Now is a great time to put into practice some of the lesser known Emergency Preparedness skills - checking on our neighbors. Yes, this may require us to go outside of our comfort zones - it means interacting with people - not via the Internet or on cell phones or texts - take the time to watch your neighborhood, your neighbors, and if something doesn't look right, don't be afraid to knock on a few doors and make sure everything is okay. With the advance of extreme temperatures, the chances of water pipes breaking, chimneys clogging, and heating units spewing carbon monoxide by accident, each can have a devastating result, sometimes including death. Make sure you and your neighbors are safe and alive. You may even want to have your heating units and chimneys checked for safe operation.
Another thing to consider is the wonderful andunique experience we call inversions. There are always pros and cons to living in the most beautiful place on earth, and one of those is winter inversions along the the Wasatch Front - many of us ignore the soupy air, enjoy feeling like we are on the moors in England, and waiting for a werewolf to jump out at us at any time. We tolerate the bad air, but for many, the quality of air can lead to some serious health problems, even more serious than a bite from a wolf. Those with a propensity for asthma or seasonal asthma need to pay particular attention to the quality of our air. In the case of children, many of us take for granted our increased ability as adults to fend of the filthy muck we ingest each day, but for others, especially children, they have no understanding of what is going on in their lungs and bodies. Take a minute to check the air quality, check your family and friends, and see if some of things you may be ignoring in the behavior of others is actually a side-effect of the air quality.
Check the local news, alter your driving habits, especially idling your vehicles, and utilize other sources each day to see the quality of our air.
Good luck and Happy Holidays!!!
