Safety and Aging Go Hand in Hand ~ A Product Review

For anyone who has had to look after an aging relative or even an aging spouse, you know that the most important thing from day to day is a person's safety.

While our loved ones may still be able to do many things, there are also many that they can no longer do for themselves.  So as their caregivers we need to make sure that their independence and safety come first and foremost.

We took my mother into our home at the end of February and since then have made many small changes that has resulted in her being able to do some things for herself .  This helps her with her self-esteem!  The more we can help her be independent, the less she will suffer from Depression.  

One of the major things we needed to do was to make sure that her night-time routines would be easier for her and for us as well.

Nightlights became a "must have"!  She has one in her bedroom and one in the bathroom.  What I love about these nightlights is that they don't cast such a glow as to interfere with her sleep, yet when it is dark at night, they illuminate her surroundings enough that she can make out a clear path to her bathroom.

We were talking with many representatives about services and tools that are useful for seniors.  They gave us a great list of things we could do to make my mother's situation as good as it can be.

The second part of this safety lesson for us, was having something that she can hold onto when getting up out of bed.  It's difficult at the best of times for the elderly to get safely from their beds to the bathroom, but when they also have lightheadedness, it is even more critical to make their trip to the loo, an easy, and safe journey.

This may be of great help for you in whatever situation you might find yourself.  It is a simple bed frame that is firmly attached to the box spring on the bed.  It offers a rail that can be held onto until they get their feet under them.  It stabilizes them until they can take that first step or two after getting up!

My mother loves this rail and uses it even through the day when she feels the need for a little extra support.  It has a non-slip covering that is soft on "old hands".  This is the Amazon Choice for bed rails, but in our case it was also the one most recommended by Senior's Occupational Health and Safety.  It is not terribly expensive and gives us so much piece of mind.  Because of the relative costs for her safety and depending on your own situation, you could install these rails on either side of the bed or on both sides for that little bit of extra safety and security.

In our case one rail was enough as her bed is on a wall on the other side.  There is only one way into her bed and one way out!  We are so pleased with this purchase because it makes our lives easier knowing that she is safely tucked into her bed at night, but that should she need to get up, she can do so in a manner that doesn't put her at risk of falling!

In the description of this item it says that it takes 2 minutes to install and I thought to myself, that for sure it was an exaggeration.  Well, I was wrong!  It really did only takes a few minutes to have this bed rail installed and ready for use.  Over all both my husband and I are so pleased with this purchase and my mother loves it as well.

Aging is not easy as every day brings some new challenges, but with the right tools, everyday life can be made easier!  

Here's to keeping our loved ones safe and secure in their later years.

You can read more about safety and seniors in my other review:

Wonderful Tools to Help You Age Gracefully

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Color Changing Power Failure Night Lights - A Review

Power Saving Color Changing Night Lights

My husband recently purchased the Sunbeam 3 in 1 Power Failure Night Lights, and I have to say, they're awesome. We love color, and the fact that the lights rotate through different colors is pretty festive.

What I Love About Color Changing Night Lights

1. Motion Sensor & Low Light Activation

You can turn the nightlight motion sensor on or off. We have the motion sensors on for all of the lights. When they detect a lack of ambient lighting or motion, they will turn on. That's especially handy in washrooms. The light doesn't stay on all of the time; it simply goes on when it's too dark or it senses that someone has walked in. It's instrumental in the primary bathroom when you've stumbled in during the middle of the night; the light comes on for you, and best of all, it's not bright - and it rotates through different colors. You're not left with light-shock.

2. They're Festive - All Year Round

It doesn't have to be the holiday season to enjoy colorful lights. We love color, so these lights are ideal for our home. They're lovely with our Christmas decor right now and add a little festivity in the kitchen, bathrooms, and hallways.

3. They Have a Built-In Battery Power Failure Back-Up

They're not just a night light; they're a safety product as well. It charges itself as it's plugged in (I assume that's how it works?), and if the power goes out, the light's bright LED back-up comes on. The nightlight is a good size (4.7 inches tall), providing quite a bit of light while in power failure mode. It has about 300 hours of back-up time in power-failure mode - or that's what I read. I couldn't speak first hand to that as we've never lost power that long! Actually, knock-on-wood, we rarely lose power. However, knowing it's there is peace of mind. Place them in your kitchen, washrooms, and hallways, and you'll feel a bit safer should the power go off. Not only that, walk around with when there's a power failure! It's like having a ready-to-use flashlight at your fingertips.

