DENGUE TIPS
Courtesy the Ministry of Health
EARTHQUAKE SAFETY TIPS
A little knowledge and a few precautionary measures can enormously increase your chances of surviving an earthquake - or any other type of hazard. The keys are education and preparing in advance. The earthquake safety tips below will not make you an expert. However, they could make a life-saving difference if you find yourself in an earthquake situation. Invest in your personal safety by studying below.
Before the Earthquake:
• Learn how to survive during the ground motion. This is described in the "During the Earthquake" section below. The earthquake safety tips there will prepare you for the fast action needed - most earthquakes are over in seconds so knowing what to do instinctively is very important.
• Teach all members of your family about earthquake safety. This includes: 1) the actions you should take when an earthquake occurs, 2) the safe places in a room such as under a strong desk, along interior walls, and 3) places to avoid such as near windows, large mirrors, hanging objects, heavy furniture and fireplaces.
• Stock up on emergency supplies. These include: battery operated radio (and extra batteries), flashlights (and extra batteries), first aid kit, bottled water, two weeks food and medical supplies, blankets, cooking fuel, tools needed to turn off your gas, water and electric utilities.
• Arrange your home for safety: Store heavy objects on lower shelves and store breakable objects in cabinets with latched doors. Don't hang heavy mirrors or pictures above where people frequently sit or sleep.
• Anchor heavy appliances and furniture such as water heaters, refrigerators and bookcases.
• Store flammable liquids away from potential ignition sources such as water heaters, stoves and furnaces.
• Get Educated. Learn what to do during an earthquake (see below). Then you will be ready for the fast action needed. Make sure that all members of your family have this important education.
• Learn where the main turn-offs are for your water, gas and electricity. Know how to turn them off and the location of any needed tools.
During the Earthquake:
• If you are indoors, stay there. Quickly move to a safe location in the room such as under a strong desk, a strong table, or along an interior wall. The goal is to protect you from falling objects and be located near the structural strong points of the room. Avoid taking cover near windows, large mirrors, hanging objects, heavy furniture, heavy appliances or fireplaces.
• If you are cooking, turn off the stove and take cover.
• If you are outdoors, move to an open area where falling objects are unlikely to strike you. Move away from buildings, power lines and trees.
• If you are driving, slow down smoothly and stop on the side of the road. Avoid stopping on or under bridges and overpasses, or under power lines, trees and large signs. Stay in your car.
After the Earthquake:
• Check for injuries; attend to injuries if needed, help ensure the safety of people around you.
• Check for damage. If your building is badly damaged you should leave it until it has been inspected by a safety professional.
• If you smell or hear a gas leak, get everyone outside and open windows and doors. If you can do it safely, turn off the gas at the meter. Report the leak to the Gas Company and Fire dDepartment. Do not use any electrical appliances because a tiny spark could ignite the gas.
• If the power is out, unplug major appliances to prevent possible damage when the power is turned back on. If you see sparks, frayed wires, or smell hot insulation turn off electricity at the main fuse box or breaker. If you will have to step in water to turn off the electricity you should call a professional to turn it off for you.
(As published on Geology.com)
FINANCIAL TIPS
Although making resolutions to improve your financial situation is a good thing to do at any time of year, many people find it easier at the beginning of a new year. Regardless of when you begin, the basics remain the same. Here ten keys to getting ahead financially.
1. Get paid what you’re worth and spend less than you earn
It sounds simplistic, but many people struggle with this first basic rule. Make sure you know what your job is worth in the marketplace, by conducting an evaluation of your skills, productivity, job tasks, contribution to the company, and the going rate, both inside and outside the company, for what you do. Being underpaid even a thousand dollars a year can have a significant cumulative effect over the course of your working life. No matter how much or how little you're paid, you'll never get ahead if you spend more than you earn. Often it's easier to spend less than it is to earn more (It doesn't always have to involve making big sacrifices) and a little cost-cutting effort in a number of areas can result in big savings.
2. Stick to a Budget
How can you know where your money is going if you don't budget? How can you set spending and saving goals if you don't know where your money is going? You need a budget whether you make thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
3. Pay off Credit Card Debt
Credit card debt is the number one obstacle to getting ahead financially. Those little pieces of plastic are so easy to use, and it's so easy to forget that it's real money we're dealing with when we whip them out to pay for a purchase, large or small. Despite our good resolves to pay the balance off quickly, the reality is that we often don't, and end up paying far more for things than we would have paid if we had used cash.
