I suffered a light stroke and the doctors put me on several preventative medications so I would not have a re-occurence. We don’t have any small children around the house since all our children have grown and have their own homes. I got to looking at all my medications laying out in plain sight and realized in some homes this could be be hazardous. If we had some child visiting they could get a hold of them as well.

Taking care and knowing about your medications is indirectly part of home security. I felt the need to compile some thoughts that you might have overlooked.

Storage of drugs should be kept in a dry area away from heat. A bathroom or kitchen is not a good place to keep them. Do not leave your medications in your car. High heat can destroy them or make them ineffective.

Keep a list of all your medications and the dosages with you. If have to go to an emergency room, the treatment they give you may depend on what medications you are taking.

DO NOT take any medications prescribed to another person. Not all people react to medications the same way. You could have a reaction to that person’s drugs.

Drink at least 8oz of water when taking your medicine. Some pills will not work with just a swallow of water to get then down. Look at the instructions as to how to take them. Some medications are recommended to take with food. This may eliminate stomach irritation.

Do not keep old and expired drugs. Most drugs have time at which they no longer effective or safe to take. Flush old drugs down the toilet. Don’t throw out in the trash.

Don’t stop taking medications without consulting your doctor. This can lead to a serious condition that could be life threatening.

Take a look at your medicines when you pick them up from the pharmacy. Look at the color, size and shape. Get to know and recognize what your medications look like. Mistakes have been made filling or re-filling medications. Ask your pharmacist about any new medications prescribed to you. It’s the law in most states that the pharmacist has to give you this information.

When traveling, don’t pack your medications in your checked luggage. They can get lost. Keep the identification of your doctor, pharmacist, and prescription numbers with you while you travel.

If you take several different drugs it might not be wise to keep them together in the same container. Some drugs react with each other when they come in contact with each other. Again, ask your pharmacist.

There are several places you can learn more about the drugs you are taking. Some of these are: the internet, your local library ( the Physicians Desk Reference), the company that manufactures the drug, pamphlets at your doctors office and pharmacies.

Don’t take drugs lightly. The can be life savers or life killers.

I was just looking at The National Neighborhood Watch website. It has a lot of resources which can help a neighborhood establish a neigborhood watch program. Forming a solid neighborhood watch in your area is the first defense against crime. Keeping the program active once it is established is imperative.

Unfortunately we live in a society where people don’t know who lives 2 0r 3 doors on either side of them or even their next door neighbors. While in the Security Alarm Industry, I heard over and over again , ” I don’t need an alarm system because we have a neigborhood watch program”. Most of the time , an inactive neighborhood watch program results in a burglar stealing items from the neighbor’s home unnoticed. We are a busy society and people don’t feel they have the time or desire to get involved with their neighbors. Having a close knit neighborhood makes it safer for everyone.

It was once said that there are three kinds of people, those that make things happen, those that never make things happen and those that don’t even know what’s happening. If you don’t have a neighborhood watch program in your area, start one. If you have one, become active in it. Remember the saying, “there’s safety in numbers”.

Make it your task to know ALL the people on your block including the children. Report anything out of the ordinary. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Yes, it takes some of your time, but being active in your community will pay off many times over.

You can order materials and information to form your area program from The National Neighborhood Watch Organization.

Since I have a lawn service business I work outside. I don’t have to tell you we’re experiencing hot waves all over our country. Yes, I know you’re “bullet proof and ten feet tall.” You jog on a regular basis and you can handle the heat, but heat exhaustion and heat stroke can attack you before you know it.

Some symptoms include, cramps, fatigue, clammy skin, headache , nausea, hyperventilation and irritability. Our bodies usually regulate it’s temperature by sweating, but when it experiences unusually hot weather it can’t keep up with regulating itself. When temperatures start rising to 104 to 106 degrees ( 41.1 degrees celsius) you are a candidate for a heat stroke. Heat stroke can occur in just 20 minutes under the right conditions.

If somone is having a heat stroke get them to a shady area immediately. Remove clothing and spray the body with cool (not cold) water. Place ice packs under the arm pits and get to a medical facility as soon as possible.

The most important thing you can do to avoid heat stroke is to be sure you drink a lot of water and don’t overdo exercise in extreme hot conditions. Do not drink alcoholic beverages in excess in very hot conditions. Alcohol dehydrates the body. Heat exhaustion/stroke is the result of the body losing fluids and salt excessively. This is what causes cramps as well. Be careful in hot conditions and you can avoid these conditions.

This is one of the worst situations you may find yourself in because most carjackers are so unpredictable and probably in a drug induced state. So no matter what you do, it could mean your life.

Statistics have shown that a man that is forced into a vehicle has only about a 2% chance of coming out uninjured or alive. A woman has a better chance but it’s only 10% to 12% of being unharmed.

There is no hard fastened rule of what to do, but most experts feel a diversionary tactic is the best way out of this situation. The carjacker really wants your car most of the time so keep this in mind. When he demands you get into the car try at first talking to him “no I won’t go with you, but I will give you my car keys.” Then don’t hand them to him directly but throw them on the ground and depending on the area throw them away from you and the car. You have a better chance of surviving this by running in the opposite direction of where you have thrown the keys while his attention has been diverted by throwing the keys.

During the confrontation try to look at the carjacker and remember as many features about him especially his face. His height, what he is wearing, his speech, etc.

Again, the diversionary tactic I discussed earlier is no guarantee you will come out unscathed. Fighting with the attacker is not advised. The first rule of thumb though is to leave your car in a place where you won’t be put in this situation. Park in well lighted places and where there are other people around. Some experts say to have a loud whistle or air horn.

Always be aware of your surroundings. It could save your life.