Posted by Carol Hart on Tue, May 11, 2010 @ 07:45 AM
There is a month for everything. Some monthly observances are relatively well known, like Black History month in February, and Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. Others are less well-known. (Did you know that January is National Bird Feeding Month? And that June brings National Accordian Awareness Month?) Every May, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) brings us Electrical Safety Month.
ESFI cites some astonishing numbers about home electrical fires: 450 lives lost in an average 53,000 fires each year; 1400 injuries; 1.4 billion in property damages. This year, the ESFI is focusing attention on Do It Yourself projects.
The home improvement market has been growing at a steady pace for over 10 
years, and homeowners concerned about the costs of home service (like electricians!!) have turned into DIYers. Interestingly, there is a corresponding increase in the number of Emergency Room visits by DIYers trying to perform electrical work by themselves. (ESFI cites more than 400 home electrocutions each year).
More injuries can be laid at the feet of DIYers and Cheap Charlies (those who find the absolute cheapest electrician possible--regardless of whether he's qualified). 4000 people are injured annually by electrical outlets, and nearly 20,000 people are injured each year by improperly installed ceiling fans!!!!
Check out their website for more information and links: www.esfi.org.
Posted by Carol Hart on Wed, Jan 06, 2010 @ 12:56 PM
Do you ever wonder why February has only 28 days, while other months have 30 or 31? The official historical reason dates back to Ancient Rome, the agricultural calendar, and a Roman king who needed a short month to make everything add up correctly. I, however, have a different theory—one based on no facts whatsoever. February is short because if it was even one instant longer we would all go mad waiting for spring.
In fact, according to some admittedly murky research, the saddest day of the year falls in late January and goes by the name of Blue Monday. Why so blue? Christmas has come and gone, and any residual warm fuzzy feelings have withered. Even the die-hards among us have given up on New Year’s Resolutions and reverted to sloth and gluttony. By the end of January, our credit card statements have arrived and we have to figure out how to pay the piper. The shortest day of the year may be past, but it’s still cold and dark with a long way to go until spring.
The travel company that promoted this study suggests that making a plan and taking action (presumably by scheduling a vacation) can help to beat those seasonal blue feelings. Britain’s Mental Health Foundation has a website, www.beatbluemonday.org.uk which offers 10 additional ways to beat those blues, including Keep Active, Keep in Touch, Eat Well, & Care for Others.
Some companies promote products that compensate for the seasonal lack of light that can affect our mood. Lighting companies like Philips create full spectrum lighting that mimics the benefits of sunshine, and claim to help restore your mood and increase your energy levels. Does it work? Anecdotal evidence says yes, and clinical studies are beginning to agree.
Although I may feel like hiding under the covers until spring, I just may take some of this advice to heart. Maybe I can keep in touch and care for others (and eat well!) by throwing a mid-winter party. I’ll turn those full spectrum lights on high, throw on the dance music, and pretend I’m someplace warm and bright.
And if you decide to make a plan and take action this winter by doing some home renovation or repairs, don’t forget to include your friends at The Wiring Whiz!