
Surprisingly, many people don’t have an emergency fund. Having cash on hand is a requirement for paying for life’s little unexpected bills. It’s absolutely invaluable and is exactly how people are able to live debt-free lives without relying on credit cards and loans when emergencies or unexpected expenses present themselves.
Some people argue that they cannot afford an emergency fund – but the truth of the matter is, if you feel this way then you can’t afford to live without an emergency fund. Chances are you rely on credit cards to get you through hard times but the increasing debt repayments only makes it that much harder to make ends meet financially. Here are a number of tips for how to put money in an emergency fund:
Starting an Emergency Fund
First, you can look for any small source of cash that you have to start an emergency fund. Roll loose change collected from around your house or car. Return recyclables and deposit the money from your bottles and cans. Most savings accounts do not require a minimum amount to open an account, so take advantage of it and find a few dollars to start your emergency fund. If possible, choose an account that will earn some interest while the money is in the account – but make sure it is one where you have quick access to your money w hen needed.
If you are working, you should consider having a certain amount of money transferred to your new emergency fund each pay period. It doesn’t have to be a lot to get started, especially if you feel you live paycheck to paycheck – even $2 a week will add up to more than what you currently have if you aren’t saving anything, right?
Sell some things in a garage or yard sale, or on Ebay. You might be surprised at how quickly your fund grows using these simple methods.
Once you have about $500 in this fund, you can move on to the next step, but remember to keep adding to the fund a little at a time and do not use it for anything that is NOT an emergency!
Find Money in Your Automobile Insurance Policy
Most people set their automobile insurance policies up with a low deductible so that if they are in an accident they don’t have to come up with a lot of cash to pay their deductible. Once you have $500 in your emergency fund, you could raise your deductible from $250 to $500 and the money you save on your insurance policy each month can be added to your emergency fund to grow it faster. You might even consider raising the deductible to $1,000 if your emergency fund grows to surpass that amount.
If you have multiple cars, you can do this to both vehicles which will double the amount you can save on insurance policies and grow the emergency fund that much faster.
Long Term Goal: 3 Months of Living Expenses
Most experts recommend that you have three months of living expenses saved in your emergency fund. When you reach this goal, you might consider transferring a portion of that money into a certificate of deposit or money market account in order to benefit from higher interest rates – just whatever option you choose be sure that you can access the money when you need it for emergencies.
This system is self-sustaining – if you have to use the funds, then you will replenish them with your source with which you started out. You need discipline to make it work, but it’s well worth the effort.
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An emergency response system or sometimes Personal Emergency Response system is a simple electronic gadget that is intended to make it possible to get help in an emergency situation. It is particularly intended to provide protection and quick response to a senior citizen living alone or to a disabled person. The Personal Emergency Response system is also called a Medical Emergency Response System.
The Personal Emergency Response system is intended for use by a person living alone or one who is not able to get around physically. In an emergency situation where the person has fallen and is not able to get up, help can be summoned by pressing a help button that is worn on the person. Other people who make good use of the Personal Emergency Response System are those who have medical conditions such as diabetes where there is a danger of falling into a coma. The help button may never been needed, but family members of an elderly individual get peace of mind when they know their loved one will have emergency help quickly if needed.
A Medical Emergency Response system is made up of three components: the radio transmitter that is worn or carried by the user at all times, a connection through a console at the telephone, and the center for emergency call monitoring.
The Personal Emergency Response system is put into operation when the user needs emergency help, such as the police, fire department or in the event of a medical emergency. The system user presses the help button on the transmitter, which automatically emits a radio signal that is picked up by the console. The console is pre- programmed to dial one or more telephone numbers that are selected by the user. For example, if an elderly person has fallen and injured a hip so that they can’t arise, the user would press the help button. The emergency response number would be dialed in many instances. This usually can be done even if the telephone handset is off the hook or in use. Some systems have information about medical history at the call center so that they would contact an adult child or a spouse.
If the center staff can’t determine what the nature of the emergency is, they will send a response team to the location and will continue to monitor the response until the emergency situation is resolved.
