Don’t Drop the Ball this New Year’s Eve: How to Protect You & Your Family Wisely
The New Year’s Eve ball drop is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. Twelve long months culminate into a 10-second countdown that ushers out the old year and welcomes in the new one.
People choose to celebrate this moment however they see fit, but what is common among almost everyone is that the New Year is a time of reflection. What could you have done differently? How will things have to change in the future? How can you make your life even better by saving money, maximizing quality time, and striving for goal fulfillment?
Protecting what is yours – your life, belongings, values, and family, are meaningful pursuits for 2022. Here are some excellent tips to consider:
Cutting Back on Social Media
There are many positive ways that social media has impacted our lives. It has brought family and friends together, it’s raised awareness about various issues, and it’s fostered a sense of community for those who might be housebound, quarantined, or for some reason confined.
However, excessive use of social media can be mentally and emotionally harmful for both children and adults. Now, in nearly every social media platform, there are settings to help you limit your exposure and to stop the endless scrolling. Set these limitations for yourself and your children, and instead, institute craft time, reading time, or board gameplay.
Review Your Car Insurance
Inflation is at a 7-year high, which means that the activities and products you enjoyed in the past may not be as readily available to you. Take the first weeks of 2022 to review your car insurance and research cheap car insurance quotes, so you can budget more wisely and take your finances back into your own hands. And, you’ll make sure that you are fully covered for any possibility at the lowest premiums available.
Test Your Smoke Alarms
Nobody ever really thinks they’ll need smoke alarms until the day comes when they do. At the start of the New Year, take this time to replace the batteries and test all of the smoke alarms in your home. Be sure that you have at least one on every floor, inside each bedroom, kitchen, and even in basements and attics. Review and practice escape routes that you and your other family members will take to get out of the house in case of a fire.
Remember to Always Buckle Up
In the United States alone, there is one deadly car crash every 12 ½ minutes. A seatbelt did not restrain nearly half of those who died in a car crash. Over the last 40 years, it is estimated that seatbelts saved nearly 400,000 lives. Get into the habit of buckling your seatbelt, whether it’s for a trip down to the neighborhood store or across the country. Children follow your example, so they will too when you make it a habit.
Enforce Helmet Use
The brain is the center of all activity in the body. And, even though it’s naturally protected by a hard skull when playing sports or participating in activities like bike riding or sledding, the head may not be enough.
Wearing a helmet while playing baseball, hockey, and football makes good sense, as there’s a lot of rough contact being made. The possibility is to hit the ground (or something else) with incredible force. That is also true with bike riding and sledding. Be a positive role model to your kids and wear a helmet during these activities, as you’ll cut the possibility of irreversible damage to the brain by 85% when you do.
How to Protect Family Wisely: Prevents Falls In & Around the Home
Everyone is susceptible to falling. Whether it’s in the shower, down the stairs, or on a slippery front porch, Falls can’t always be 100% prevented, but you can take active steps toward making your home safer.
- Declutter rooms and hallways, especially stairwells;
- Don’t leave baby alone on a changing table; always use safety straps if you must be away for a moment;
- Install light switches both at the top and the bottom of stairs;
- Place nonslip mats in the shower and bath;
- Spread salt on icy outdoor walkways;
- Tack down throw rugs;
- Place handrails on both sides of the stairwell;
- Keep electrical cords tucked out of the way.
When the New Year rings in, we don’t just think nostalgically about the year that’s passed and look forward to what the new one will bring. It should also be a time to take positive steps toward a happier, healthier life.
