New Year's Eve Safety Tips

New Year's Eve is a night to have fun and celebrate the coming year. However, safety is a must when participating in the festivities. Whether you're staying in and celebrating with friends and family, or you're traveling to a party or city bash, following a few safety tips will ensure that you're safe and sound when the clock strikes midnight, ringing in the New Year!

• Designate a Driver: If you are going to be driving New Year's Eve, don't drink and drive. If you have a friend who does not prefer to drink, make sure they take the wheel. You might even be on the water this New Year's Eve. The person in charge of navigating the boat needs to be cautious, and this still applies to them. It is important to be safe on the water as well, so drink sensibly.

• Be Alert: Be aware of your surroundings and how others are acting. Stay away from those who are out of control and might cause harm. Taking preventive measures is key. If someone is really intoxicated, prevent them from trying to drive or leaving with someone they do not know. It's important to keep an eye out for each other.

• Don't Drive: If you don't have to go behind the wheel, avoid it. More people will be driving under the influence on this particular night, so avoid a potentially dangerous accident by staying off the road. Otherwise, be alert and drive defensively. Most importantly, wear your seat belt. Also, using public transportation is a wise option. If taking a cab is too expensive, crashing at a friend's place nearby is a convenient solution.

• Stick Together: This way we can look out for our friends and family. Going out to parties and nightclubs means a fast-paced, crazy night; so be sure to travel in groups. Having a safety net around you in this environment is imperative.

• Monitor your Alcohol Intake: A majority of people will be drinking on New Year's Eve, and there is nothing wrong with that. Just be sure to pay attention to how much you and others are consuming. Drinking too much alcohol can have lethal affects. Be responsible.

• Don't forget about your pets. They are just as much a part of the family as everyone else. If you are using fireworks, anything with loud noises, or fire, be sure that pets are kept at a distance as well as children. None of these are a good mix.

• Be careful with open flames: If you're burning candles, incense or oil burners, remember to extinguish them before you turn in or before you leave the room they are burning in. Pay extra attention to pets and children around open flames.

• Be extra careful with Fireworks: If you are letting off fireworks in a residential area, be sure to practice proper safety precautions when using them. Let off fireworks in a field or other open area where homes and power lines are out of sight. Have a fire extinguisher nearby and never try to re-light a firework that did not go off when first lit. Also, be sure pets and children are at a safe distance from where fireworks are being ignited. Finally, always have an adult present when using any type of firework.

Everyone wants to have an unforgettable night -- in a good way. By simply using some common sense, we can keep it that way. Ring in the New Year safely.

The Importance of Training

Importance of Training and Development

Training and career development are very vital in any company or organization that aims at progressing. Training simply refers to the process of acquiring the essential skills required for a certain job. It targets specific goals, for instance understanding a process and operating a certain machine or system. Career development, on the other side, puts emphasis on broader skills, which are applicable in a wide range of situations. This includes decision making, thinking creatively and managing people.

So what is the importance of training and development?

I. Help in addressing employee weaknesses:
Most workers have certain weaknesses in their workplace, which hinder them from giving the best services. Training assists in eliminating these weaknesses, by strengthening workers skills. A well organized development program helps employees gain similar skills and knowledge, thus bringing them all to a higher uniform level. This simply means that the whole workforce is reliable, so the company or organization doesn’t have to rely only on specific employees.

II. Improvement in workers performance
A properly trained employee becomes more informed about procedures for various tasks. The worker confidence is also boosted by training and development. This confidence comes from the fact that the employee is fully aware of his/her roles and responsibilities. It helps the worker carry out the duties in better way and even find new ideas to incorporate in the daily execution of duty.

III. Consistency in duty performance
A well organized training and development program gives the workers constant knowledge and experience. Consistency is very vital when it comes to an organization’s or company’s procedures and policies. This mostly includes administrative procedures and ethics during execution of duty.

IV. Ensuring worker satisfaction
Training and development makes the employee also feel satisfied with the role they play in the company or organization. This is driven by the great ability they gain to execute their duties. They feel they belong to the company or the organization that they work for and the only way to reward it is giving the best services they can.

V. Increased productivity
Through training and development the employee acquires all the knowledge and skills needed in their day to day tasks. Workers can perform at a faster rate and with efficiency thus increasing overall productivity of the company. They also gain new tactics of overcoming challenges when they face them.

VI. Improved quality of services and products
Employees gain standard methods to use in their tasks. They are also able to maintain uniformity in the output they give. This results with a company that gives satisfying services or goods.

VII. Reduced cost
Training and development results with optimal utilization of resources in a company or organization. There is no wastage of resources, which may cause extra expenses. Accidents are also reduced during working. All the machines and resources are used economically, reducing expenditure.