Transmitter
The transmitter unit is light weight and operated by battery power that must be recharged or replaced periodically. Checking the batteries regularly helps to insure that they remain operational. The transmitter has one or two buttons for calling help. The transmitter is worn on a wrist band or around the neck on a chain. They can be attached to a belt, or simply carried in the pocket. Some transmitter units reflect low batteries by means of a battery level indicator.
Dialer
The console or automatic dialing machine picks up the radio signal from the transmitter and send the alert through the private telephone line system. In the event of a telephone system with more than one extension, some special wiring or jacks may be required in order to grab the line.
Emergency Response Center
The console dials into one of two different types of emergency response centers. Manufacturer based centers usually have only one operation center nationwide. Provider based systems are found locally. They are often run by social service agencies or by regional hospitals. Because users often have the choice of renting the Personal Emergency Response System or purchasing their equipment it usually makes the difference whether the local center is available to the consumer. Equipment leased from the manufacturer is usually part of single nationwide center. Occasionally, the user can choose which type of system he prefers–manufacturer based or provider based.
Customers sometimes choose to buy the equipment but the majority rent Since most insurance companies won’t pay for either the daily monitoring, the equipment or the installation of the unit. A purchased unit will run anywhere from $200 up to $5,000. The installation fee and monitoring fee will cost an additional amount. When the PERS unit is rented, the monthly fee usually includes the monitoring service. Typically, rentals or leased units are handles through hospitals, social service agencies, home health providers or other businesses.
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In an emergency you’ll need to provide and receive help, and after it’s over, you’ll have to return, repair, and rebuild. Central to this is communication and documentation. Our society loves red tape, especially after disasters. Below are 50 ways the camera phone can be used in an emergency to document, record, and relay important information.
Any camera could be used for some of these things, but the phonecam carries a distinct advantage. It can immediately transmit your pictures. If you don’t have a phonecam, go with what you have, or what you can afford. Disposable cameras and digital cameras are acceptable. However, the phonecam rules, so let’s look at ways yours can be used in an emergency. These are excerpts from “Disaster Prep 101” at http://www.disasterprep101.com.
1. Last minute child ID. Whenever the family might be separated, take last-minute pictures of all family members, especially the kids, and pets.
2. Send a map. To send or receive directions to or from a location when voice directions aren’t working, draw a map on paper, take a picture, and send.
3. Injury photos to the doctor. Suppose help isn’t available, and someone’s sick or injured. If there are visible signs or symptoms, relay pictures to medical personnel who can walk you through whatever treatment is possible where you are.
4. Damage documentation. In catastrophes, it’ll be days before insurance adjusters get there to file claims. Photo all damage in case some of it gets repaired or cleaned up before agents arrive.
5. Report suspicious activity. If you see suspicious activity in your neighborhood, upload pictures of suspects and the situation to the Police immediately.
6. “Here’s the landmark.” Gathering the family is critical. If you don’t have a fixed meeting place, send pictures of where and what you’re near so others can find you. This also works well if you’re lost in the wilderness and need to relay pictures of landmarks.
7. “Meet us here.” If you have a fixed rendezvous point, send a pic you already have on file, so others will know where to meet. Take these photos while compiling your family emergency plan.
8. Photo shopping list. When stocking up in anticipation of an emergency, take a picture of your pantry as a quick shopping list.
9. Driving directions. If you’re trying to tell others where a certain location is, send a picture by picture set of directions. Create this file while assembling your family reaction plan.
10. “Meet this person.” If your family evacuates, and they know where to go, but haven’t met the family contact person, send them a picture of the person they’re to meet, or send that person pictures of the people heading their way.
11. Last minute property inventory. If you’re evacuating, snap quick shots of your property to include purchases not on your last home inventory, and the current condition of your property.
12. “Adventure” journal. Take pictures to record what you do, where you go, and people you meet during an evacuation, etc.
