Safety/First Aid

I want to thank one of our website readers for making the suggestion to add this page. If we work as a community, we can overcome many of the difficulties that confront us daily. I will continue to listen and do all that I can to bring as much information as I can in a timely manner.

I want to breakdown the safety topic a bit. It may wind up with its own separate page when all is said and done.

There is the safety that each of us thinks about throughout the day. The old "don't put your hand on a hot stove" is one example. Probably the biggest acts of safety can be realized when it involves other people. Driving a car or bike in traffic is a good example. Keeping our distance from those who want to hurt or bully people. One thing I learned in a class I recently attended is that the best fight I can be in, is one that I avoid. As adults, we need to get past the stigma that prevailed as a youth when someone called us "chicken". It reminds me of the Back to the Future  movies that always had someone calling McFly a "chicken" and he would lose control and would always wind up in a bigger predicament. 

Other daily safety tips include being careful on ladders or lifting objects and hurting backs. I had a friend who lost his life when he fell off a ladder. 

Other types of safety in the modern world is being careful with our personal identification. If we are going to use email and other means of communication, it is imperative that we learn how to protect ourselves and watch out for those who are phishing for information. Often times it comes in the form of an email indicating that you have something for free or perhaps there is a problem with your account. Never "click" on those links that show up on emails as it can open you up to a whole world of difficulties. It is usually easy to verify the sender to assure authenticity. Here is just one example - Suppose you get a message that is supposed to be from your bank, it looks totally legitimate and even has their logo on it. Be sure to look at the email header that shows who actually sent it. Also, take a good look at what is written (DO NOT CLICK ON ANYTHING) often times crooks misspell words or the grammar indicates the person does not understand simple English.- If it isn't your bank, delete it promptly. If it seems to authentic, still be aware and perhaps make a quick call to your bank to verify it. If you don't know who it is, remember what we teach our children - "Stranger Danger".

Aside from anti-virus software I personally subscribe to a newsletter from Kim Kommando. She has been on the radio in the SF Bay Area for years and in her newsletter often points out different ways to look for and hopefully thwart potential scammers. She has always been trustworthy, in my own opinion, or else I would not suggest her newsletter.

First Aid 

I pulled this information from the Red Cross website - it is a wealth of information that is available including classes and training - what you see here is just the highlights from the website. Please take the time to check out RedCross.org