4. Contribute to a Retirement Plan
If your employer has an employee pension plan and you don't contribute to it, you're walking away from one of the best deals out there. Ask your employer if they have such a plan in place, and sign up today. If you're already contributing, try to increase your contribution. If your employer doesn't offer a retirement plan, consider acquiring an individual retirement account such as the ‘Pensions Plus’ offered by CUNA Caribbean Insurance Society Limited.
5. Have a Savings Plan
You've heard it before: Pay yourself first! If you wait until you've met all your other financial obligations before seeing what's left over for saving, chances are you'll never have a healthy savings account or investments. Resolve to set aside a minimum of 5% to 10% of your salary for savings BEFORE you start paying your bills. Better yet, have money automatically deducted from your paycheck and deposited into a separate account.
6. Invest!
If you're contributing to a retirement plan and a savings account at the same time, and you can still manage to put some money into other investments, this is all the better.
7. Maximize Your Employment Benefits
Employment benefits like an employee pension plan, flexible spending accounts, medical and dental insurance, etc., are worth big bucks. Make sure you're maximizing yours and taking advantage of the ones that can save you money by reducing taxes or out-of-pocket expenses.
8. Review Your Insurance Coverages
Too many people are talked into paying too much for life and disability insurance, whether it's by adding these coverages to car loans, buying whole-life insurance policies when term-life makes more sense, or buying life insurance when you have no dependents. On the other hand, it's important that you have enough insurance to protect your dependents and your income in the case of death or disability.
9. Create/Update Your Will
70% of the working population does not have a will. If you have dependents, no matter how little or how much you own, you need a will. If your situation isn't too complicated you can even do your own. Protect your loved ones. Write a will.
10. Keep Good Records
If you don't keep good records, you're probably not claiming all your allowable income tax deductions and credits. Set up a system now and use it all year. (Try utilizing a personal organizer/diary) It's much easier than scrambling to find everything at tax time, only to miss items that might have saved you money.
FLU TIPS
What is Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Flu)?
The influenza A H1N1 virus is a new flu virus spreading among humans. The virus is highly contagious and causes respiratory illness that is similar to the seasonal influenza. Countries with cases of swine flu include Mexico, the Unites States, Canada, Germany (3), Israel, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom among others. Influenza A H1N1 is a new virus. Most persons do not have resistance and immunity to it. Anyone can get the swine flu, even healthy people, and serious problems from the flu can happen at any age. The flu also can make chronic health problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have the flu, and people with chronic congestive heart failure may have worsening of this condition.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of A H1N1 Flu in People?
Generally clinical symptoms are similar to seasonal influenza. Symptoms range from very mild illness or no symptoms at all, to severe pneumonia which can result in death. Symptoms include:
* Fever (High fever over 38°C/ 101 F)
* Sore Throat
* Runny Nose
* Cough
* Headaches and body pains
* Fatigue and tiredness
* Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur.
* Severe illness can include pneumonia, pain in chest when taking a breath, respiratory failure and death
In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Not drinking enough water or other fluids
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Vomiting and diarrhoea
* Other conditions like diabetes or asthma that get worse
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness and confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
Important Tips to note in order to prevent the FLU from spreading
1. Cover your nose and mouth
Use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the tissue in the trash bin after use, and wash your hands with soap and water. If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze into your sleeve.
2. Wash your hands
Use soap and water to help protect yourself from germs. Wash your hands often, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
An infected person’s cough or sneeze contains flu viruses that move through the air and land on surfaces like desks and doorknobs. These germs are often spread when a person touches the contaminated object and then touches his eyes, nose or mouth.
4. Stay home when you are sick
Should you develop flu-like symptoms such as high fever, headache, body pains, runny nose, sore throat, coughing, visit your doctor or healthcare practitioner. Stay home from school, work or other public places like shops and malls until the doctor says you can do so. Protect others from getting sick by keeping your distance. (Courtesy the Ministry of Health of Trinidad & Tobago)