13. Situational severity. In a large-scale emergency, first responders will be overworked. They might not be available for a “minor situation.” However, the situation might be worse than they understand, and you might need serious help. Send a picture of how bad things are.
14. Quick text messaging. You might not have time to type a message, and the lines might not be open long enough for a conversation. Write a note on paper, take a picture, and send that.
15. Minor traffic mishap. In a minor fender-bender, with no injuries or disabled vehicles, most jurisdictions will tell you to “swap info and move along.” If that’s the case (always call 911 to make sure), photo the vehicular damage, people involved, witnesses at the scene (and their car tag numbers), and of others involved in the accident to show their injuries (or lack thereof).
16. Wallet backup. Take pictures of your wallet’s contents (or important documents) to record numbers, and show that cards are or were in your possession. Be careful with this info as it’s very sensitive and can be used for identity theft!
17. Inclement weather reporting. If you’re the first to see the funnel cloud, hail, or a river overflowing, send a picture to the weather service or authorities as rapid proof an emergency is developing.
18. First Responder intel. The more first responders know about a collapsed house, an auto accident, a fire in progress, or any other emergency, the more rapid and appropriate a reaction they can make.
19. Missing persons. Send picture of picture. In addition to last minute family photos, send a picture of a photograph in your purse or wallet of a missing family member.
20. Relay property damage to or from neighbors. After a disaster, whoever goes home first, either you or your neighbors, could photograph area damage and relay info to the other.
21. Help insurance adjusters find your property. After a devastating incident, street signs will be gone, house numbers won’t be visible, etc. Take current pictures of landmarks or unique damage near or at your property to make it easier to find you.
22. Copy bulletin boards. If you’re in an emergency shelter, and there’s an info bulletin board, you’ll need the info but might not be able to write it down. Take a picture!
23. Bus, subway, or city map. If you’re anywhere you’re not familiar with and there’s a posted map, take a picture of it for later reference if you get lost.
24. Document your route. When traveling to a new area, and you want to find your way back, take pictures along the way of landmarks at turns you make, forks in the road, etc.
25. Record medicines or food brands. To relay information about medications, or if you have special dietary needs and are sending information regarding certain brands to someone, a picture really is worth a thousand words.
26. Parking spot locations. Don’t trust your memory, trust a picture. Take a pic of where you left your vehicle either in a lot or in a parking deck.
27. Engine repairs. Should you break down and your vehicle shows outward signs of problems such as steam shooting from a hose, or liquids dripping from the engine, send a pic to a mechanic who may talk you through a quick fix.
28. Business or service function and hours. Copy posted business hours or listed service functions (and pricing) for later review and recall. This is also a good way to report price gouging.
29. Child custodian. If you can’t get to your kids at school or other function, relay a picture of the person who is coming to pick them up. Send this picture to the school or function, and to your child (if they have a phonecam).
30. Info on injured or hospitalized people. You might be in a position to send pictures to people looking for loved ones or vice-versa.
31. Hotel room number. Whenever you get a hotel room, take a picture to find your way back. Photo the room number on the door, and the name of the motel and adjacent buildings.
32. ID your evac gear. As with all belongings, take a picture to prove ownership. This might come in handy with theft in emergency shelters. It’s a rare occurrence, but be ready to prove things are yours.
33. Photo scavenger hunt. You’ll need something to entertain the kids. Give them a short list of things they should take a picture of. First one to take all the pictures wins!
34. Identify the close-up. Another idea is to take a really close up picture of something while the kids aren’t looking, and have them figure out what it is.
35. Document your whereabouts. Let’s say looting or rioting is occurring. You can help Police by secretively taking pictures of the perpetrators (not really recommended for safety reasons), or take pictures as you’re leaving to document the fact you weren’t involved.
36. ID the rescuer. If a rescuer is picking up your child or pet, photo the rescuer (and the child or pet) and the vehicle they used. Photograph their name tag as well as registration numbers on helicopters, vehicle tag numbers, or names of boats.
37. Document your cleanup. It may be a while before your insurance adjuster can arrive. Take pictures of the damage as you found it, and steps you took during cleanup. Regarding insurance, NOTHING beats documentation!
