emergency that requires evacuation. Some folks keep these documents in safety deposit boxes in banks. If that is your choice, you should consider keeping copies safeguarded at home so you can easily access them if, for some reason, the bank is not open to you. That scenario happened recently in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. With copies you can at least transact business and obtain substitute originals from the source if necessary.

Here are a few essential documents to include in your emergency file:

Documents that deal with identification like birth certificates, Social Security cards, adoption orders, citizenship papers, marriage certificates and divorce/separation papers.

Documents that deal with insurance like life and health insurance policies including dental and disability, home owners or renters insurance policies, automobile and boat insurance policies and umbrella insurance policies.

Documents that deal with personal and business finance including checking and savings account information, investment accounts, titles and deeds to real estate and other personal property such as cars and boats, stock and bond certificates, and loan agreements.

Estate planning documents including will and trust documents and durable power of attorney for health and finance.

Pulling these important documents together and filing them in a safe place is a good start to organizing paper.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Organize to Shelter in Place

“Mom, what neat things do we have in our emergency kit?” the commercial begins. It is a reminder to families to gather supplies in case of emergency. September is Emergency preparedness month, so it is a good time to organize those items that will help us endure emergency situations.

An unexpected event may require your family to shelter in place. Be prepared to make it on your own for three days without external sources of food water or electricity. While you can include extra amenities to make you and your family comfortable, the main considerations are fresh water, food, and clean air. Remember to include and keep current daily medications such as insulin or heart medication. Consider making two kits. One to use if you stay where you are and a smaller portable version if you need to get away.

Store at least one gallon of water per person per day. Include nonperishable foods that your family enjoys along with a manual can opener and eating utensils.

Stock heavy-weight garbage bags, plastic sheeting, duct tape and scissors in your kit. Also include a flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, feminine hygeine products, soap and premoistened towelettes, and supplies for children and pets as needed. A whistle should be included to signal for help and a dust mask or tee shirt to help filter air.

Keep you cell phone charged and cash and identification readily available.

Plan what to do in advance of unexpected events. Develop a communication plan, organize an emergency kit and be ready to evacuate or shelter in place. For more information go to www.ready.gov

Beverly and Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

ORGANIZE CORDS AND CABLES

Not all technology is wireless. That is evident when we spy the tangled web of cords leading from computers, entertainment systems and other clusters of electronic devices.
Whether you are dealing with extension cords or coaxial cables, there are devices that help to keep them orderly and protect the humans in our lives from getting tangled in the mess.

The least expensive (and least esthetically pleasing) solution is too use split PVC tubing to protect and bundle, or twist ties and stick on hooks to keep the tied cords tight against consoles and walls. Either of these solutions works well for thinner cords and cables. A cheap option for storing thinner cable is to thread them through paper towel or toilet tissue tubes. We do not, however, recommend using these paper tubes for cables and cords that are in use.

If you yearn for a simple, attractive way to organize the cords and cables that litter your floors, there are several commercially available options for taming the mess. The Wiremate Cable Organizer at www.wiremate.com conceals a crowd of cables and comes in three colors to coordinate with your décor. At www.officedepot.com , the 3M Cord Organizer Kit comes with cord bundlers and tags, and www.organize.com carries a host of products for shortening excess cable cord and bundling cable of all sizes. At www.ImprovementsCatologue.com you can find a Cord Cover Kit that includes adhesive-backed channels and corner pieces that snap together for a neat tailored look. The material can be painted to match the décor and fits any flat surface. This is a great alternative for protecting wires from little hands.

A cordwrap outlet faceplate for outlets is an ingenious design that allows the user to wrap excess cord at the plug-in source. Unfortunately the website www.keepitcartesian is temporarily out of the product. They urge you to check back as they will have the design in stock soon. A few other devices that allow better organization of cords at plug in sites are the Hub-man four port hub available at www.solutions.com, and the five outlet corner plug surge protector that fits neatly in a corner available at www.shophometrends.com.

Keeping cords bundled, encased and organized protects the cords from damage and keeps them from causing harm to folks with inquisitive hands or clumsy feet.

Beverly and Kristen
www.keytransitions.net

Avoid Cluttered Linen Closets

Some of us are lucky enough to have linen closets that allow us to keep our stored linens in piles and still have room for toiletries and other items we like to keep handy. Most of us don’t have that luxury and have to devise ways to keep our linen storage neat. The challenge is even greater if we have family members helping themselves to sheets and towels or putting way the clean laundry.

We have a few strategies that work for most families and really work well for individuals.
The first step in deciding what to keep where is to consider where your linen closet is located. If it is in the upstairs hallway near the shared bath, where will you keep table linens and things you use in the downstairs bath? Is there room in the linen closet for things you use in the master suite, or would it be better to store those items closer to where they are used?

Once you have decided exactly what you are going to keep in the linen closet, take a look at the volume of stuff you have to store there. Remember you do not have to have every piece of linen that fits that category available for use. If you have twenty sets of sheets for the queen size bed, one set on the bed and one or two sets in the closet are enough to have on hand. Other sheets and pillowcases can be stored in less accessible spaces until they are needed for use. That goes for anything you have more than a few of. (Just don’t forget you have it and buy some more). That also goes for seasonal items that can be packed in plastic bags with the seasonal decorations.

