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Safe
& Sound
- Fast
Tips in Time for Tire Safety Week
Improve your car's handling, safety and more by checking a few
details where the rubber meets the road.
- Something's
Fishy
Keep your fish happy in their aquarium, and your family safe with
this timely advice.
- Spring
Checkup
After a long winter, now is the time to get into the spring of
things around the house.
- Fast
Fact: Phones
See what the New England Journal of Medicine has to say about
phones and driving.
- Slash
Your Energy Bills
With the high cost of heating this year, these ideas are bound
to be helpful.
Where
The Rubber Meets The Road
Have
your tires had their monthly five-minute checkup? By testing the
tire pressure and monitoring tread wear, you'll improve your car's
handling, extend the life of your tires and save fuel. According
to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 660
fatalities and 33,000 injuries occur every year as a result of crashes
related to low tire pressure. Pay attention to these key points:
- Find the
right tire pressure. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's
recommended pressure, which is listed on a sticker on your car's
door or door sill. Don't follow the pressure listed on the tire.
"Any given set of tires can be used on a variety of vehicles,"
says Mark Krawczyk of NHTSA. "The number on the tire is the maximum
pressure the tire can have, not necessarily what's right for your
vehicle."
- Check tires
when they're cold. Let the car sit for three hours before you
check tire pressure. If you drive even one mile, the tires will
be too warm to give you an accurate reading.
- Use the penny
test. Insert a Lincoln penny, head down, into your tires' treads.
If you can see the entire head above the treads, the tires should
be replaced.
- Get free
professional help. Head to one of the free tire inspections held
at more than 12,000 locations during National Tire Safety Week,
April 23-29. Click here to link to a list
of locations and to take the online tire-safety quiz "What's
Your PSI?"
Something's
Fishy
There's something very Zen about home aquariums -- the soft glow
from the tank, the steady hum of the filter, the fish moving effortlessly
through the water. But the combination of water and electricity
can be dangerous, so follow these precautions from the pet-supply
company PetCo® to protect your family and your house:
- Check
aquarium covers frequently for broken lightbulbs or frayed
wires, which can slip into the tank and increase the risk of electrocution.
- Plug all
cords into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet,
which helps prevent accidental electrocutions in areas where water
and electricity may mix. If you don't have a circuit breaker GFCI
or wall receptacle GFCIs, you should consider having them installed
by a professional.
- Make sure
all electrical cords coming out of the aquarium have "drip
loops." This means that the cords are loose enough to hang below
the outlets when plugged in. This prevents water from running
down the cords and into the wall socket.
- Position
all aquariums where they can't easily be knocked over by guests,
children or pets.
Spring
Home Work
- If you're
planting new shrubbery, be sure the water drains correctly away
from your foundation.
- Inspect outdoor
decks. Look for rotten or loose boards.
- Test all
smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they're in working
order. Let the kids press the test button to teach a valuable
safety lesson.
- Grab the
binoculars and walk around your home's exterior, checking for
missing shingles, peeling paint and signs of winter's damage.
FAST
FACT:
Talking on a cell phone while driving quadruples the
chances of getting into a motor vehicle accident. This risk is similar
to the hazard associated with drunk driving.
Source: III/New England
Journal of Medicine.
Slash
Your Energy Bills
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that energy prices
are soaring. Fight back with these low-cost tips from the U.S. Department
of Energy:
- Use compact
fluorescent lightbulbs instead of incandescent bulbs. Although
fluorescents cost a bit more initially, they last up to 10 times
longer and use up to three-quarters less energy, according to
the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
- Lower the
thermostat on the hot water heater to 120 degrees.
- Make your
water bed every day. The covers will insulate it and cut energy
usage by as much as one-third, says the ACEEE.
- Wait to run
the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer until you have full
loads.
- Air dry dishes
instead of using the dishwasher's drying cycle.
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