Pensioner's Corner

• Don’t leave your keys in the car, even if you only intend to be away from your car for a few minutes

• When leaving your vehicle, remember to close all windows and lock all doors

• Keep valuables in the boot of your car or hide them away out of sight under a seat or in the glove box

• If you have a removable car stereo, remember to take it with you. Thieves breaking into your car may only be after your stereo. If you have a removable car stereo, remember to take it with you when you leave your car and record its serial number

• Ensure you and your passengers have your seat belt on before starting your journey

• Be alert and pay attention to what is happening around you. Don’t get absorbed in activities that prevent you from being alert, such as texting, talking, eating, drinking and even changing radio stations

• If you need to use your cell phone, or send or read a text, safely pull off the road first

• Watch your following distance & Always drive within speed limits

• Don’t drink and drive

• If you feel tired and drowsy, get someone else to drive. If you are alone, just take sometime and rest and get back on the road when you feel you are fit to drive

• Exercise acts as a preventive medicine. The evidence is overwhelming: a balanced diet combined with moderate exercise is one of the best things you can do for your body. It bolsters the immune system, and lowers the risk of heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and osteoporosis. (Source:  American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, US Surgeon General)

• Exercising improves strength at any age. In a study of 90-year old men and women who used weight machines three times per week for 8 weeks, the subjects' strength increased by 174%. (Source: US Department of Agriculture Research Center on Aging at Tufts University)

• Exercising slashes risk of heart disease. 120-160 minutes per week of aerobic activity can help control cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. (Source: American Heart Association)

• Boosts your brain power through exercise. Keeps brain sharp in old age and may help prevent Alzheimer's Disease. (Source: Carl Cotman, Ph.D., University of CA at Irvine)

• Maintaining or reducing your weight increases longevity. People who gain 20-40 pounds since the age of 18 are 2-1/2 times as likely to die from coronary heart disease. (Source: Harvard Study in the New England Journal of Medicine

Source: http://www.healthchecksystems.com/motive.htm

Preventive measures against Fire

• Always disconnect power plug from the socket when electronic equipment is not being used. This protects against surges particularly from lightning and over-voltage

• Never leave equipment on standby mode for a long period of time if unused. This protects the power supply form overheating and damage

• The use of multi-plugs must be avoided and permanently installed sockets must be used instead. This protects against surges and overheating of conductors due to loose contact

• Always remain in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or cooking food. Always remember to turn off the stove, even if you leave the room temporarily

• Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stove, e.g potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, towels and curtains etc

• Always wear close-fitting clothing and well rolled sleeves when cooking. Loose clothing can sway onto the stove and easily catch fire

• Always try to plug microwave ovens and other cooking appliances directly into a socket. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance; it can overload the circuit and cause a fire

• If a fire starts in your microwave, turn the appliance off immediately and keep the door closed. Never open the door until the fire is completely out. Unplug the appliance if you can safely reach the outlet

• If a fire occurs, make sure no one else is inside the house and get out. When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire. Immediately, call the Fire Services on 115

Preventive measures against break-ins

• Always double-check that the doors and windows are locked at night

• Valuables and electronics like laptops, electronic appliances, cameras and mobile phones should be kept out of clear sight when you are at work and at night

• If you will be away for a long period of time, make your house look like someone's in it by setting your lights, television and radio on a timer and make sure that your neighbours are aware that you will away 

How to Pack?

• There is little you really need when you travel. Pack as light as possible

• Bring along a light backpack, it’s more convenient to move between places

• Get one of those small useful bags that fold up into a small package to slip into your backpack

• Always bring along a small, foldable umbrella and a cap or hat in your bag and if you are going for a walking trip, do not forget your comfortable jogging shoes

• Bring a book or magazine to relax on during your travelling times

• As a precaution, scan copies of all your credit cards, passport and any other valuable document you have and email them to you. Should you have your wallet and bags stolen, you can easily call your local bank to cancel your credit cards etc

• Do not change a lot of the foreign currency at the start of your trip, bring a small amount of foreign currency to cover incidental expenses upon arrival, then change the rest in your destination country, as exchange rates are usually more favorable

Getting ready for your trip

• Don’t overplan your trip. Keep your travel itinerary fluid and plan it reasonably so that you can appreciate the atmosphere in each place

• Always take time and find time for naps to recover from the travel fatigue

• Prepare for security check in: Wear slip-on shoes; don’t wear a belt with metal; put the jacket or sweater in your carry-on before you get to security; have your electronics on the top of your carry-on along with the plastic zip-lock bag with your liquids so you don’t have to search through your bag to find them (and then repack after you go through security)

• Split your cash and financial assets up. Credit card in one pocket. Some cash in another. Some in a hidden backpack pocket. Some in your shoe(s). Some in a money belt. Go to the bathroom and enter a stall before taking out cash from any of these places.

• Don’t bring all your cash/credit cards etc. on you when you go out. Leave some in a safe at the hotel, and leave the extra credit cards back home.