September is National Preparedness Month #NatlPrep

“We Prepare Every Day” is the first in a series of videos that aim to deliver a strong preparedness message by showing people with disabilities taking charge to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies.

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The launch of the new PSA coincided with the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, and it precedes National Preparedness Month in September.  The PSA provides equal access to all viewers by including open captioning, a certified deaf interpreter, and audio description for viewers who are blind or have low vision.

Created pro-bono by Free Range Studios, “We Prepare Every Day” shows whole community and individual emergency and disaster preparedness as a part of everyday planning. One of the goals of the PSA is to encourage all Americans to “Be Informed, Make a Plan, Build a Kit, and Get Involved.” Resources and guidelines on how to do this can be found at Ready.gov/MyPlan.

Be Informed
First, you need to be informed about potential emergencies and disasters where you live, work, or visit. Then, you can go about making a plan that fits you and your loved ones.

Make a Plan
Making a family emergency communication plan with your friends and family before a disaster occurs is important.  Why? Because it will help you answer questions: how will you get in touch with each other? How will your family get to a safe place?  It’s important to make a plan now so that you will know where to meet, how to find each other following a disaster, and how to communicate in an emergency that works for your family’s specific communication needs.

Build a Kit
While each person’s abilities and needs vary, everyone can take steps to prepare for all types of emergencies. By evaluating your own individual needs and making an emergency plan that fits those needs, you and your loved ones can be better prepared.  For example, if being without access to medications, help, or other services you need to maintain your health, safety and independence for even a couple of hours or days could be devastating, and you need to be prepared more than ever.

Get Involved
People with disabilities are encouraged to take a seat at their community and local government- level planning tables.  Planning for emergencies and disasters with people who have disabilities and others with access and functional needs rather than planning for them will allow us to understand and address the needs of the whole community in a disaster.

To get more information on how to make a family emergency communication plan, build a disaster supply kit or to learn how to get involved in community preparedness, please visit Ready.gov/MyPlan.

  • While each person’s abilities and needs vary, every individual can take steps to prepare for all types of emergencies. By evaluating your own individual needs and making an emergency plan that fits those needs, you and your loved ones can be better prepared. Some items to consider including in your post:
    • What medical devices or assistive technology devices you need to have with you if there is an evacuation order from local officials
    • Your plans to remain independent if you require oxygen or mechanical ventilation
    • Practice your plan with your support network, just like you would a fire drill.
    • Discuss your needs and/or the needs of a family member; learn about their assistance requirements or the services they depend on.
    • Advocate including people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into emergency planning in your community.

All of these questions and more are covered in the free guide available for download here: http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/90360

Clean First for the Best Finish with Puracyn® Plus

For more clean start tips for the best finish, visit Puracyn Plus on the web at www.puracynplus.com and LIKE the brand on Facebook. This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. All opinions, text and experiences are my own.

When it comes to most projects around the house (or in general) there is a step which must be taken before your project even begins.  I’m talking about the prep time and the cleanup of the area or what you will be working on. An example of this is when trying to fix a sink you clean out under the sink first before you even start working on the sink component. Yes, we’ve just done a project like this, ha.
This summer, we had quite a few projects, but the one that sticks out in my mind the most was the dog bowl stand. My son wanted to make something out of wood that would be useful not, and I quote, ‘a dumb bird house’.  I guess I’m the worst mom ever, making a bird house with him.  You know- the one he asked me to make with him?  Yeah.  So stupid of me.

This will be a daddy project.  They want to make something useful, and dad didn’t want me buying our dog a bowl stand (he’s getting older and is beginning to have arthritis) so they decided on a dog dish holder for our pooch.

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After measuring and figuring out, (and measuring) then buying all the parts (and measuring one more time), it was time to get to work and build something. But first we had to clean up the table outside and make sure all our tools were in good shape. In this same manner of properly cleaning up before doing something, new Puracyn Plus Duo-Care Wound & Skin Cleanser is the next generation first step in first aid for cleansing, debriding and hydrating wounds, and is formulated with a pH balanced, hypochlorous solution, designed to improve the most essential part of the wound treatment process – preparation of the wound bed – a clean start for the best finish. Clean wounds first with Puracyn Plus Duo-Care Wound & Skin Cleanser and set the stage for optimal healing.

9110a832-1e7e-11e5-91b5-22000af93a2dThe easy, hands-free spray application of Puracyn Plus thoroughly cleans minor wounds, eliminating the need for running water in the critical first step of cleaning a wound. We really like how Puracyn Plus is a convenient alternative to the otherwise messy job of cleansing the wound area that can be applied on the spot and on-the-go, and is more effective than soap and water and won’t cause cell damage the way hydrogen peroxide can. Puracyn® Plus is available in a 4oz. plastic, spray bottle at Rite Aid and Walgreens for $14.99.To learn more about the brand visit www.puracynplus.com and follow the brand on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/Puracyn). Also available is Puracyn® Plus Foot Wash & Skin Cleanser which is a safe, effective, FIRST step in first aid for foot sores and irritations, blisters, dry and cracked feet, and rashes.

