Tips For Life

The following safety, security, and health tips came in various forms of emails to me. I thought the information provided was entirely too important to discard. Therefore, I am sharing it with you.

Email Etiquette & Security:

Okay, I’ll admit that before receiving the following information via email, I was totally clueless that there was such a thing as email etiquette. For years, I have been forwarding emails inappropriately. However, now with my newfound knowledge, I have set out to do better.

What I learned from my “How To Email Appropriately” email was the following:

Emails/email attachments that continue to be passed along from person to person may eventually land on a person’s virus infected computer. If this person decides to share or respond to the email, he or she can then unknowingly spread the virus onto the Recipient’s computer, or worse yet, Recipients computers.

Also, a not so great scenario is that it is possible that someone down the line will sell all the accumulated email addresses to a company that collects such data for future marketing ventures. Or, the individual may simply decide to hold onto all the email addresses for the purpose of sending spam/junk emails to peddle their own products or services. Either way, we then all get bombarded with unsolicited emails.

In order to stop the cycle of potential viruses or unwanted emails without having to give up sharing emails, you must/should delete all email addresses that appear on the email that you are reading before forwarding it. And, the only way to do this is to first hit the “Forward” tab in order that you can edit the actual page that you intend to send. If you have opened several pages to get to an attachment, it will be the final page that opens (the page that you wish someone to view). Once you have clicked on the “Forward” tab, scroll through the entire email and simply delete all email addresses that appear on the page.

Next, if you are sending an email to more than one person use the “BCC:” (Blind Carbon Copy) field instead of the “To:” or “CC:” field for adding recipients’ email addresses. This way, people will only see their email address when receiving your email, not all of your friends’ and family’s email addresses also. Of course, if you’re just sending to one recipient, stick with the “To:” field.

Note: Your email window may not automatically be set to display the “BCC” button. Therefore, look to see where this option is offered, generally near the top of the page.

Okay, now you will want to remove “FW” (Forward) in the subject line (if it is displayed) before sending your email. Remember, the email will no longer appear as if it has been forwarded. If you would like, use the “Subject” field to express otherwise or simply type out a quick note to the Recipient(s) telling them whom you received the email from.

Lastly, pick and choose wisely which emails to forward. Be leery of the types of emails that encourage you to forward (i.e. Send to 10 friends within the next 10 minutes…). These types of emails may be set up to transmit viruses.

Home Safety:

Always charge your cell phone prior to going to bed and keep it beside your bed. If your phone line was ever cut or your landline provider ever went down, you need a means of calling 911. This not only applies for home invasion, but also for medical emergencies.

Also, if you have a remote key entry for your vehicle, put your car keys beside your bed. If you were to hear a suspicious noise outside your home or if someone attempted entry into your home, simply hit the panic button on your remote entry key. The car alarm will sound and continue until the battery dies or until you turn it off.

Sexual predators will go to any extremes to gain entry into your home. According to an email that I received, America’s Most Wanted aired a program that profiled a serial killer. The episode noted a possible “Crying Baby” tactic that the serial killer may be using. This was decided after reviewing reports of women calling into police departments stating that they were hearing a baby crying on their porches. In each incidence, police investigated to find no crying baby. The serial killer is believed to have used a tape recording of an actual baby crying to lure home alone females out their doors. So, ladies beware. Don’t be too sympathetic. Let the police do all the investigating.

Medical Emergencies:

Signs of a Stroke

The symptoms of a stroke can be difficult to identify. If not diagnosed quickly, the damage may be irreversible. The medical profession now states that if you can get the patient to the hospital within 3 hours that the effects of the stroke can be reversed. Therefore, please memorize the following so that you can use this information if you suspect that someone has had a stroke:

S – Ask the individual to SMILE
T – Ask the individual to TALK (Have them repeat a simple sentence.)
R – Ask the individual to RAISE both arms.

Also, ask the individual to stick out their tongue. If the tongue is crooked or falls to one side, this could be another indication that the individual has suffered a stroke. In any event, if you suspect that the individual has had a stroke, don’t second-guess or doubt yourself, call 911.

