Up in Smoke

When I was three years old, my parents’ home caught on fire and burned to the ground.  A burned fan was all that remained.  I grew up fearing fire from the stories I heard about our house fire.  In my mind it was the fan’s fault though why we still used the fan could never be reconciled in my mind.  Children have such strange thoughts! 

I did learn that house fires are devastating to life, property and mental health.  In elementary school whenever I heard a fire alarm or fire truck I would worry it was my house and what would happen to my dog since my mother worked.  I did not feel secure that when I returned home that it would still be there and not burned away.  I have outgrown my fear of fire; now I am fire safety woman!

I celebrate Christmas; actually, I celebrate two Christmases.  My tree stays up from December 5 until January 8.  Really who could blame me for the putting it up the first week of December?  Armenian Christmas the Epiphany is celebrated on January 6^th.  In honor of the Russians giving the Armenians, the Georgian part of their country, I keep my tree up for Russian Christmas too.   After all, it is only one more day.

The trick is how to keep a tree alive for over a month.  Simple technique is to cut about an inch or two from the base when you get your tree home and water it immediately.  Keep it watered.  If you have pets that enjoy drinking from the tree refill the water more than once a day.  Do not let your tree dry out as that will form a sap barrier and the tree will be unable to absorb water.  Once the tree no longer absorbs water, the tree begins the drying process. 

Click here for a video of a Dry Christmas tree.

The video clip (really short clip) from the Building and Fire Research Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology illustrates what happens when fire touches a dry tree. Within three seconds of ignition, the dry Scotch pine is completely ablaze. At five seconds, the fire extends up the tree and black smoke with searing gases streaks across the ceiling. Fresh air near the floor feeds the fire. The sofa, coffee table and the carpet ignite prior to any flame contact. Within 40 seconds "flashover" occurs - that's when an entire room erupts into flames, oxygen is depleted and dense, deadly toxic smoke engulfs the scene.



The Gold Round Ornament is the Fire/Smoke Detector

I keep my tree in a separate room and shut the door when not at home and awake.  I also have a smoke detector ornament that hangs on the tree.  I have an artificial tree now but I previously had a real tree, which was well watered.  Even with an artificial tree, common sense applies: no open flames near the tree, no antique lights on the tree that get over heated, and no leaving the tree lights on when not home and awake. 

Here is wishing you a happy and safe Christmas tree. 

*This is a series of blogs regarding fire prevention.  There is more to come. 

Tis the Season to Shovel Snow

I love to shovel the snow.   I crave the muffled sound of the neighborhood as the snow is falling on the ground early in the morning, making paths in the fluffy white snow and the smell of the fresh crisp air.  I enjoy the watching the snow fill the paths I just created and the speed which it does. 

Truth is I love my shovel.

"Old School"

I use a straight handled plastic shovel.  It has no fancy tools on board to scrape ice, the handle does not bend to ease any back pain, it does not fold to fit in a car, it does not periscope to adjust to the user’s height.  It is a very "old school" shovel.  That is where the argument starts with my husband.  What is the best shovel for snow removal?

My husband loves his shovel.  

Ergonomic

My husband uses an ergonomically designed shovel.  The contoured handle enables a more comfortable stance to prevent back strain.  The special handle allows you to bend less.  The shovel is also lighter.  Of course, he recites the scientific studies dating, as early as 1898 examining the biomechanics of snow shoveling to validate his preference for the ergonomic shovel. 

With my trusty little plastic shovel, I shovel the driveway in small sections.  I push the snow using my legs for power.  I do not throw the snow over my shoulder or out in front of me nor do I use any twisting motion.  I take my time as I enjoy the solitude of a winter snowstorm, my neighbors must magically remove snow from their driveways, as I do not see them out when I am out shoveling.   I usually have my water flask in my pocket in case I become parched and since there are snow angels and snow turtles all over the lawn, I obviously take several breaks. 

Obviously, there are physical differences between my husband and me.  He is a foot taller than I am therfore he also weighs more than I do.  His height may require his need for the longer bent handled shovel where I am already really close to the ground so it is unnecessary for me.  His upper body strength can handle the weight of his shovel whereas mine is much lighter and works better for me even if he says his shovel is lighter.  So when he refers to my small shovel as a “Barbie” shovel I know it does the job and really isn’t that all that matters?

We do agree on one item, doctor’s orders.  If either is sick or injured and told to curtail exercise, we do.  There are many horror stories about people injuring their backs or having heart attacks while shoveling.  It is not the age of the person shoveling snow but the health; I have asthma and my husband has high blood pressure so we are cognizant of our health.  It does not stop us from shoveling snow; we are just wise about shoveling. 

One suggestion – get your shovels now.  Once the snow flies so do the shovels, right out of the store! 

Happy Safe Shoveling!

Snow Fall on DGK

references: http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/ErgoPROJECTS/97projects/coffiner.htm & http://ohsonline.com/Articles/2008/12/5-AAOS-Offers-Snow-Shoveling-Safety-Tips.aspx