Printer Friendly
The Free Library
14,587,950 articles and books
Member login
User name  
Password 
 
Join us Forgot password?

Essential health and safety tips for seniors.


Too often, we take for granted the basic precautions we can take to improve our safety--be it in our homes, in our cars or on the street. It's not difficult to enhance the protection you provide yourself in your everyday life if you take a few special precautions. This collection of safety tips and procedures is recommended to all seniors. We urge you to read through this list of tips on how to avoid everything from excessive heat poor circulation to faulty locks to telephone fraud.

Safety Tips Every Senior Should Observe

At Home:

Install high-quality locks & always use them!

Dead bolts & double barrel Double Barrel is a popular reggae single by Dave and Ansell Collins.

Written and produced by Winston Riley it was recorded in 1971 and became one of the early breakthrough ska hits internationally.
 locks are recommended. They are next to impossible to open without a key.

Secure your doors!

The ideal wooden door has a solid core. Door frames, on each side, should be solid at the level of the locks. Do not use chain-locks, they can be easily broken.

Use timers on lights inside & outside your house!

Timers are inexpensive & very effective crime prevention tools. They give your home that "lived in" look that deters scouters & robbers.

Keep emergency phone numbers close to all telephones!

USE 911 in all emergencies, but know your local Police, Fire and Ambulance phone numbers as well.

Do not advertise your name!

Do not put your name on door or gate. If you live alone, do not put your full name in phone registries. Use only your first initial. By advertising your name, it is very easy for thieves to call & see if there is anyone home.

Never open your door to a stranger without credentials!

Install a wide-angle viewer on your door. Check for callers photo identification. If in doubt, call their organization or company to verify their legitimacy.

Keep valuables in a safety deposit box at your bank!

Do not leave large amounts of money or expensive/sentimental jewelry jewelry, personal adornments worn for ornament or utility, to show rank or wealth, or to follow superstitious custom or fashion.

The most universal forms of jewelry are the necklace, bracelet, ring, pin, and earring.
 in your home. These are favorite targets of burglars because they are easy to carry & hard to trace.

Mark your belongings!

Ask your local Police Department about Operation Identification. Be sure to engrave en·grave  
tr.v. en·graved, en·grav·ing, en·graves
1. To carve, cut, or etch into a material: engraved the champion's name on the trophy.

2.
 numbers or other distinguishing features on all valuables. Take photos if possible.

On the Street:

Walk only in well lit areas!

Try to avoid dark places. Use streets that have house lights and street lights. Walk in the center of the sidewalk A Microsoft service that was launched in 1997 to provide online arts and entertainment guides on the Web for major cities worldwide. In 1999, Microsoft sold Sidewalk to Ticketmaster, which continued to provide guides, ticketing and other information to the MSN network. , away from alleys, shrubs and doorways. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid areas that increase your chances of assault.

Do not burden yourself!

Avoid carrying heavy packages and bulky purses. Keep your keys in an easily assessable location.

Never display large sums of money!

This provides an open invitation for thieves. Keep your money hidden. Pay with small bills. Call the Police and report problem areas! If suspect you are being followed while walking outside, cross the street, go to the nearest home or service station and call the Police. They are here to help your

In Your Vehicle:

Remember to keep your vehicle locked at all times

Always lock your car after entering and whenever you are leaving it.

Be cautious of any stranger approaching your vehicle

If you suspect you are in danger, honk your horn repeatedly. This will attract the attention of bystanders which may be able to offer assistance.

Always look inside your car before entering it

Use this precaution to make sure nobody is hiding in your car. Always make sure the interior light of your car is in working order.

If you are having car trouble, wait for assistance

Place the "CALL POLICE" sign (available from most Police Departments) in the front window of your car. Do not raise your hood ... this blocks your field of vision. Wait for someone to stop, do not get out of your vehicle and keep your doors locked. Should someone offer to help, ask them to call a service truck for you

Health Safety Tips

Taking safety precautions for your property and home are important--but let's not Let's Not is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov. It was first published in Boston University Graduate Journal in December 1954. It was written for no payment as a favour to the journal, and later appeared in the collection Buy Jupiter.  forget to always protect our health and quality of life as well. Here are some easy health-related safety tips AARP AARP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan national organization dedicated to "enriching the experience of aging"; membership is open to people age 50 or older. Founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus as American Association of Retired Persons, AARP now has over 30 million  recommends that you may not have worked into your regular routine.

Avoid excessive heat.