4. They're the Ideal Gift - Practical, Colorful, and Safety

My mom doesn't know it yet, but this is one of her Christmas gifts. After seeing how handy it was to have them throughout our home, I immediately thought of my mother's house. She has frequent power failures, so these lights are not just gifts for her, but a little bit of peace of mind for me. I think she should put one in the upper and lower hallways and one in her primary washroom. The power failure light is very bright, so that should throw enough light when she's sitting in the family room should the power go off. I'm actually thinking about giving her an additional two nightlights - one for the kitchen and family room, just in case.

They're an excellent choice for a baby's room, the cottage, the garage, or workshed. In all these cases, they'll only be activated via motion or meager ambient light (if that's how you've set them). Since they're LEDs, they're cost-efficient.

Check Them Out:

Available on Amazon

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Head Injuries, Head Trauma, How to Prevent Injuries

A  grandparent's worst nightmare is getting a call asking you to come and stay with your grandchildren while another one of them is being transported to the local Children's Hospital.

Image by Iatya Prunkova Pixabay

This Review is all about Safety!  Head Safety to be precise.  Products that will help to ensure your children are able to stay safe while still having fun!  What prompts this review is a really upsetting event that happened in my life just this past week.  One minute everything is fine and even wonderful and the next minute, disaster strikes.  This is my granddaughter after her horse threw her!  Black out and concussion and brain bleeds.  It was not a pretty picture!  But I assure you that she will be alright because she was protecting that most important part of her body, her brain!

Helmets are a necessity for many sports that our children partake in.  You wouldn't think of sending your child to play hockey without a proper helmet in place.  BMX biking, motocross, general cycling, skateboarding, skiing, horseback riding, and so many more sports should never be undertaken without proper Head Gear!  Many organized sports will not let you join without the proper attire, and that includes protecting the most important part of your body, your brain. 

Years of studying brain injuries has led many doctors, scientists and just the general public to understand the necessity of protecting your head.  Football, hockey, wrestling and other sports have had their share of injuries, but head injuries were one of the most overlooked in past years.  Think about how all those blows to the head affected Mohammed Ali.  Now we are starting to understand the impact that these injuries can have on just about anyone.  Concussions are the most common injuries and most of us don't understand exactly what happens when our brains get bruised.  

When a child's brain gets bruised, you need to know what to do and to do that quickly.  Here are some guidelines that will help you understand the nature of a head injury and it's immediate results.

It is so important to know that if your child loses consciousness, an ambulance should be called.  There is NO room here for second guesses.  You cannot see what is going on in their heads.   Better to be safe than sorry!  An x-ray will tell if there is immediate need for more intervention.

If your children are active (and I truly hope they are) then you need to learn how to fit helmets properly for every activity your child is involved with.  Bike helmets and other sports helmets are not interchangeable.  Be specific with your helmet purchase!  FYI here is a link for your to find how to properly fit a bike helmet!  I've included this because this is one thing that children and adults can do together and it's a popular activity for the whole family.  Even if your child is on a training bike, they still need a helmet!  Check here for fitting instructions!  I've chosen to show you this helmet, because it has the added feature of a light at the back for evening rides.  It pays to be seen while riding. 



Every sport has a special helmet, they are not all interchangeable!  Baseball, football, hockey, and horseback riding each helmet has a specified job to do and so the requirements for protection are different.  Do not buy a helmet second hand!  Once a helmet has been banged around it needs to be replaced.  Remember that your brain needs proper protection.

I'm hoping that with writing about my experience with my grandchild, I will make you stop and think about your own children and grandchildren.  Nothing is more important than their safety especially when at play. 

**At this time, my granddaughter has been released from hospital and with an extended period of rest, she should be back to her normal active self.  TG!   Her parent's are aware of the use of her picture.  They would like everyone with children to know how important it is to protect your children even when they are at play. 

  

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Summertime Fun Our First Priority is Safety

Summertime is a Great Adventure!

Many families will take holidays over this period of time and look forward to spending time with their children.  Let's Review some products that you absolutely MUST HAVE!  These items will help to make your summer the best that it can be!  

                                    
Image by lilacsandlavendertea from Pixabay

Many families will be getting together over the next two months to reconnect with their loved ones.  That's one thing that makes summer so much fun.  Whether you stay close to home or travel further afield, good company makes the journey that much more special.  Memories will be etched in our minds of the Summer of 2019!  Let's make it a summer to remember with smiles and laughter!