Women and Heart Attacks

This email came to me from a friend of a friend of a friend and I am including it almost word for word because you need to know. Note: When you see “MI” in the body of the email, that stands for ‘Myocardial Infraction’ or better know as a heart attack.

”I've meant to send this to my women friends to warn them that it's true that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing a heart attack...you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest and dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 p.m. with NO prior exertion; NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might've brought it on.

I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking,” A-a-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up. A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, like you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and to drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation--the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m.

After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasming), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR). This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws. AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening--we all have read and/or heard about a pain in the jaws being one of the signals of a MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, "Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack!"

I lowered the footrest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself "if this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else.... but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in a moment.

I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics. I told her that I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts.”

The email went on to point out:

"1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body...not the usual men's symptoms. It is said that many more women die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one, and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation, and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up...which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a "false alarm" visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!

2. Note that I said, "Call the Paramedics". Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER--you're a hazard to others on the road, and so is your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road. Do NOT call your doctor--he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later.

3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol-elevated reading is rarely the cause of a MI (unless it's unbelievably high, and/or accompanied by high blood pressure). MI's are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we can survive.”

Parking Lot Safety:

Use your remote control car alarm if you see a suspicious person/persons approaching you or if you get an uneasy feeling while in a parking lot or garage. Do not hesitate or fear embarrassment over a blaring car horn. That car alarm draws attention and can deter would-be robbers or a rapist from harming you. So, always listen to your gut instinct and react!

Always hold your car key securely between your index and middle finger while walking to your car. If you were to be approached and attacked, use your car key as a weapon by stabbing at the assailant’s neck, throat, and eyes. If possible, set the alarm off to your car to attract more attention.

Upon approaching your vehicle, take note of the cars on either side of your vehicle. If a van is parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle, locate a person/persons whom you feel secure with to watch you while enter your vehicle or enter from the passenger side door.

Also, if a car is parked on either side of your vehicle and a man is sitting alone in his vehicle, again, play it safe and locate someone to escort you to your car or enter from the other side of your vehicle.

Before entering your vehicle, get in the habit of looking inside the vehicle before opening the car door.

Once inside your vehicle, concentrate on your safety, not your packages, not your sunglasses, not the temperature of your vehicle…just you. Immediately lock your doors and leave. Otherwise, you may be a sitting target for someone to rob you or to do harm to you.

If you are attacked, remember the elbow is the strongest point on your body. If possible, use it.

If you are attacked while walking and have no means to defend yourself, sit down immediately and begin kicking and screaming. Chances are your assailant will not drag you across the parking lot to get you into his vehicle or yours.

If (God forbid) you are thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out a back taillight, stick your arm out, and begin waving frantically for motorists to see you.

Personal Safety:

People with medical conditions (i.e. asthma), people who suffer from allergic reactions (i.e. bee stings), or the elderly should get into the habit of carrying their car keys while outdoors. If a medical emergency were to arise and you could not call out for help or get to a phone, your car alarm could signify to your loved ones or neighbors that there’s a problem.

I’ll pass this safety tip along, but I’m not sure if I would do it. The email stated that according to a tourist guide in New Orleans; if a robber asks for your wallet or purse, toss it away from you instead of handing it directly to him. Chances are the robber will go in the direction of your belongings. At which point, you should run like hell.

Again, I’m not sure about this one…If an assailant pulls a gun on you and you are capable of running, run. Studies show that a running target is hit 4 in 100 times and most likely the target (meaning you) will not be hit in a vital organ.

Never allow your child to be near a roadside wearing an IPod or any headphone listening devise. Sadly, in our community, a young man was recently killed while jogging and listening to his IPod. He went to cross the road and failed to see or hear the oncoming car. He died at the scene.

Pet Safety:

According to the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center, raisins or grapes can be toxic to your dog. Although, this type of poisoning is rare, one should still take note of what can happen. Other people foods that can be poisonous and result in the death of your dog are chocolate, cocoa, onions, and macadamia nuts. To learn more about these and other dangers to your pet, go to:

http://www.petalia.com.au/templates/storytemplate_process.cfm?story_no=257