~ Megan Gradzewicz
Remember to thank your father. His love, faith and unwavering belief in you helped make you who you are.
“Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad...”
~ Wade Boggs ~
Every year, in the United States, the month of June is designated National Safety Month by the National Safety Council. This year, each week will have a theme:
Week 1: Stand Ready to Respond
Week 2: Be Healthy
Week 3: Watch Out for Dangers
Week 4: Share Roads Safely
In this month’s edition of the Golden Nuggets, we have articles following these weekly themes.
Stand Ready to Respond
Imagine: You’re out hiking with a friend when they trip over a root and hurt their ankle. Perhaps you’re at the grocery store when your pregnant partner goes into labor. Maybe your grandma slips and falls while on an outing, or your house catches fire, and your child isn’t breathing when you finally get them out of the house. What if authorities and paramedics haven’t yet arrived, or they can’t get to you? What do you do? How do you respond? First tip: Call 911 for emergency responders.
Preparedness is key. Having a plan for emergencies such as a fire, or situations like going into labor can help maintain order and prevent mistakes. CPR and first aid training can be the deciding factor in life or death situations. Visit the National Safety Council website, call your local police or fire department, or your local Red Cross to learn more about resources for contingency plans and training seminars. Always be prepared.
Be Healthy
What does it mean to be healthy? We want to be healthy on all levels - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Our health tips this month: Get active/exercise, eliminate processed foods from your diet/eat right, develop good habits like reading/time management and maintain a positive attitude and outlook. When we do these things, we promote health in ourselves, and health in others. This month, Sarah White, our Director of Client Services,
submitted the recipe for her Mexican Bean Salad. It’s quick (15 minutes prep), easy and delicious. Enjoy!
Ingredients: 1(15oz) can black beans, 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, 1 green bell pepper & 1 red bell pepper both chopped, 1 (10 oz) pkg frozen corn kernels, 1 red onion chopped, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup red wine vinegar, 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp white sugar, 1 tbsp salt, 1 clove crushed garlic, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, 1/2 tbsp ground cumin, 1/2 tbsp ground black pepper, 1 dash hot
pepper sauce, 1/2 tsp chili powder
Directions: 1) In large bowl, combine beans, bell peppers, frozen corn and red onion. 2) In small bowl, whisk olive oil, red wine vinegar, lime juice, lemon juice, sugar, salt, garlic, cilantro, cumin, black pepper. Season to taste with hot sauce and chili powder. 3) Pour olive oil dressing on vegetables. Mix well, chill thoroughly, serve cold. Enjoy!
Watch Out for Dangers
Life is full of risks, and dangers can lurk anywhere. For instance, if you’re out adventuring in the wilderness, you need to watch out for dangers like poisonous plants or animals indigenous to the area. You could be an elderly
person home alone who trips and falls down the steps. You might be downtown in the city at night alone; an easy target for someone with sinister motives. You need to watch out for possible dangers in any situation. How?
As Megan shared, be aware of your surroundings, trust your instincts, and be prepared. If out in the wilderness, learn about native species, learn nearest town locations, take a map, compass, first aid, water, food, other supplies. Keys: Be aware, be prepared, be informed.
Share Roads Safely
In 2014, 35,400 lives were lost in car crashes in the US. The three biggest causes? Alcohol, speeding, distracted driving. It’s dangerous. How do we prevent needless injuries and death through driving? As an employer, require employees to take a defensive driving course. As drivers, don’t drink alcohol before driving, always have a designated driver if you are drinking. Don’t drive if you’ve taken medication with drowsy side effects. DO NOT text and drive; do not make phone calls. Be aware of your surroundings. Understand how your vehicle operates; read the manual. Always wear your seat belt.
Sources: www.nsc.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We Want to Hear from You!
Call 860-388-1788, or email caitlin@goldenhorizonseldercare.com with your feedback.