As adults, our children's health and safety is up to us!  

If we are going to the lake or the local swimming pool (or the one in the backyard if you are so lucky), our children will look to us to keep them from harm.  That means having some rules in place!  What prompts this review is a headline I saw a few days ago on one of the news feeds about parents being distracted by their cell phones, especially around pools of water.  

We all know that it doesn't take more than a few inches of water for a child to drown.  This is a most preventable accident.  If you have children and a pool or lake that you are using for holiday time, your attention needs to be on your children.  I'm not saying a cell phone isn't a handy item to have close by (there could always be an emergency), but when the children are in the body of water, they need your attention all the time.  

Being prepared for children in the pool is another whole issue.  If your children swim, but are not proficient at swimming, they should be wearing life vests or some flotation device.   No exceptions!

We as parents need to make that perfectly clear to our children.  No flotation device equals no pool time!  Period!  

Flotation devices are inexpensive and will make your time ( you and your children's time) in the pool so much more fun.  Children who have not yet mastered their swimming skills will enjoy hours of water fun with relative ease and the certainty that they won't drown.  Most flotation devices are held up to standards that ensure the safety of the wearer.  Nothing, and I will repeat that, Nothing is more important that having a responsible adult watching, while they are having fun.  

For less than $20.00 you can give yourself and your child a little added comfort in the water.  You want to get your child a vest that is Certified by the Coast Guard (USA) or Canadian Standards Association (CSA).  This little vest is cute and will fit most children between 30- 50 pounds.  There is no reason not to have one for each of your children.  I would even say you must have one for each of your children, especially if you have a pool in your yard.  

They come in several different styles, so even if you have 2 or more children, each one can have the one they like the best!

This is a " #1 Best Seller" on Amazon. It is a small price to pay for some peace of mind while watching more than one child in a pool. Nothing is more important than the safety of our children.

Now hopefully summer is nice and warm, with sunshine making up the better part of the day, so one other safety item I would recommend would be SUNSCREEN!  Not too long ago Margaret wrote about them and her review is worth a good read.  What you put on your children's skin to keep them from getting burnt to a crisp is important.  You can read all about it here!

Review of EltaMD® and Colorescience® Mineral-Based Physical Sunscreens

You don't want your children to suffer from the effects of too much sun on their skin in their later years.  

The only other safety item I would like to see in everyone's home, is a good First Aid Kit.  If you have children, then you know there will be scrapes, cuts and bruises.  Part of being a child is riding bikes, roller blading, skateboarding and just running around.  Accidents will happen even if you take the best precautions.  Like the Scouts, I would say, Be Prepared. 

This First Aid Kit is a great addition to anyone's car, boat, trailer or home! Sometimes a bandage just isn't enough.  Summertime and being prepared for all possible accidents will make you a more relaxed parent.  You know that you can handle almost anything that your children might need to stop the tears, and start the healing.  

Your cell phone will be handy too, but only to make an emergency call if necessary!  Do not let yourself become distracted.  Your little ones are much more important than anything that you could have happening on your phone.  It is for emergencies only.



I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a wonderful, relaxed and fun filled summer!  Stay safe and enjoy all the good things Summer has to offer!

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Halo 800 Lumen Handheld Flashlight Review

Flashlights come in all sizes, colors, and price range, but I have one I would recommend above all the rest!

My husband has always "collected" flashlights, therefore I have been exposed to a wide range of flashlights.  When I need a flashlight, I want one that is going to light up my world.  I have no use for a soft-light, delicate, cheap plastic flashlight that requires 2 or more D batteries.  Nope, give me a torch!  

I want lightweight and small, but I don't want to give up real lighting ability to get something easy to hold.  Fortunately for me, with the Halo 800 Lumen Handheld Flashlight, I can have everything I want and need in a very compact, lightweight flashlight. 

Halo 800 Lumen Handheld Flashlight with Rechargeable Battery

When I tell you, the 800 Lumen Halo flashlight is the best flashlight I have ever owned, I am not exaggerating at all.  At first glance, it may seem a little pricey, but it is well worth every cent!  

I can stand against the back wall of my bedroom and the light beam can easily shine through and light up all the rooms inside our home.  It is a bright light and I can clearly see across the entire house without having to move.  

Outdoors, it will light my up my backyard so I can easily spot the pup that thinks he is hiding from me at the back fence.   