38. Document expenditures. If you buy goods or supplies, rent equipment, or hire a service, in addition to receipts, photograph the goods acquired, equipment being used, services being performed, and the people involved.
39. Property pics for retrieval companies. Some scenarios will see you unable to return home. Some companies are trained and equipped to go into these areas to gather people’s belongings. Property photos will allow you to identify specific items you’d like retrieved.
40. Evacuee status. Authorities will want to know who is injured, dead, or missing, and who is okay and where they are. Taking pictures of those you meet along with way, or at your emergency shelter, will help ID the living and well.
41. Language barriers. Ever try to find the restroom in a foreign country and you didn’t know the phrase? Imagine how guests in our country feel in emergency situations. Pictures make communication easier, whether you’re trying to understand their needs, or relay yours.
42. Transmit road conditions. Let’s say after a hurricane, you’re one of the first families returning home, and you’re taking back roads. Authorities (or others following) might not have checked every avenue of return. If damage needs to be reported, or there’s no damage (report that too), sending a picture can relay tons of information.
43. Relay traffic conditions. If family members are separated, or heading different directions, pass along traffic conditions or info from traffic warning signs.
44. Crime scene evidence. People have returned to a home undamaged by a disaster, but later looted. Since Police might not be able to show up right away, take “crime scene” photos (for both Police and insurance).
45. Too much on the screen? Should the TV flash pertinent information and you don’t have time to write, or there’s a lot of text on a computer and you can’t print it, take a picture of the screen for later review.
46. ID for doctors or pharmacies. Medical needs are a real probability during an emergency. Since you can’t get to your doctor, and they might phone in a prescription to a pharmacy that doesn’t know either of you, use your phone to verify your identity to your doctor, and your doctor can relay the picture to the pharmacy.
47. Emergency supply information. Suppose a developing emergency finds you low on goods and you send different people to different supply locations. If supplies are low, these folks can send a picture of the types or brands of items available so you can make educated purchase decisions.
48. “Last Minute List” items and shutdown. Though everyone should keep a “bugout kit” packed and ready, there will be items which cannot be packed in advance. In addition to a written list, create a photo file showing items you need to take (and their location) and steps to secure the house before leaving.
49. Evac atlas. Create a “travel atlas” of emergency assets available along evacuation routes. Include lodging, ATM locations, emergency rooms, etc. Travel the routes and take photos, or draw maps and shoot those.
50. Reaction plan for the reading disabled. If a family member suffers from any reading disability, using photos is a must. Create a photo file that will relay your entire emergency plan without using text.
51. As a bonus tip, we’d like to remind you that any modern communication device whether a cell phone, PDA, etc usually emits enough light from its display panel to act as a small flashlight in situations of total darkness..
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The emergency radio has been used for many years to communicate. It is a radio device that is designed to remain functional, even without any power flowing to it. It is a radio that can be used when the power has gone out, or when a person has no other contact with civilization. These radios are designed to be able to run on almost no power.
Emergency radios have been around as long as radios have been around. The first emergency radios were radios designed to be used by the army or in other war time situations. They were radios that could transmit signals on short wave radio waves to other parties. Indeed, these were the first walkie-talkies and were used for soldiers to communicate with others. As the radio industry flourished, and more and more people tuned into it, the emergency radio industry got even larger.
As more households got radios, people began to realize that in the case of emergencies, radios would be the best way to get word out to the largest number of people. However, since radios ran on electricity, they needed to develop radios that did not need this source of power. The reason that emergency radios became so popular is that it was realized that even when the main power was knocked out, the radio waves continued to flow. Therefore, during even the bleakest emergencies, people could still gather information on the radio.
As time progressed, battery powered radios were developed. These were the first emergency radios that could run without a major source of power. The batter powered radio allow for more than just emergency use. It also spawned a brand new generation of radio listeners, who were happy to be able to take their music and information with them wherever they went. Gradually, these regular radios turned into emergency radios.
