WHERE IS MY........

Most days before I leave the house I'm frantically looking for my glasses, purse or other items. Usually my husband finds them. I can't see with my glasses and I really can't see without them. Sometimes I look in the same spot several times for an item. It maybe "right under my nose" and I know even see it. This happened today. For the past two weeks I have been looking for my hair conditioner I use for humid weather. I took it on my last trip to my parents so I knew it was in the house somewhere. I have two clear travel bags my sister gave me several years ago that I love. They are clear so I can find items easily. I looked in both bags about four times over the past two weeks. Today I took everything out of both bags and there it was. I was happy and frustrated at the same time. I guess the lesson here is to put things in the same spot so they are easy to find and unload your bags the day you come home from a trip.

VELVET CLOTHS HANGERS

My new favorite items are Velvet  Cloths hangers. I hang most of my cloths so I can find them easier. I bought a pack of twenty hangers about a year ago. Last week I found tow packs on sale. One pack at an overstock store and one at TJ Max. I like the black ones so the color of the clothing stands out.  They are great for scarfs because they won't slip off. I wear thin T-shirt under my scrubs at work. They stay on the hangers too. I found a pack of 50 on Amonzon but I found 18 for $10 at TJ Max.

http://www.amazon.com/Closet-Complete-Ultra-Velvet-Hangers/dp/B0037KMSRI/ref=pd_rhf_se_shvl1

A USER-FRIENDLY HOME

I found this story on making your home user-friendly. We moved in our home four months before I lost my vision in my right eye. I remember thinking the hardwood floors were too light but now I it makes a big difference because it makes the room look lighter. My cabinet and counter tops are also white. Also making it easier to see in the kitchen. The only thing I don't like is the raised threshold in every doorway. Because I worked in a building supply store for 25 years and sold hardwood I know you should not do this. The person who put the floor in did this to raise the price of the job. It just gave me something to trip over. You do put a raised threshold in the laundry and bathrooms in case the pipes leak so the rest of the house won't flood. We also have stairs with handrails. They are sometimes not installed but you even need them if you have children.


A User-friendly Home

A home should meet everyone’s needs—
including those who are visually impaired.

Try these suggestions for a safer, friendlier
home:

• Mark settings on appliances and thermostats with colored tape.
• Cut glare by eliminating glass table tops and glossy floors.
• Make mirrors accessible without having to lean over a counter or sink.
• Organize clothes in dressers and table settings in cupboards for easy matching
and retrieval.
• Have regular spots for keys, cell phones, TV remote, and other easily lost items.
• Remove trip hazards, such as loose rugs and low tables.
• Mount fire extinguishers in easily accessible locations and know how to use them.

For more, visit the American Foundation for the Blind Web site www.afb.org and type “house survey” in the search box.

Lifeglow

July - August 2008: Vol. 25, No. 4

Protect Yourself from Deadly Carbon Monoxide

Well it's 11:15 pm and my smoke detector just went off. The first thing my husband said was "are you cooking" ?  After checking all the units we decided it was a low battery. We have been in our home for ten years. Since he's at the store now at 11:25 buying new batteries for all the units I thought I would post a story about carbon monoxide detectors.

Protect Yourself from Deadly Carbon Monoxide

The arrival of winter brings on increased risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
All fuel-burning devices—from cars to heaters— produce CO, but poorly functioning ones can produce harmful and even deadly quantities of the odorless, invisible gas. Especially at risk are unborn babies, infants, the elderly, and those with anemia or heart or respiratory diseases. Low to moderate levels of CO may cause headache, nausea, and mental confusion. High levels or prolonged exposure
may cause brain damage or death.

The US Environmental Protection Agency
recommends:
• never idling a vehicle in an enclosed space.
• never heating a room with a gas oven.
• never sleeping in a room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater.
• installing UL-certifi ed CO detectors in the home.

For more information, go online to:
www.epa.gov/iaq/co.

Lifeglow

November - December 2008: Vol. 25, No. 6