The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Residential fires: The main causes and tips to prevent them

By Cristina Miguelez, Remodeling Specialist, Fixr.com

Guest Blogger

Each year, an estimated 371,000 residential fires occur in the United States. These fires result in more than 2,000 deaths, 10,000 injuries, and more than 7 billion dollars in damages. And while the total number of fires per year has decreased very slightly since 2008, this is still far too many, especially when combined with the total of deaths.

Thankfully, there are steps that people can take to help prevent fires in the future. The key is understanding the most common causes, so you can be better equipped to avoid them.

The graphic above shows the impact of residential fires over the last decade, as well as the most common causes of fire in residential settings.

Understand the most common causes of residential fires

While residential fires can be caused by a variety of issues, cooking fires are far and away the most common cause. More than 50 percent of all fires over the last decade have been started in the kitchen by someone cooking. Other causes include heating systems, 9 percent; open flames, 4 percent; electrical malfunctions, 6 percent; and carelessness, 7 percent. However, all of these totaled don’t equal the same threat that cooking carries with it.

Keep warm safely this winter

Last February, I had trouble getting out of my driveway in about 3 feet of snow when my power went out. I intensely dislike winter snowstorms here in the Seattle area.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reminds families to be aware of safety in and around the home this winter. The agency offers these safety tips on three winter hazards:

Carbon monoxide

• Use portable generators outside your home and place them at least 20 feet away from the residence with exhaust pointed away from spaces where it can gather and be a hazard. Never use a generator inside a home, basement, shed, or garage. The exhaust from portable generators contains poisonous carbon monoxide, which can kill in minutes. 
• Most portable generator-related deaths from CO poisoning occur during the cold winter months. 
• Never leave a car running in a garage, even with the garage door open.
• Install CO alarms in your home on every level and outside all sleeping areas. Test CO alarms monthly. 
• See the CPSC’s video "Carbon Monoxide the Invisible Killer" for more information.

Facts and figures for the holidays 2019: Travel

A record number of Americans  – 115.6 million – will travel this holiday season. That’s an increase of 3.9 percent over last year, or 4.3 million more people taking a holiday getaway, according to AAA.

Auto

More than 104 million of those holiday travelers will drive to their destinations and delays to be the worst on Thursday, Dec. 26, INRIX, a transportation analytics company, predicts. The number of Americans driving for the holidays is up 3.9 percent or 3.9 million people compared with last year.

Gas prices steadily declined in November. AAA expects most motorists will see gas prices drop before the New Year, but gas prices will likely be slightly more expensive than last December’s national gas price average of $2.37.

Air travel

With 4.9 percent growth, air travel will see the biggest increase in travel volume during the year-end holidays, with 6.97 million Americans expected to fly – the most since 2003.

Americans resolving to pay off debts and save money in 2020, survey shows

The New Year is approaching rapidly, and money continues to be America’s top concern with almost 99 million people planning to make a financial resolution for 2020.

WalletHub, a personal finance website, conducted a survey of the “Top 10 Financial Resolutions for 2020” and found the No. 1 financial resolution for men is to save more, while women are focused on paying off debt.

Other highlights of the survey include:

Change the batteries on your smoke detector and CO alarm Sunday

Now that you've figured out Sunday is Daylight Saving Time and you'll be setting your clocks back one hour, it’s a good time to change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

“Early warning is crucial to getting out of a house fire alive and for surviving CO poisoning,” Robert Adler, acting chair of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said in an agency blog article. “I encourage everyone to check and change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Doing this can save you and your family in a fire or CO emergency.”

The CPSC estimates that in 2016 nearly 352,000 residential structure fires resulted in about 2,410 deaths, 10,370 injuries, and $6.36 billion in property damage in the United States.

Be aware of scams if you’re recovering from the effects of Hurricane Dorian

When a natural disaster occurs, scammers are right there, adapting their fraudulent techniques to the latest emergency.

If you suffered damage from Hurricane Dorian, or if you’re looking for ways to help those in need, you can get information at ftc.gov/weatheremergencies. It offers ways to spot the scams that often follow disasters.

After a storm like Hurricane Dorian, scammers often target people who need to get their homes cleaned up or repaired, or find a new place to rent, said by Colleen Tressler, consumer education specialist for the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers may pose as a government official, asking for financial information or money to apply for aid that you can request on your own for free. They often demand that you pay by gift card, prepaid card, or wiring money. That’s always a scam, Tressler said.

Use caution when donating to victims of Hurricane Dorian

When a natural disaster occurs, scammers appear everywhere quickly to try to get your money.

“The destruction that Hurricane Dorian wreaked across the Bahamas is nothing short of a true humanitarian crisis – entire communities underwater, homes completely destroyed, and lives tragically lost,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “We anxiously wait for Dorian to pass through the southeast United States and hope for minimal impact and that communities remain safe.”

James urged people who want to support those who have been impacted to be prudent when assessing what organizations to donate to.

Baby boomers are thinking about vacationing, shopping, surviving earthquakes, and finding contentment

Last week was the Fourth of July, and so it shouldn't surprise anyone that boomers had their minds on vacations. But, then, finding joy was among their writings, too.

Topics include:

• Saving money on meals during a vacation.
• Dealing with summer safety issues, including fireworks.
• Buying a new car.
• Surviving the Southern California earthquakes.
• Finding that magical place that sustains, restores, and comforts us.
• Taking a vacation from constantly comparing our life to other people's ... because no matter what their Facebook page says, they’re facing challenges as well.
• Seeing that true contentment is really a deep-seated sense and appreciation self. 

This is the Best of Boomer Blogs #604 as reported by Tom Sightings of Sightings Over Sixty. Click here to get the links to the articles. As you peruse them, be sure to let the boomer bloggers know your opinions. We enjoy hearing from our readers.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

Think fireworks safety this Fourth of July to avoid injuries and deaths, the CPSC advises

For years, I’ve written about the dangers of fireworks approaching the Fourth of July. And, for years, kids keep getting their fingers blown off and sustaining other injuries and even dying.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Wednesday that at least five fireworks-related deaths were reported in 2018 – all associated with reloadable aerial devices.

“CPSC works year-round to help prevent deaths and injuries from fireworks, by verifying fireworks meet safety regulations in our ports, marketplace and on the road,” said Ann Marie Buerkle, CPSC acting chairman. “Beyond CPSC’s efforts, we want to make sure everyone takes simple safety steps to celebrate safely with their family and friends.”

Injuries

There were about 9,100 fireworks-related, emergency department-treated injuries in 2018, with 62 percent of them occurring during the month surrounding the Fourth of July. During that period, firecrackers were the number one cause of injuries, making up for 19 percent of the estimated injuries.  For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for more than half of the total estimated injuries.

Myths and facts on drowning that every parent needs to know

By Sean M. Cleary, Attorney, The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary

Guest Blogger

Some parents already know the importance of swimming safety, especially for young children. Unfortunately, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the reality is, one in five people who die from drowning is under the age of 14.

Some swimming injuries and accidents are caused by myths about drowning that parents believe. If a drowning victim survives, he or she may suffer from long term disabilities such as learning disabilities or loss of basic bodily functions. No one ever expects it but tragedy can strike anytime.

Here are some common misconceptions on water safety that create a false sense of security and could lead to drowning:

Myth 1: I will hear my child crying, screaming, and struggling in the water in time to help.

The truth is drowning isn’t noisy. It's silent and can happen in just a matter of seconds. Children don't have the ability to figure out what to do when they’re in trouble. As a result, there can be very little splashing, waving, or screaming and they just slip away in silence. The misconception that you will hear your kids struggling really endangers them.