You know those horror movies where the woman carries a dimly lit flashlight and is practically face to face with the villain before she sees him?  Well, if she had the Halo 800 Lumen Flashlight, that would never happen!  She would see him coming 1000 feet away.  That would greatly increase her chances of either getting away from him or in better preparing herself for his fiendish actions.  He might even tuck tail and run like a spotted squirrel.  After all, his sneaking around would certainly be thwarted.  

Frankly, you need two of these flashlights.  One for your home, and one for your car.  Consider being stranded on the side of the road at night with a flat tire.  No wolf would sneak up on you and have you over for dinner.  When you hear the rustling in the bushes, cast your Halo 800 lumens in the general direction and Mr. Wolf would feel the burn of your current day torch.  (figuratively speaking, of course!)

Hiking in the woods and out past nightfall, fear not!  Your trusty Halo flashlight will help keep you on the path and lead you to safety.   This is where I should mention the SOS mode.  You can set your Halo Flashlight to flash the Morse emergency distress signal instead of a constant stream of light.  

Rigid Industries 30120 Halo 800 Lumen Flashlight with 1 Rechargeable BatteryCheck PriceFabulous Features of the Halo 800 Lumen Flashlight 

• Lightweight - Weights 4.5 ounces
• Short Length (easy to hold) - less than 6" long 
• LED Light
• Wide Beam for Area Illumination
• Rechargeable Battery (wall charger & car charger included)
• 3 hours of use before recharge needed
• Water Resistant (you can use it in the rain!) 
• Impact Resistant
• Wrist Strip included 

 The Perfect Gift for Anyone

Christmas is coming! You can search high and low, but you're are not going to find a better gift suggestion anywhere regardless of the gender of the recipient. Excellent for almost any age too. With the push button switch it is extremely easy to turn off and on. 

Don't settle for less, get the best! 
 

Read More Product Reviews at
ReviewThisProductReviews.com

Halo 800 Lumen Handheld Flashlight Reviewed by:

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Safety Floors that Are Practical and Decorative

I Was Introduced to this Idea by an Accident while watching a TV Show! 

Safety Flooring with Style

The TV Show featured a family preparing to cover their gorgeous hardwood floors with safer hardwood look-a-like interlocking foam tiles.

When they opened the box and started pulling out the pieces, I was impressed by how closely the color matched their home's hardwood floors.

You Can View Flooring Styles Here

After seeing it completely placed over the top of their natural hardwood, I was convinced I missed out when my kids were young! What a fantastic safety solution for kids without compromising design style!

These safety floors did not detract from their stunning decor. The playroom looked like any other main rooms in the home, except it was filled with toys.

Choose Interlocking Foam Floor Tiles that Match Your Existing Flooring

You can find light, dark, grey, black, and more hardwood-look-a-like foam flooring colors. When you've spent a great deal of time and money decorating a room, foam tiles help to maintain the look and structure of your space while simultaneously serving as a safety feature.

Given the growing number of people caught in the 'sandwich generation' (those caring for both kids and seniors simultaneously), safety flooring can go a long way as an investment. Best of all, when you're finished needing it, simply remove it.

We're no longer limited to choosing those multi-colored ABC interlocking foam floors for protection and safety; now, we have this incredibly practical look-a-like hardwood foam as an option.

You can read more about Interlocking Foam Floors here at Funkthishouse.com.

by Barbara Tremblay Cipak
Owner, Funkthishouse.com

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Full Circles in a Kayak

It is funny, isn’t it, how things tend to come full circle?  Rather, not quite full circle, but a spiral, gently sloped upwards, returning to almost the same spot but one step better. One step forward in the adventure of living.

I have often thought that the act of living is represented in this spiral. You are either moving forward or backward in this spiral, but you are moving.  There are still the ups and downs, but you are moving. At this point in my life, I am moving up with little bits of synchronicity happening along the way.

I experienced this in full effect yesterday.

I went on my second adventure with my new kayak.  While unloading at the launch area, a wonderfully knowledgeable gentleman gave me some very good tips about paddling and about equipment.  He recommended lessons and recommended that I check out Shank’s Mare, in Pennsylvania, along with a few local places.

“Shank’s Mare” is a phrase I haven’t heard since my childhood, growing up in Northern Indiana – when I had many Amish friends. When asked how they were getting somewhere, they often replied “Shank’s Mare”; which meant they were walking.

Imagine my surprise hearing this Indiana phrase here just a few minutes outside of the city of Baltimore. 