VIII. Reduction in supervision
The moment they gain the necessary skills and knowledge, employees will become more confident . They will become self reliant and require only little guidance as they perform their tasks. The supervisor can depend on the employee’s decision to give quality output. This relieves supervisors the burden of constantly having to give directives on what should be done.

How to Fireproof Your Christmas Tree

Fire Proof Your Christmas Tree

You will need:

2 c. Karo Syrup
2 oz. Liquid Chlorine Bleach
2 pinches Epsom Salt
1/2 tsp. Borax
1 tsp. Chelated Iron

 Make a fresh cut on the bottom of your Christmas tree with a saw. Try to cut level taking off at least one inch. Immediately after you cut the tree mix your fireproofing ingredients. Fill a two gallon bucket with hot water to within one inch of the top then add ingredients and mix well. Immediately stand the tree in this solution and let it sit for 24 hours.

Place your tree in a stand with a well where liquids can be poured (SAVE REMAINING SOLUTION).

After your tree is in the stand fill solution from the bucket into tree well using a cup or other smaller container.

Every day without exception, the well of the tree stand must be “TOPPED-UP” with the solution from the two gallon bucket.

Follow these simple directions & your tree will be fireproofed. (as Fireproof as possible!) It may save your home and family from those fire tragedies we always hear about around the holidays!

This is how it works: The Karo Syrup provides the sugar necessary to allow the base of the tree to take up water. Up to 1.5 gallons of water can be taken up by the tree over a two week period. Boron in the “Borax” allows the tree to move the water and sugar out to every branch and needles in your tree. Magnesium compounds in the Epsom Salt and Iron form the Chelated Iron provide essential components for the production of chlorophyll which will keep the tree green. The bleach prevents mold from forming in your solution.
Some of the other beneficial side-affects of this procedure are that the needles will not drop and you will notice an increase in natural pine fragrance. 

Holiday Decoration Safety Tips

Trees
Many artificial trees are fire resistant. If you buy one, look for a statement specifying this protection.

A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a fire hazard than a dry tree. To check for freshness,
remember:

• A fresh tree is green.
• Fresh needles are hard to pull from branches.
• When bent between your fingers, fresh needles do not break.
• The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin.
• When the trunk of a tree is bounced on the ground, a shower of falling needles shows that tree is too dry.

Place tree away from fireplaces, radiators and other heat sources. Heated rooms dry trees out rapidly, creating fire hazards.

Cut off about two inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption. Trim away branches as necessary to set tree trunk in the base of a sturdy, water-holding stand with wide spread feet. Keep the stand filled with water while the tree is indoors.

Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways. Use thin guy-wires to secure a large tree to walls or ceiling. These wires are almost invisible.

“Snow”
Artificial snow sprays can irritate lungs if inhaled. To avoid injury, read container labels; follow directions carefully.

Lights
Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety. Identify these by the label from an independent testing laboratory.

Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets or repair them before using.

Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house, walls or other firm support to protect from wind damage.

Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.

Turn off all lights on trees and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short and start a fire.

Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.  The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and any person touching a branch could be electrocuted! To avoid this danger, use colored spotlights above or beside a tree, never fastened onto it!

Keep “bubbling” lights away from children. These lights with their bright colors and bubbling movement can tempt curious children to break candle-shaped glass, which can cut, and attempt to drink liquid, which contains a hazardous chemical.

Candles
Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens.

Always use non-flammable holders.

Keep candles away from other decorations and wrapping paper.

Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over.

Trimmings
Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials.

Wear gloves while decorating with spun glass “angel hair” to avoid irritation to eyes and skin.

Choose tinsel or artificial icicles or plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if
ingested by children.

In homes with small children, take special care to:

• Avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable.
• Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children. Pieces could be swallowed or inhaled.
• Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food. A child could eat them!

Fires
Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area. Check to see that flue is open.

Keep a screen before the fireplace all the time a fire is burning.

Use care with “fire salts” which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals which can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation or vomiting if eaten. Keep away from children.

Paper
When making paper decorations, look for materials labeled non-combustible or flame resistant.

Never place trimming near open flames or electrical connections.

Remove all wrapping papers from tree and fireplace areas immediately after presents are opened.

Do not burn papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely

General Rules for Holiday Safety
Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of the reach of children.

Avoid smoking near flammable decorations.

Make an emergency plan to use if a fire breaks out anywhere in the home. See that each family member knows what to do. PRACTICE THE PLAN!

Avoid wearing loose flowing clothes-particularly long, open sleeves-near open flames - such as those of a fireplace, stove, or candlelit table.

Never burn candles near evergreens. Burning evergreens in the fireplace can also be hazardous. When dry, greens burn like tinder. Flames can flare out of control, and send sparks flying into a room, or up the chimney to ignite creosote deposits.

Plan for safety. Remember, there is no substitute for common sense. Look for and eliminate potential danger spots near candles, fireplaces, trees, and/or electrical connections.