While the regular radios cover the standard FM and AM circuits, most emergency radios are designed to cover much more than that. This is because during a major power outage, there might also be problems with the FM and AM stations, and they might not be able to broadcast as they have been. The emergency radios do cover these channels, but also cover the shortwave radio channels. This is because shortwave radio channels are easier to keep running, and in the event of a major emergency they would be the most likely radio stations to work.
Emergency radios can also cover the weather radio stations where they are available. Basically put, an emergency radio can tune into almost all of the available channels. This allows them to be able to tune into any thing that might be broadcast during an emergency.
The most important thing with all emergency radios is that they are able to keep their power for as long as possible. It is never certain when the power will come back on, or when a person will be able to find out more information from another source. Therefore, the emergency radios must last as long as possible. Developers of emergency radios have come up with several ways to make this happen.
Most of the time, these radios are designed to use as little battery as possible. They do this by having units that run on a very small amount of power, and also that have very large batteries, so that they will last a long time. However, that is not all. Some of the newer versions can create their own power, which make them even more versatile.
The newer emergency radios are actually modeled on the older versions of radios. Before batteries were small items that were easily used up and thrown away, a battery had to be manually cranked in order to be charged. Therefore, the newer emergency radios operate on this principle. They have hand cranked batteries, which means that a person can crank the battery case, and generate enough power to use the radio. The crank powers a battery that is rechargeable, so the battery can store the power until it is used again.
Also, newer emergency radios can tap into sources that used to be completely unusable. Some of the radios that are on the market today are even made to be able to recharge from wall current – even if the general power is off in a building. These remarkable radios can run almost indefinitely on this type of power. This is a major advancement, because the radios are able to tap into the power that is left in the wall even when the power is out.
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ght (c) 2009 Jonathan Perez
There is absolutely no way of knowing when something tragic may come upon us. Regardless, what’s crucial is that we are prepared for these occurrences. When it comes to these happenings we need some assistance. But it’s not intelligent to try to get help then. When this happens, we can definitely look at them as being emergency situations.
The emergency situations should be supported by the emergency Supplies.So we can understand the importance of such emergency supplies.Because we can feel the benefit of having adequate Emergency Supplies.
Just like the Emergency Supplies , First Aid Kits have equal importance in our life.The fact that there is always the possibility for injuries and accidents that you wouldn’t have thought would happen.No matter the injury is serious or simple,we have to provide the immediate actions to save from the critical situation.For that we should have First Aid Kits with us.At critical situations we have to make use the First Aid Kits before calling a doctor.This will give sudden and partial relief to the injured people.It will help the doctor to make his duty easy.
Whether you think so or not, it’s fascinating to know how first aid kits and emergency supplies got there start.The First Aid Kits should be kept not only in home,but it should be there in office,vehicles and in any other public places.The emergency supplies can be medicines.We know urgent medicines are very important to a patient’s life.So we can consider it as a very important and emergency thing.We have to be prepared with the urgent medicines before the disaster strikes.
There may be some that are a little unsure about what exactly is in their first aid kits.What is the first aid kit consist of?The kit has different components in it for different type of injuries.And these types will depend on the person who assembled it and the actual purpose of the kit.Anyway these kits have some common components.Those are the items to control bleeding and some common medicines etc.We can say that it is a collection of emergency supplies.
Let us check out the different first aid kits available.Those are Home first aid kits,Car first aid kits,children first aid kits,sports first aid kits,business first aid kits etc.Even though the names are different all of these kits have unique objective.All of these are kept with an intention of providing safety.Let us know briefly about these first aid kits so that we have clear idea about its usage.
In daily life we have to be prepared for dealing with the every day cuts, burns, injuries and illness at home, work, or at play.It is very usual in home.So we need home first aid kits. Accidents at home should be treated soon otherwise it may lead to death.The items in a home first aid kit should be easily accessible.Because the common people in home may need to use at accidents,not the trained people.It should be accessible at any time.
