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Safe
& Sound
- Winter
Prep Before the Blizzard
Make sure you're ready to travel before winter arrives.
Check out the road-worthy tips from the National Weather
Service to help keep you safe this winter.
- Picking
the Best Holiday Tree
Your tree might not be the ready for the nation's capital,
but with these pointers from the National Christmas Tree
Association, make this year's your best ever.
- Free
Money!
Don't miss out on money that may be yours. Find out if you're
owed anything with a click of your mouse.
- Turkey
Safety
We used to take precautions when stuffing the holiday turkey,
now we need to be careful of the flames. Find out more about
turkey-frying safety.
- Fall
& Winter Homework
Here's a handy list of things you'll want to handle around
the house to get ready for winter.
- Fast
Fact
Find out what was the factor in more than half of all fatal
crashes in the U.S. when there was snow, slush or ice on
the roads.
Make
a Blizzard Pack
Before it snows: Pack an automotive blizzard survival
kit that includes blankets, a bright piece of cloth to tie
to your antenna, a flashlight with spare batteries, nonperishable
foods such as candy bars, a metal can and waterproof matches.
Also inspect your tires for bulges and uneven wear; if you
get stuck in the snow, worn tires won't be much help.
If your vehicle gets stuck: Use a cell phone to call
for help but then wait in your car. It's easy to get disoriented
in the snow. Run the motor for 10 minutes every hour for heat.
To avoid carbon-monoxide poisoning, crack a window for fresh
air and make sure the exhaust pipe isn't blocked. Resist the
urge to eat snow because it will lower your body temperature.
Instead, melt it first using the metal can and matches in
your survival pack. Source: National Weather Service, www.nws.noaa.gov
A
White (House) Christmas
The National Christmas Tree Contest is heating up, and the
stakes are high: The grand champion tree grower will supply
the 2005 official White House Christmas Tree, which is displayed
in the Blue Room. Last year's official tree (right) was a
Fraser fir from Wisconsin. To choose a real holiday tree with
award-winning qualities for your home, follow these tips from
the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA):
- Find
the freshest tree on the lot by gently grasping a branch
in your hand and pulling it toward you. Very few needles
should fall off.
- Cut
1/2 inch off the bottom of the trunk before putting the
tree in a stand.
- Use
plain tap water in the stand; it will preserve the tree
better than any exotic concoction.
- Position
the tree away from space heaters, wood stoves and other
heat sources that could speed evaporation and spark a fire.
For more tips-and to see the 2004 champion tree-visit the
NCTA at www.realchristmastrees.org.
Free
Money!
Millions of dollars go unclaimed each year, including everything
from forgotten bank accounts and shares of stock to uncashed
checks and utilities deposits. Unclaimed money ends up in
the custody of individual states, which then try to find the
rightful owners. Visit www.missingmoney.com
to search a national database -- free of charge -- for assets
you might not know you're owed.
Talking
Turkey
Deep-frying the Thanksgiving Day turkey is becoming an American
tradition. But the National Fire Protection Association says
that it's not the danger to your arteries it's concerned about;
it's the risk of severe injury and property damage from using
gas-fired turkey fryers. That's because safety certification
organization Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) has decided
not to certify any of these gas-fired appliances. The reasons
are many. Fryers can easily tip over, spilling up to five
gallons of hot oil. If a partially frozen turkey is dunked
into the fryer, the oil can spill over and cause an explosion.
And with no automatic thermostat controls, the units can heat
the oil to the point of combustion. Still not convinced of
the potential dangers? Watch a fiery video of a UL test at
www.ul.com/turkeyfryers.
HomeWork
Fall/Winter 2004
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Remove
dead tree branches. The weight of snow and ice can
cause them to break and fall on your house or car |
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Have
the chimney cleaned. Chimneys, fireplaces and wood
stoves should be inspected once a year by a professional,
says the National Fire Protection Association. That's
to look for and remove, if necessary, the buildup of highly
combustible creosote as well as animal nests, leaves and
debris that may block airflow. Find a professional certified
by the Chimney Safety Institute of America at www.csia.org.
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Clean
your dryer vents. You probably clean your dryer's
lint filter after every load, but when did you last clean
the vent and exhaust hose? Ideally, you should do it at
least twice a year to prevent a fire. Buy a vent brush
(they're available for less than $20) to make the job
super easy. |
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Keep
the heat on. Ski trip coming up? While you're gone,
keep the house heated to a minimum of 65 degrees. Otherwise,
temperatures in the exterior walls may fall low enough
to allow pipes to freeze. |
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Use
a snow rake to clear the roof. That will help prevent
ice dams, which are big ice blocks that prevent water
from flowing correctly down the gutters and downspouts,
often causing leaks in the house. Never climb on the roof
because of the danger; call a professional contractor.
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Fast
Fact
Speeding was a factor in 53 percent of all fatal U.S.
crashes that occurred when there was snow or slush on the
road and in 60 percent of those that occurred on icy roads.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic
Safety Facts 2002
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