It can have a severe impact on the health of many elderly persons. Staying indoors in air conditioned settings, not overexerting yourself and drinking plenty of liquids, unless restricted by your doctor, is advisable.

Tell your doctor if your hands always seem to be cold.

It might be a sign of an underactive thyroid thyroid /thy·roid/ (thi´roid)
1. the thyroid gland; see under gland.

2. pertaining to the thyroid gland.

3. scutiform.

4.
 (hypothyroidism hypothyroidism: see thyroid gland. ). One function of the thyroid gland is to regulate body temperature. When it's not doing its job, the body becomes tired and less tolerant of the cold. The signs of hypothyroidism can be vague, so be sure to mention even mild changes to your doctor.

Make your toothbrush toothbrush,
n a handheld device with an arrangement of bristles at one end, and a handle designed to reach effectively all exposed surfaces of the teeth and gingiva.
 easier to hold.

People with arthritis or other conditions that limit motion may want to attach their toothbrush handle to their hand with a wide elastic band, or enlarge it by strapping strap·ping  
adj.
Having a sturdy muscular physique; robust.

n.
1. Straps considered as a group.

2. Material for making straps.
 it to a sponge, Styrofoam ball or similar object. People with limited shoulder movement may find brushing easier if they lengthen length·en  
tr. & intr.v. length·ened, length·en·ing, length·ens
To make or become longer.



lengthen·er n.
 the handle of the brush by attaching a long piece of wood or plastic. Electric toothbrushes are helpful to many.

Improve the circulation of blood to the feet.

Wear comfortable shoes that fit Shoes That Fit is a non-profit organization based in Claremont, CA that provides shoes and other clothing to kids in need.

Shoes That Fit began in 1992 helping children at one elementary school in Pomona, CA.
 well. Foot width may increase with age. Always have your feet measured before buying shoes. The upper part of the shoes should be made of a soft, flexible material to match the shape of your foot. Shoes made of leather can reduce the possibility of skin irritations skin irritation,
n reaction to a particular irritant that results in inflammation of the skin and itchiness.
. Soles should provide solid footing and not be slippery. Thick soles lessen pressure on hard surfaces. Low-heeled shoes are more comfortable, safer and less damaging than high-heeled shoes High-heeled shoes are shoes which raise the heel of the wearer's foot significantly higher than the toes. When both the heel and the toes are raised equal amounts, as in a platform shoe, it is generally not considered to be a "high-heel". .

Follow a regular plan of exercise.

Exercise helps our bones, particularly our joint bones and the bones of the spinal column spinal column, bony column forming the main structural support of the skeleton of humans and other vertebrates, also known as the vertebral column or backbone. It consists of segments known as vertebrae linked by intervertebral disks and held together by ligaments. , rebuild and repair themselves as they should. Without exercise, they become thin and porous--a condition known as osteoporosis. Strong muscles help protect your joints and spinal column, improve your posture and balance, increase your mobility, and reduce the likelihood of falls and other accidents, and give you a younger body image.

Information for this article was provided by the American Association American Association refers to one of the following professional baseball leagues:
  • American Association (19th century), active from 1882 to 1891.
  • American Association (20th century), active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997.
 for Retired Persons.
COPYRIGHT 2004 CBJ, L.P.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2004, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

 Reader Opinion

Title:

Comment:



 

Article Details
Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback
Title Annotation:An Advertising Supplement
Publication:San Fernando Valley Business Journal
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:Sep 27, 2004
Words:1036
Previous Article:Senior population continues to grow.(An Advertising Supplement)
Next Article:State urges California seniors to get flu shots.(An Advertising Supplement)
Topics:



Related Articles
Kessler's log, supplemental. (FDA commissioner David Kessler)
Power play: protein's role as a team player. (Side Lines).(nutrition)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Tips for the savvy supplement user: making informed decisions and evaluating information.(Pamphlet)
Government, health advocates, lawyers challenge safety of weight-loss supplement.(ephedra)
Consumers gain information from new FDA policy on health-claim labeling.
Food safety certification regulations in the United States and engaging food service workers in behavioral-change partnerships.(Library Corner)
A systems-based food safety evaluation: an experimental approach.(Library Corner)
Perks for pets: nutritional supplements for Fluffy and Fido.(Consumer News)
Assessing the effectiveness of food worker training in Florida: opportunities and challenges and food safety issues and training methods for...
Recurrent critical violations of the Food Code in retail food service establishments.(Library Corner)(Bibliography)

Terms of use | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc. | Feedback | For webmasters | Submit articles