Now let us check different emergency supplies.The emergency supplies are the things you may not even consider as important.But those are actually the emergency supplies.Those are water,food,first aid kits,personal items, clothing, communication, disinfectant, child care supplies, disabled related supplies etc. Keep these apart and classified as emergency supplies.Because no one predict the time of need.
There are other things that may be contained within an emergency kit, for example things such as the list of drugs that some has been prescribed by their physician to take and paperwork that’s extremely important and sensitive.Emergency reference materials should be kept.Fire extinguisher is very important in all the places.Fire starters and igniters, such as matches, must always be kept in something that won’t allow them to get wet.We have to remember one thing that the most safe thing is to avoid accidents rather than keeping all first aid kits and emergency supplies.
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Emergency lights for automobiles can come in an amazingly broad array of colors, shapes and styles. Usually, such lighting is used to signal surrounding traffic that an emergency is underway, or a perhaps issue a lower grade warning to communicate caution for vehicles to yield right of way. Independent contractors such as roofers, electricians, and security guards all benefit from the usage of emergency lighting in appropriate situations. The number of local volunteer emergency personnel has also been on the rise, creating even more of a need for the properly applied use of emergency vehicle lights . Laws vary from state to state as to what colors are allowed for civilian use, so research your locality for allowable color codes. The following classifications apply to the United States.
Color code Overview
Red is the best known of all the emergency light colors . Forward facing red lights are most often exclusively reserved for police and fire department, though they can also be used in certain states for funeral hearses.
Blue lights are often reserved for law enforcement in most states, but tow trucks and EMTs can legally use this color as well. Many western states are also allowed to use blue lights on snowplows.
Amber/Yellow lights are traditionally used for construction vehicles or tow trucks, indicating a vehicle is going slower than the flow of traffic. This color is one of the most common colors used for non-emergency purposes, though they can also signal danger, such as a downed power line.
Green is a less common warning light color. Green can signify a command vehicle such as a fire chief’s car. EMTs and volunteer firefighters will often use green as if other colors in a given state ( such as blue ) are reserved. Green can also connote a HAZMAT vehicle.
White lights are often used as “sidebar” lights in combination with other emergency colors. School buses in some states are required to use a white light beacon when dropping off and picking up passengers. White is also used as front lights accompanied by red for emergency medical vehicles.
Emergency Light Types
Emergency vehicle lights come in as many varieties as they do colors. Perhaps the best known shape is the red and blue “lightbar” of the police strobe. Lightbars can also be used on emergency and service vehicles such as tow trucks or electric utility vehicles. Tow trucks will often run a red sidebar light, while electric utility trucks will run amber or yellow. Small sidebar lights can also be interior mounted for “undercover” work by police officers. Dash mounted lights are completely invisible to traffic until activated. LED lightbars are more expensive than their halogen counterparts, but they’re also more efficient. A popular trend in undercover law enforcement is to place a small LED lightbar on the sun visor, where it’s out of the way, but highly visible when activated.
Beacon lights have a cylindrical shaped housing, containing one interior light that slowly rotates. They have fallen out of fashion in law enforcement, being replaced by the ubiquitous red and blue strobe lightbar. Beacon lights are often seen today as more old fashioned; being identified with 50’s era TV police dramas. Some police departments however still use them as a matter of pride and tradition, one example being the Michigan State Police. Volunteer fire departments and security services will often use magnetic mounted light beacons where they can be put on the roof of a car to notify traffic, and then put away when no longer needed. This is often called the “Kojak” light, named after the 70s private detective TV character.
All emergency lighting often has dramatic connotations, such as in the “Kojak” example above. However, emergency lights have a serious purpose and are designed for one essential function; to quickly communicate a critical, time sensitive situation. In the age of texting, Twitters and cell phones, no other form of communication approaches the effectiveness of emergency / auxiliary lighting when there is a need to quickly inform surrounding traffic.
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Many of us would like to lose some weight. We would look and feel better, and it’s well documented that being the optimum weight has significant health benefits. The problem is, it’s not easy, either to lose the weight or to maintain the loss. But there are measures that can help. The key is organisation and understanding the processes involved.