This gentleman was referring to Shank’s Mare Outfitters.  He highly recommended that I check it out.  You can bet that I found it on the internet as soon as I returned home, and will indeed go up there and see what it’s all about.  Turns out that it is a lovely 1890’s era general store turned meeting place for hikers, kayakers, and cross-country skiers.  It is located between York and Lancaster Pennsylvania, in Wrightsville, PA on the banks of the Susquehanna River.

As we stood talking, the gentleman gave me stern information about kayak safety; wear a floatation device, be lit at night, take care with the weather, and so on.  Very similar warnings that I had just read the night before in How to Kill Yourself in a Kayak by magicman007.

Upon our return home, after my hours spent paddling around the back side of Gun Powder falls park – the free section near Hammerman Beach area – a young lady approached us in the parking lot.

Her company is relocating her to the area, and she’s trying to find a suitable apartment near areas suitable for water sports, specifically kayaking. She wanted to know what we thought of this apartment complex and where did we go kayaking? Somewhere close? Yours truly went from someone who often explores the area solo to a personal tour guide to a young lady from Ohio.  I drove her past a few areas, including through the Hammerman Beach area.  Her excitement was palpable and she occasionally clapped her hands quietly, when turning corners and seeing the water views.  She took off her flip-flops and stood in the wet sand while we talked about the area in general.

If she teared up, like this Midwest girl did when deciding to live here, I didn’t see it. I was too much in awe of the coincidence of the Ohio girl driving past the Indiana-turned-mid-Atlantic girl at the exact moment we were unloading the kayak.  And how lucky I was to show one of these mid-Atlantic gems to someone in person.

I hope she enjoys the mid-Atlantic region as much as I do. 

Image Credit: Images are mine ©Dawn Rae – All Rights Reserved (Click on photo for larger view)

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Summer Heat Safety

Saturday, June 21, 2014 was the first day of summer here in the U.S. Here in the Baltimore area, we have already had a couple of days of high heat and humidity with the accompanying heat and air quality warnings. This small heat wave has reminded me to be prepared for the summer weather, especially during my outdoor mid-Atlantic adventures. 

Harpers Ferry looking down on the Shenandoah

Approximately two summers ago, I wanted my son to see Harpers Ferry, WV. It was an extremely hot day, perhaps the hottest that year, but we still went.  He had been assigned to this area for a few years and I wanted him to see some of my favorite places before he moved away. 

Harpers Ferry is a historic town tucked in where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet.  As we walked from the bottom area, near the train station parking lot, up the steep, old stone stairs, I began to feel weak.  My son and the Mister were still just marching along in their way. It is typical that I bring up the rear but this time was different.  I started to need extra rest breaks.  I started to feel light-headed and woozy.

My son took over.  He kept instructing me on things such as take a sip of water, sit down, take another sip of water, head down, drink more water, and all the while he was dribbling water on my head. At least I think that he was.  Maybe it was the Mister. Or maybe they were telling me to do it.  It’s all a little foggy.

Wow. I felt horrible. I felt cold and hot at the same time, my vision was funny, I felt nauseous, and I felt as though I would faint. At some point I felt hot and did not feel like I was sweating as much.  I was not familiar with these signs. My son was.  Thank goodness. I am familiar with the signs now and I take the heat seriously.

Please learn the signs of heat sickness, it may save your life. The CDC gives us great information about symptoms and treatment. 

With their close attention, time sitting in the shade, water on me and in me, I began to feel better enough to walk back to the bottom. We got into the Jeep and ran the air conditioner.  I quickly felt much improved.

Even if you are experienced with outdoor adventures, are aware of the signs of heat exhaustion, and typically are prepared you can still become overcome by the heat.  Off Grid Survival gives us a clear example of a seasoned hiker who could have had a tragic outcome when hiking on a hot day. Thank goodness he was found and successfully treated. 

I have considering purchasing a hydration pack (basically a water bottle that you carry on your back like a backpack) but I’m pretty fussy about my water tasting like rubber or plastic.  Squidoo writer nextyear reviews a camelbak pack that does not taste rubbery.

Ramkitten teaches us how to hike in the oven-hot heat of the GrandCanyon.  I am fairly certain if I follow her tips for Arizona in the summer, I should be fine in the Mid-Atlantic heat.

Finally, for those of us who take our furry family members with us on the trails or other outdoor activities in the summer heat, Ruthi reminds us how to keep our dogs safe in the summer heat. 

Summer is here.  Let’s be safe and have fun.

Image Credit: Image is mine ©Dawn Rae – All Rights Reserved 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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