Puracyn® Plus Duo-Care Wound and Skin Cleanser…so she can get back into the game! Watch the new Puracyn Plus 2015 National TV Commercial here.

Save $3 on your next purchase of Puracyn® Plus Duo-Care Wound & Skin Cleanser and Puracyn® Plus Foot Wash & Skin Cleanser! Available in the first aid section at your local Rite Aid and Walgreens.

Starting on July 17, enter the Puracyn Plus Clean Start Giveaway on the Puracyn® Plus Facebook page (www.facebook.com/puracyn) for the chance to be one of four randomly selected winners to receive a $250 retailer gift card (choice of Home Depot, California Closets, Pier 1 Imports, or Staples) and Puracyn® Plus product, so you can get a clean start on a project for the best finish.

Banana Boat® Summer

When ever you have a Summer activity proper sun screen in necessary. This is not only the healthy way to have Summer fun but also saves your family and yourself with unwanted pain, itching and peeling. And those are some of the short term effects. We all know what is possible without proper sun screen application, so use it.

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Not only are trips to the beach or the pool places where Banana Boat ® is a must, but also when going to places like the park, zoo, carnival, really any place with a chance to be outside. My suggestion would be get a small bottle of Banana Boat® Sport Performance® Lotion Sunscreen with PowerStay Technology™. Did you know proper sun screening should be 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to you and your kids’ entire bodies 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.

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Another Summer activity that should not be ignored when reaching to the sun screen is gardening in the yard. Just because it is overcast does not mean the sun is not emitting its harmful rays. Banana Boat® sun care products are tested in seven conditions–sun, pool water, ocean water,wind, sweat, sand and extreme heat–to provide safe and effective broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection for the entire family.

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So whatever your Summer activity is keep it safe and protected and of course have a great time with your family and friends. I’ll be here hoping you get no rain during your festivities.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Banana Boat® . The opinions and text are all mine.

Banana Boat For Summer Fun #BBBestSummerEver @bananaboat

Disclosure- Sponsored by BANANA BOAT®, All opinions are my own.banboat.
 A necessary part of summer is the sun of course, but with those hot days at the beach also comes the danger of skin damage and skin cancer from the sun.  The best way to fight this is with sun screen, and one of our favorites is Banana Boat®.
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 As every parent knows a good summer trip involves preparation.  Snacks, water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray ,and a towel are just some of the necessities needed for summer fun.
One fun trip we took recently was a fishing trip to a local camping spot. The prep for this trip was simple.  It was a damp morning, but it was due to clear up in the afternoon so we of course grabbed the Banana Boat® as the husband and son are super fair skinned.  We also grabbed the snacks, water bottles, and hand sanitizer.  Of course, in addition to hats and fishing gear.  Can’t fish without that!
The day started out dreary and pouring, so it was a good thing snacks were packed.  The rain cleared up, it was time for fishing so sun screen was applied and fishing commenced.  As the day progressed, the rain started up again the fishing trip had to be brought to an early end around lunch time.  The best part of this trip- not a spot of sun burn among any of us.  My son even caught a fish!  If you can call that a fish, LOL- and yes, it was put back. No one getting burned is always tricky, because my son and husband are  quite pale.  Of course, everyone can burn, but the lighter you are, the harder it can be. The day was a success with the little guy catching the only fish and everyone having a good time.
No matter you have planned this summer,  preparation and sun screen are necessities.
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Below are a few tips and tricks regarding sun screen:
Be sure to apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to you and your kids’ entire bodies 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
We know family gatherings can be hosted under many different conditions-Banana Boat has some great products that offer multi-skin benefits, like water-resistance, ease of application and
comfort. For example, for families at the beach, I love their new SunComfort™ Clear UltraMist® Sunscreen it provides Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB protection and water resistance, and also
allows sand to easily brush off!
Make sunscreen application fun for kids. Make up lyrics to your own melody to sing while applying sunscreen. It keeps them engaged and makes it feel like less of a chore.
Banana Boat® sun care products are tested in seven conditions
–sun, pool water, ocean water,wind, sweat, sand and extreme heat–to provide safe and effective broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection for the entire family.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Banana Boat® . The opinions and text are all mine.

Get Your Kids to Buckle Up #KidsBuckleUp

We all know that getting our kids to listen can be a challenge.  There are times you lose the battle, but as long as you win the war, right?  One of the battles you really can’t afford to lose is the battle to buckle up.  Not only is it a lifesaver in a car crash, but it will keep them safe in all those little “road skirmishes” most of us deal with on a regular basis.  Kids who buckle up as soon as they get in the car, every time, will develop that habit, and it will be one that they won’t break as they get older and start driving on their own- so start young, and never let that one go.

