By Heather

With the blizzards and power outages ravaging the East Coast, I feel very blessed for our mild Bay Area winters. I keep hearing tales of being snowed in from my loved ones.

While they’re busy stowing flashlights with batteries in every room and stocking up on canned goods, I hope they are staying warm and keeping safe.

Do you know you should never use a power generator in the house? Never ever. If you do, you can create a carbon monoxide (CO) hazard from the fumes building up.

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer.

(Click to watch video)

Protect your family, especially while they sleep. Purchase and install UL-listed CO alarms outside each sleeping area, including the basement. Read the instructions carefully to make sure you install it properly. Some smoke alarms can double as CO alarms. Just look for the UL mark to be sure the one you’ve chosen has been properly tested.

If you feel groggy, dizzy, or have unexplained headaches, call 911 or the poison control center [1-800-222-1222].

By Whitney

Whether your Valentine’s Day plans are simple or elaborate, may you be well fed, chocolated, and receive some token of affection from your family.

Some useful links from around the web I’ve pulled together for those who are gung-ho about the holiday:

<3 Sending treats to school with your child? Make sure you are mindful about food allergies, such as nuts.

<3 Looking for a calorie-free goodie for loved ones of any age? Download this template for a “be mine” banner.

<3 Heading out of town for a romantic weekend? Use this going-out-of-town checklist to protect your house.

<3 Cutting flowers right from your neighbor’s garden? Some safety tips for gardeners (careful with those pruners!)

<3 Using candles to create some ambiance? Illuminate your bedroom with caution.

by Whitney

My dad recently had surgery at Stanford Medical Center. I spent a fair amount of time there while he recovered. With all the plugs and cords coming from the hospital beds, electronic IV machines, and computers that are now used to track every patient’s progress, I had UL on my mind. The hospital is a place where health and safety are everyone’s priority. It made me think it would be nice to share some tips for hospital visits.

1. Respect the care being given to the patient. Your loved one’s primary reason for being in the hospital is to benefit from the services available there. Make sure the timing of your visit does not interrupt the work of the people who are attending to the patient or any rest the patient needs. Reassure the patient that they are getting excellent care. He needs to feel safe and secure.

2. Keep your phone off. No one wants to hear your cell phone ring – or hear you answer it – when they are bedridden and unable to leave the room. If you must take a call, step into the hallway, out of earshot.

3. Leave no trace. It is lovely to bring a gift, but make sure you are not creating a clean-up job for anyone. Carry out any packaging or leftovers to help the hospital room stay free of clutter.

4. Stick to visiting hours. Although they are rarely enforced, the posted hours protect the hospital environment from too much activity when folks need their rest. If your recovering pal wants some company during the 10 o’clock news, ask the nurse if it’s ok if you stay late. Call ahead to learn if children are permitted.

5. Listen. Only the patient knows how she feels, both physically and emotionally. Try not to put words in her mouth. If the illness is serious or complex, don’t assume it’s the same as your friend’s mom who had the same thing. Do not speak for her when a nurse asks how severe her pain is.

6. Bring good news. A story about his grandchild, something positive about the facility you’re visiting, observations about his favorite sports team.

Hospital stays are no fun. A well-timed visit from the right person can lift some patients’ day. Others would prefer not to be social during their recovery. All you can do is ask: “Would you like me to visit, or is there something I can do for you while you are away from home?”

As for my dad, he is now recouping at home where he has said that he is thrilled to be reunited with his own couch, watching his own TV, and eating food from his own kitchen. There’s no place like home.

By Heather

I’ve blogged before about shopping for a new furnace, safely using space heaters and even that you should change your furnace filter regularly. But the one missing piece was this:

When you get a new furnace, burn-off from coatings is common, making the first few runs a little stinky.

Our new furnace was installed in the spring. At the time, we turned it on a few times as directed to blast out the weird odor. Then it sat through the warm spring and autumn before we needed to turn it on again.

In November, when we cranked it back on (using a programmable thermostat, of course!), I thought I could go a little longer before replacing the filter. In fact, the opposite was probably true.

That’s when the headaches started. Every morning I woke up with a headache.

I couldn’t figure out the cause but I came up with many theories: dust, dehydration, drywall from overseas, heat, cold, old pillows.

Then we replaced the filter.

And all was right with the world.

Seriously, I could tell from the first morning that it was better.

So, do yourself a favor and make sure to change those furnace air filters every 90 days! Some thermostats will help you remember.

By Heather

I’ll be honest; we don’t watch much football at my house. Instead of playing and watching team sports, my family likes to bike and hike (or just geek out with Legos).

The other day I noticed a lot of football talk on Twitter and I thought, “oh no, I missed the Super Bowl. Too bad, I usually enjoy the commercials.”

Imagine my relief to find out that it wasn’t the Super Bowl I missed but just a playoff game. I can still DVR the big game and watch the fast-forward sports action intermixed with the commercials. Yay!

Sheriff Ronald Cary from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that the Super Bowl is fast becoming one of America’s favorite “holidays”. But what does the NHTSA have to do with a big football game? Unfortunately, Super Bowl Sunday has become the second deadliest day of the year (right behind New Years Eve).  On average there is one alcohol-related fatality every 31 minutes.

The NHTSA offers us these guidelines to stay safe on Super Bowl Sunday, especially if you’re hosting a party:

1. Offer Non-Alcoholic beverages too. Always have alternative beverages for those guests who are driving or choose not to drink.
2. Serve ample food and water with the alcohol. It is proven that food and water can help counter the effects of alcohol. I like to offer my guests “spa water” made with cucumber or lemon slices in large pitchers around the room so it becomes an easy refill option.
3. Encourage the use of designated drivers or a cab service. Make sure that any guest who has had too much to drink doesn’t drive.
4. 4. Limit your own alcohol intake to better determine if guests are able to drive at the end of the night. Did you know that you could be held financially responsible for your guests’ actions after they leave your party?

Now, go team, go! Wait, who is playing again?

Thanks to all of you who participated in our Bright Holiday Moments Contest. We’re proud to announce that “Rinky” with her story of “A Smile That Could Brighten Any Day“ is our grand prize winner! Read her touching tale of one New Years Story that meant the world to her and her family.

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It was New Years Eve and it appeared as though my water broke. For most people it would be cause to celebrate but I was incredibly concerned because my baby wasn’t due for just over two months from that night. We rushed to the hospital worried that something was terribly wrong. When we got to the hospital I learned that I was, in fact, in labor.

They informed me that they would do all they can to keep my baby healthy and inside for as long as possible but there was only so much they could do. Keep in mind it was my second birth and my first daughter was born with a developmental disability. I feared that this time things would be worse.

We were able to hold off the birth until January third, but that’s when we knew it was time. In a matter of two pushes she was born, all 3lbs 14oz of her. She was tiny, and jaundiced but she came out with her fists clenched and screaming a beautiful healthy song. Given her size and condition, she had to stay in the hospital in an incubator for about a week. When I got to see her, I knew she would be alright, even though her head was as big as my fingers are long (and I don’t have long lady-like fingers)

And like most babies she looked so worried and confused to have entered this world. She was almost like a baby alien. But in the end, my husband snapped this photo that embodies what this New Years, and New Life are all about. That smile is brighter than any light or candle.