When it comes to matters of the heart, it’s normal to want to believe the person you’re interested in is honest and caring. However, the reality is that some individuals exploit others’ desire for connection and trust, and thereby take advantage of goodhearted people for their own gain. Such romance scams target individuals of all […]

Emergencies, whether natural disasters, accidents, or other unforeseen crises, can have a powerful and sometimes detrimental impact on people’s mental health. In the immediate aftermath, individuals may experience shock, disbelief, and heightened levels of anxiety. Other signs of distress include feelings of sadness or hopelessness, fatigue, difficulty falling or staying asleep, irritability or anger, and […]

In this age of ubiquitous connectivity, we’ve all grown used to having everything at our fingertips. Our grandparents and parents had to use paper maps before embarking on a weekend car trip or summer vacation, but many of us haven’t touched a paper map in decades, if ever. Thanks to navigation apps like Google Maps, […]

People are usually able to cool themselves by emitting heat through their skin and by sweating. But under conditions of extreme heat, high humidity that prevents sweat from evaporating, or working or exercising in hot temperatures, the human body can rise above 104° Fahrenheit or 40° Celsius, resulting in heat stroke.  Heat stroke, which occurs […]

Whether your favorite vacation is action-packed or intentionally unscheduled, taking a respite from your usual day-to-day life is an important part of recharging your batteries. But amidst the excitement of planning your time away, it’s crucial not to overlook the security of your home while you’re gone. After all, regardless of how rejuvenating your time […]

Large areas of the United States are under serious air quality alerts right now, due to the Canadian wildfires in Ontario and Quebec. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued official alerts for Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, while the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality health advisory […]

It’s predicted that there will be an increase in power disruptions and outages in the United States, attributable to everything from tropical storms and hurricanes to extreme winter cold and summer heat waves and wildfires.  An outdated power grid exacerbates the problem. By one estimate, the U.S. is believed to have more outages than any […]

There may come a time in your life when you’re incapacitated and need help, whether due to a medical, physical, or personal crisis. Having a designated emergency contact in place gives emergency personnel and healthcare providers someone to contact if you’re in a crisis. Choosing the right contact is an important decision that should be […]

Every year, there are an average of more than 3500,000 home-based fires in the United States, accounting for 92% of all civilian fire deaths. Top causes range from cooking incidents and heating and electrical malfunctions to smoking and candle accidents.  The main priority should always be getting yourself and your family, including companion animals, to […]

You checked the weather the night before. In the morning, you checked it again on your phone’s weather app. The snow storm wasn’t supposed to hit until later that evening, giving you plenty of time to make it home safely. But despite your best laid plans, you end up stranded in your car. Here are […]

Our home isn’t just a place where we store our belongings and sleep at night. It’s also where we can take a break from the outside world, unwind, and be ourselves. In other words, a place of refuge and safety.  But disasters like flooding can take that away. Before anyone thinks to themselves, ‘thank goodness […]

People often try to avoid the subject of death, especially their own. But death’s inevitability is an opportunity that allows each of us to plan ahead and make sure we have a say in what happens before and after. It also alleviates the burden on our loved ones by ensuring they know how to best […]

A go bag is one of the most important things you can create for yourself and your family. In an emergency, you need to be prepared to fend for yourself until help arrives. What is a go bag? A go bag is a pre-packed portable bag which contains the emergency essentials you will most likely […]

Thinking about “what ifs” can be uncomfortable. It requires us to acknowledge that there might come a time when we are unable to speak for ourselves, whether that’s temporary and for only a short time, or whether it’s for a longer duration and possibly even permanently.  But planning for contingencies should be and in fact […]

Maybe you’re wondering whether you need a home inventory list. After all, you already have homeowners or renters insurance, so that should be enough, right? Well, not exactly.  Rather than frantically trying to document everything when you suffer a loss, being prepared ahead of time will ensure you get everything from the insurance company you’re […]

As mentioned in a previous post, an evacuation checklist is an important part of every home’s emergency plan.  It will save you precious and possibly even life-saving time if you’re caught in an emergency and need to leave. The checklist, also called a Grab It & Go list, should itemize each item you need to […]

As we get older, saying goodbye becomes more frequent. First we lose beloved companion animals, whose lifespans are often much shorter than our own. Then we lose our parents, other members of our extended family, and eventually cherished friends. At each juncture, we’re reminded of our own mortality and the finite nature of time, knowing […]

Whether you live in an urban, suburban, or rural environment, and whether your household consists of adults, children, companion animals, or a combination thereof, every home should have an emergency plan. 🏠  Customize the plan to your unique situation and needs. Here are some things to consider when making yours: 1. Know what types of […]

On the global stage, there’s no shortage of problems that need addressing. Yet often people refuse to look reality in the face, preferring to coast along and pretend nothing is happening until they’re forced to pay attention or an issue impacts them directly. The same applies to our own lives. Problems don’t disappear by ignoring […]

Philosopher Heraclitus said, “the only thing that is constant is change.” Indeed, the last several years have witnessed change happening at an incredible speed.  Change is often coupled with uncertainty, which can be disconcerting. Feeling unsettled is based at least in part on our fear of losing or having little control. And while there are […]