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Parenting a tween involves compromise. But here’s one rule that should not be up for debate – the car doesn’t move until everyone is wearing a seat belt. If you say it, and if parents buckle up themselves, your tween will buckle up. And if they don’t, that’s a fight worth having. It might just save your tween’s life.

pic5Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children age 1 to 14 in the USA?  Over the past 5 years, 1,522 kids ages 8-14 died in car, SUV and van crashes. Of those who died, almost half were unbelted.  As children get older they’re less likely to buckle up. The percentage of child passengers who die while riding unrestrained generally increases with age and is most pronounced among 13 and 14-year-olds regardless of seating position.
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Sarah Tilton’s Car Seat Installation Tips and WIN a Britax Advocate ClickTight car seat

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Car Seat Installation Tips:

  • It is important to follow the user manuals from both the child car seat manufacturer and the vehicle manufacturer in order to achieve a proper installation.
  • Use a car seat that makes installation as simple as buckling a seat belt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, three out of every four car seats are installed incorrectly. To address this concerning fact, the new ClickTight installation technology in Britax convertible car seats gives any caretaker the confidence to correctly and securely install these seats in just a few easy steps.
  • The safest place for your child in any vehicle is in the back seat. The center of the rear seat is preferable to outboard (window) positions — as long as you can achieve a tight installation — because it is the farthest from a side impact. Research has shown that children under the age of 3 have a 43 percent lower risk of injury when restrained in the center of the rear seat compared with the rear outboard positions. However, keep in mind that if you’re not able to install your car seat in the center position, a properly installed car seat in an outboard position will still provide excellent protection for your child during a crash.
  • Tips to avoid loose car seat installation:
  • After installation, grasp the seat near the belt path to check for excessive movement, which is movement of more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back at the belt path.
  • If you have trouble installing your car seat securely, try the following:
    • Install the car seat in another seating position in your vehicle. For example, if you can’t install it securely in the rear center seat, try an outboard position.
    • Install the car seat using another installation method. For example, if you’re not able to get a secure installation using the LATCH system, try to install with the vehicle seat belt and tether.
  • The process of seating and removing your child along with the motion from your vehicle moving can shake your child seat loose over time. This makes it critical to check the fit often and reinstall your child seat periodically.
  • Using a technology like ClickTight, which uses seat belts for installation, also eliminates any parental worry about the 65-pound LATCH capacity and when to switch a growing child away from it.
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Are You Prepared For Winter Driving?

Driving in winter can be tricky and dangerous, especially if you’re driving on icy roads. It winter requires drivers to take extra precautions to keep themselves and their passengers safe. To stay protected while driving in winter, make sure your vehicle is prepared and is able to adapt to varying road and weather conditions. The last thing you need is a car that breaks down in the middle of a snowstorm! Aside from your regular maintenance tasks, carry out these checks when you feel the icy months coming.

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          • Wiper blades – Check your windscreen wiper blades for damage, which often occurs when the blades become frozen to the windscreen glass and you try to free them up. Have replacement wipers handy. You can also purchase winter wiper blades. In line with this, make sure you have enough screenwash in your wiper pump as well.
          • Coolant – Check to see if the coolant is between the maximum and the minimum markers, and if there is enough anti-freeze in it. Anti-freeze prevents damage to the engine during winter months and should be refreshed every two years.
          • Car battery – Make sure your car battery is fully charged before using the car, especially if your car has not been used for a period of time. Better yet, have your entire battery and charging system serviced for optimum performance.
          • Tires – Tread is crucial especially when driving in harsh winter conditions. Check your tires’ condition and make sure there is adequate tread. Scrutinize your tires to check for damage such as bulges and splits, and don’t forget to check the pressure. You can also consider buying tires especially made for driving on icy roads as these give you greater grip, control, and traction on slippery surfaces.

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Safety First with Volvo

When buying a new car what are the top features you look for? Maybe a sleek design, killer stereo? IF you have a family neither of those come before safety. Above all else you should know that your car is one of the safest on the roads and today we are going to look at a few safety features which could set your car a step about he rest and might one day, your deity of choice forbid, save your life.

1) What are the bones of your beast made from? Without a strong frame how can your car hope to survive a collision with a shopping cart let alone anything else on four wheels. The new XC90 from Volvo features over 40 per cent hot formed boron steel which increases strength significantly without adding mass or weight to the vehicle what this means is more zoom less boom.
2) How will your car keep you safe while on the road? Why the new Volvos come with Forward Collision Warning which is an accident avoidance system. It scans all objects within 500 feet in front of your car and if an accident is imminent it warns you and prepares the brakes. It can even brake for you should the situation require it. So instead of keeping you safe in an accident it keep you from getting into them in the first place.
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