A roundup of tips to stay safe * Children must have adult supervision at all times. * No one, not even adults, should ever swim alone. * Be prepared by learning lifesaving, First Aid and CPR techniques. * Always have a stocked First Aid kit, cordless phone, emergency numbers * Backyard pools should have posted rules, ring buoys and security fences * If you have an above-ground pool, secure and lock the steps or remove * Follow the posted rules in any water environment. * Before diving, know the depth, incline and any underwater obstructions. * Never dive in an above-ground pool. * Children should use inflatable toys only under strict adult supervision * Avoid inflatable armbands or "swimmies" - they can be dangerous, while * When boating, always wear a life-jacket in or around the water. * And everyone should learn swimming and basic water safety skills 1. Keep it cool - or hot! Keep all foods below 40* or above 140* to slow
the growth of bacteria. Hot items should go from grill to plates with
minimum time in between. For cold items, chemical ice packs or plain 2. Freeze bottled water, or juice packs, and use them as ice packs to keep the rest of the food in the cooler cold. 3. Try one of the new portable, refrigerated coolers. You plug it into the power outlet in your car and it keeps everything cool while you are traveling. 4. Acid rocks! Foods high in acid keep best in warm weather. Try Citrus Salad, Lemony Shrimp Cocktail and Mango Chicken Salad below. 5. No need to hold the mayo: But remember that store bought mayonnaise keeps better than homemade. (But who really makes homemade mayo anyway?) 6. Use fresh herbs whenever possible. They add a freshness to salads and marinades that you can't get from dried herbs. Cilantro especially says summer. 7. Create contrast: The most appealing warm-weather dishes contain contrasting flavors. One of my favorites is Fire Shrimp and Cantaloupe. The spicy shrimp is complemented by the cool, sweet melon. 8. Packing heat? Wear gloves. The popularity and availability of hot peppers has increased dramatically over the past few years. When working with hot peppers, make sure you wear gloves and avoid touching your eyes. The pepper juice can cause burning and irritation. 9. Stay cool as...an avocado? Avocados are one of summer's best picnic foods, but they have that tendency to turn an unsightly brown. Here's a hint: cover dishes containing avocados by placing plastic wrap directly on the food. This will help prevent the oxidation that causes avocados to darken. 10. Zip-lock trick: Marinate food for grilling in a zip-lock bag to make
clean-up a snap. As an easy, tasty marinade use your favorite oil and
vinegar based salad dressing. Simply place your steak, chicken, or While You're away... Thieves don't take vacations! In fact, they're just waiting for you to hit the road. So what's the best way to secure your home while on vacation? The National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) has created a simple 4-point checklist. www.alarm.org * Discourage the thief: Since burglars prefer to break in to houses that
look unoccupied, lower your home's appeal by making it look like you're
there. Use timers on lights, radios and televisions. Ask neighbors to * Prevent easy access: Make your home a more difficult target by
increasing the time it takes a burglar to enter. Lock all doors and
windows, and secure the garage door. Install deadbolt locks for added * Manage the risk: Make sure your neighbors know you are going on vacation; ask them to watch your house. Tell them how long you will be gone and the names or descriptions of anyone that may need access to your house. Leave a house key and a number where you can be reached, with a trusted individual. For extended vacations, consider a house sitter. Notify police when you will be away. * Detect an intruder: NBFAA recommends investing in a home security
system. In an industry survey of 1,000 public safety officials, 85
percent of police chiefs said security systems decrease the likelihood Janene Mascarella E-mail This Page | Talk About It | Return to My Column
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We're smack in the middle of summer, and it's pretty easy to slack in the safety department. Summer is a time to relax and chill out, so here's some expert tips to keep safe in the season of fun.