Chiva-Som’s approach to weight management involves a multi-faceted programme designed to achieve positive changes to body shape with lasting results.
You can only lose weight by eating fewer calories, burning more calories, or, best of all, through a combination of the two. Because each person is different, the first step is a personal consultation with our naturopaths, who assess your individual dietary profile. They will determine your optimum calorie intake and can recommend appropriate supplements or complementary herbal formulas.
We then establish your body composition and degree of flexibility, strength, and cardio-endurance. This comprehensive physical analysis and fitness assessment ascertains which exercises will benefit you most as an individual.
Healthy, long term weight loss is achieved by losing body fat and gaining muscle tissue through exercise. Because muscle is very metabolically active, it burns calories throughout the day. This combination means your total weight drops considerably and you’re also protected from regaining it in the future.
Additional issues such as stress, food craving and emotional eating can also be a barrier to long term weight management. Chiva-Som’s custom-made programmes can help you overcome these through annexed treatments like EFT, acupuncture or hypnotherapy.
It sounds easy. And it can be, if you have the right weight management structure in place to help you. It’s certainly worth the effort: your body will re-shape, becoming toned and tight, and your health will improve – two things that significantly increase levels of happiness and self-esteem.
For more information please visit Chiva-Som’s weight management site.
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There is a wonderful idiom, several times used as the title to a movie and offering the comparative warning, “It shouldn’t happen to a dog.” It refers to some proposed act or omission that is so unpleasant to humans, it should not even be wished on a dog (being a mere animal, it might be expected to bear most things, but not this). Human culture has grown up with animals a part of our lives. Whether as pets, living as one of the family in our own homes, or as working beasts, we value them for “who” they are and what they can do for us. This means treating them in much the same way as humans. If they get sick, we give them our medications. Sometimes, they retaliate by acting as incubators to encourage viruses to mutate and, as with “swine” or “bird” flu, return the favor by passing us infections to which we have no resistance. But, in general, we worry about them. Even the animals we propose to eat are stuffed full of antibiotics to keep them fit and healthy. So, keeping this real, there are many protections we have put in place for our animals. The most carefully monitored rules affect horses. These powerful animals have become a key part of the gambling industry, running in races for our excitement and jumping fences for our admiration.
As with most sports, the fear is that horses dosed with stimulants and other drugs might run faster and/or jump higher. Think Barry Bonds and the debate about the use of steroids in Major League Baseball for an understanding of the passion in the world of racing and equestrian sports. At the top of the sport, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) carried out detailed research in the early part of this century and concluded it was unsafe to allow horses to compete if they were relying on painkillers. In 2004, the Federation moved toward a zero-tolerance policy. This was approved by the Veterinary Committee and representatives of the different national bodies. The risk of seriously injuring the horses was too great and this protective care was strongly endorsed by horse-lovers around the world. Horses should only be used when they are completely fit. It’s therefore somewhat surprising to see the FEI change the policy to allow the use of a range of painkillers. Indeed, the decision has provoked outrage.
Yet, when it comes to humans, we routinely buy tramadol, dose ourselves and then carry on with sometimes energetic activities. The problem is the same as with horses. With pain suppressed, we can attempt to move normally and aggravate the existing injuries. As with everything, a balance has to be struck. Pain is inconvenient most of the time but nevertheless a useful warning when we might be overexerting ourselves. When we are recovering from injuries or learning to live within new physical limits, using tramadol is reasonable in the first stages of regaining mobility. But, in the long term, it’s better to recover muscle tone and build stamina without the help of drugs. That way, we learn coping strategies and need only use a painkiller when the pain flares up again. We are entitled to the same protection as horses.