When you are ready to stack things in the closet, consider using bins for toiletries and, if you do not need to consider safety of small children, place them on low shelves to minimize damage from spillage. If you need to consider child safety, place them out of children’s reach in containers with solid plastic sides and bottom. Place folded sheets and pillowcases inside one of the matching pillowcases and fold the pillowcase sided to fit the contents. Store on shelves with the unopened pillowcase seam facing out. Use the same principle with towels. Fold the washcloth and face towel inside the bath towel and store with the smooth side out. You may also consider rolling the towels, especially if you have deep shelves. If children need to access the linens, place them within easy reach so they do not have to climb to get them in our out of the closet.

If you store infrequently used items in the linen closet, fold them inside-out in order to prevent dust from accumulating on the used side. It is good practice to store tablecloths this way. Tablecloths may also be hung on towel racks mounted on closet or panty doors.

To keep the linen closet looking organized, tidy up the items in disarray when you put away clean linens or when you remove an item for use. Those two minutes will go a long way to keep the space in order.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransition.net

Organizing a Winter Car Kit

We are enjoying temperatures in the sixties and seventies while Colorado and Missouri are enduring crippling ice and snow. It won’t be long before this fickle climate puts on its winter face and treats us to a little slush. It can come quickly at any time now. If you have lived in this area long enough, you have seen holidays that felt sub-tropical and holidays with snow on the ground. So now is the time to think about supplementing your car emergency kit with a few items to see you through the winter months.

Here are a few items we suggest:

• De-icer for windshields and locks


• A small shovel


• Kitty litter to provide traction


• Water


• A warm blanket


• Insulated gloves


• Fold-up boots


• Nonperishable snacks


• Windshield scraper


• Whisk broom
  

If you do not already have a car emergency kit add:

• Battery cables


• Tire inflater


• Roadside flares


• Heavy duty flashlight

Organize the items in a waterproof bag, ice chest or plastic tote. You will feel safer on the road because you are prepared for winter car troubles.

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

A Place for Toys

Many of us have grandchildren, nieces and nephews and young friends who stop by for short visits. Those of us who have experience with children know that it is wise to have some safe, age appropriate toys handy when these little darlings come to call. That way we preserve the other tempting objects in our house that just call out to be handled and broken. Creating a play station, either stationary or portable, helps ensure that even your youngest guests have an enjoyable visit.

We are firm believers that children are best kept under the watchful eye of their caretaker when visiting, especially if they are in an unfamiliar setting. The challenge is to create a separate space that encourages independent play so the adults can enjoy interacting with each other. Even though the children are in sight, it is a good idea to make the space as safe as possible. For instance, obscure electrical outlets, make sure all furniture is stable and will not topple over and avoid sharp corners and breakable surfaces.

One of our clients has chosen to create a stationary play area in her finished room above the garage where she frequently visits with friends and meets with her church groups. In one sunny corner, she has a book case filled with children’s books and games. Next to that, she has a three-drawer chest that houses a variety of play things. If you choose this type of play area, make sure that books and toys appropriate for small children are placed on lower shelves and items with small parts or other hazards are placed out of reach.

Another way of handling the situation is to put together a portable play station. This can be done with a box or large bag, a rolling bin or a storage chest. Group toys by age appropriateness and place in large plastic bags which are labeled with the age category. Then place the bags in the storage receptacle. Fill another bag with a cheerful quilt or throw and small pillow. You might also add a lap-desk or other firm writing surface for coloring and drawing. When the young ones arrive, pull out the bags that correspond to their age group and spread the throw to define their play area. These portable play stations are also a good solution for parents who occasionally tend children in spaces other than the main play area in the residence. A play station in the laundry room can distract a child long enough to get the clothes sorted or folded.


Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Organize Your Tools and Fix Something

Everybody has to fix something sometime in his life. Repairs are a lot easier of tolls are organized and handy. Some folks have just the basic hammer and nails, screwdriver, pliers and mallet. Others have a collection of tools for every eventuality. No matter how many tolls you own, they should be stored so they are not damaged and so that you can retrieve what you need without hurting yourself. If there are youngsters in the house, tools should be kept in a locked container or in a place in inaccessible to children.

Saws and knives should have teeth and blades protected to keep the sharp and to protect human skin from nicks and scrapes. Nails and screws should be confined to compartments or containers with lids.

There are a number of options to store tools in an organized fashion. Small toolboxes made of heavy duty plastics or metal with removable trays and lockable lid are available for under ten dollars. There are also buckets with liners that hold tools and accessories. Husky makes various sized soft-sided carry-all satchels that are good choices for a limited number of tools. Metal tool chests with a variety of drawers and compartments come in all sizes and range from a portable chest costing thirty dollars to mega-chests on wheels costing over a thousand dollars.

For transporting everything you need for a job, Stanley makes a mobile job chest that has a fifty gallon capacity, a large tool tray and a retractable handle that allows the chest to be pulled on its heavy-duty rubber coated wheels.

These containers and others can be viewed at the following web-sites:
www.homedepot.com
www.lowes.com
www.sears.com

Select the container that suits your needs and organize you tools in it. The next time you need to hang a picture, repair a fixture or assemble a new purchase, you tools will be waiting for you.

Beverly and Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.com