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Filing an insurance claim: step by step
Many people are confused when an accident takes place and become a bit stressed when it comes to filing a claim. Especially if there’s no previous experience in dealing with insurance companies. To make it much easier and less stressful for you, here is a step-by-step guide on how to file an auto insurance claim:
1. Decide whether you need to file the claim at all. Simple fact is that you contact your insurance company with simple questions about filing a claim it is already introduced into your personal record and regarded as a claim. And having more entries in your record simply means your rates will go up. So try to keep your number of claim entries as low as possible. No matter whether it was your fault or not in the accident, you should first ask yourself if you can pay for the damages on your own. If the answer is positive and you can cover the damages without serous financial problems then don’t file the claim at all. Insurance assistance should only be used in cases when there’s no other choice.
2. Provide as much accurate information as possible. If you have decided that filing a claim is inevitable then try to include all the necessary details into your report. If there were any witnesses, try to obtain information from them. The more information you provide, the easier it will be for the insurance company to process your claim and cover your losses. Remember, that the information should be accurate and true because if it’s not, the company may refuse paying at all.
3. Try filing the claim as soon as possible to make sure it’s processed properly and on time. Keep in mind that your insurance company will start processing it only when you apply, even if you’re not at fault. So the sooner the better, especially if you have to cover serious damage or injury.
4. Be prepared for another insurance provider to contact you. In case there’s a dispute between your insurance provider and the other party’s insurance company after the accident you may be contacted by the other insurer to provide your point of view on the accident. If this takes place try documenting or recording the whole conversation and writing down the name of the person you were talking with. It may be very useful in case there are any complications or legal action taken in the situation. Which may be possible even if you have cheap car insurance.
5. Getting your vehicle repaired at last. In case your auto suffered body damage during the accident it will only be after the insurance company has processed the claim that you will get it fixed. Typically, when your claim was processed and approved your insurance company will contact you and indicate sending your car to specific body shops after the insurance adjuster has evaluated the damage. Some claims get processed faster than the others, depending on how complicated your situation was with the accident and how many parties have been involved. Some people think that having cheap car insurance will make the process longer compared to more costly policies, but It isn’t so.
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Now that you realize how important it is to get a California individual health insurance, your next step is to shop around for one. There are a wide number of options for individual health insurance in CA; finding the right coverage for you is a big task. However, you should invest time and effort on making the right choice if you want to get the best value out of the investment you will spend for health insurance. What are some factors to considering when deciding on individual health insurance?
First, before you start thinking about how much a California individual health insurance coverage will cost you, evaluate your needs first. Take note of your existing health conditions, evaluate your lifestyle, ask around for medical family history, and so on. Based on the information you collect, find out what type of insurance coverage you need. Predict what kind of medical attention you would most probably need in the future. Bear in mind though that the more expensive the medical bills needed for the medical coverage you want, the more expensive your premiums will be.
Having said that, remember that when you get a California individual health insurance, you will pay premiums, usually on a monthly basis. This cost associated to getting a health insurance in CA is something you need to be ready for. The cost you pay to enjoy medical benefits will depend on your coverage. The more you are covered, the more you will pay. Some insurance policies require you to pay some additional costs for getting medical treatment. You may be responsible for a portion of the total cost, or for paying a fixed amount for your hospital visit. These terms vary greatly depending on your policy, the medical problem, whether or not the medical service provider is covered by the insurance network, among others. It is very important that your insurance quote provides information on these.
A good way to lessen the financial burden in getting a California individual health insurance coverage is to specify a deductible cost. This is a fixed amount you pay before the benefit payments kick off. Closely related is the out of the pocket cost, wherein the insurance does not cover the entire claim so you have to pay minimal amount straight from your pocket. You need to decide how much deductible and out of the pocket costs you can take. Setting these two to a higher value will go a long way to lessening your monthly or annual payments.
Moreover, another important point about health insurance in CA is the network of medical practitioners. You will make the most out of your health insurance if you see a doctor that is covered by the company you chose. If you are choosy with doctors, try to find a health plan that includes the doctor you want to keep seeing. Finally, choosing the right Californiaindividual health insurance is all about proper self evaluation and thorough research. Some effort and time will save you a fortune when a medical emergency happens. If you follow this guideline, you’re on your way to the health insurance plan that will work best for you.
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