Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
I checked my smoke detectors and my fire extinguishers today. The kitchen smoke detector didn't work. I was NOT happy.
Turns out I somehow put the 9-volt battery in backwards. ??? DUH?
When doing the "checks"... I ALWAYS check them after replacing the batteries and hanging them back up so that seemed REALLY strange.
No one coming in or out would have touched my detectors (I've threatened them all with their lives if they ever tried to again after I found out one of the bad boys removed the battery because it was annoying when they cooked toast and it would go off).
My only guess is that one night I was woken by a chirping smoke detector (indicating a low battery, or a small spider got in it, or it was too humid inside) and couldn't figure out which smoke detector it was and by the time I got to the one in the kitchen and still no success....
I took it down, realized it was a different detector that was STILL chirping elsewhere, stuck the battery back in with my sleepy and annoyed froggy brain in charge and went to hunt the offensive detector down and kill it.
Have YOU ever had a froggy Lyme brain? Or been asleep and been woken rudely by a smoke detector?
Could your batteries be in backward too? Do your detectors actually work?
LisaK
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 41384
posted
always a good reminder
-------------------- Be thankful in all things- even difficult times and sickness and trials - because there is something GOOD to be seen Posts: 3558 | From Eastern USA | Registered: Jul 2013
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Did you know that smoke detectors are dated? They are only good for 10 yrs and then replaced.
We are now using a 10 yr battery/smoke detector, so you only have to do this every 10 years.
They are a little more expensive. But when you compare the price of batteries for 10 yrs, it's not out of line. We bought them at Walmart. But no need to climb up every year and replace batteries....especially to a smoke detector that is long past 10 yrs old and may not work properly (even with the battery put in the right way TC)
Pull down your smoke detector and do the reading on them. They are dated for a reason.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Funny map. I saw that. HA!
That's good to know about the battery life and new detectors. Yes, they get expensive- using as many as I do- but without them I can't feel safe.
Lisa, glad you saw this. Thanks for paying attention!
posted
Tincup, that is, without a doubt, the best information I've seen for preparing for and surviving disasters! Don't ever think.....that can't happen to me! You never know.
I'd like to add two rather minor things that I've learned from experience. I now have two 10 inch "battery or electric fans" from the drug store. Hot air sure does feel better when it's moving.
Also, I use square containers in my freezer now so I have fewer air spaces and more ice. They fit better in my ice chest with the items we used often. I stacked two ice chests and kept them covered with sleeping bags for insulation. If your freezer is full, take out some things to cook and make room for ice. Eat the ice cream!! These are things I learned the hard way.
I live 100 miles from the coast, but in 1989, the eye of hurricane Hugo came right over us as it headed to Charlotte. Our family only had tree damage, but no power for days. Heat and humidity were terrible. Only ice we could find was Party Ice which melts quickly and you had to stand in line for that. Dry ice was not available.
Oct 2015, our neighborhood had 18 inches of rain overnight. This caused the dams on several small lakes to fail, which was devastating. Neighbors rescued me in their boat. I was truly blessed that the water that came under my doors only formed puddles 6 to 8 feet across. Some neighbors had to gut the downstairs and others had to bulldoze and rebuild. One lady put valuable papers and small items in an ice chest and used it as a floatation device to swim across the current to her neighbors. One young man said when he saw a pontoon boat go down the street, he knew it was time to call friends to come get him.
Please, please, everyone read the information Tincup has provided. Be prepared!!
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Hey cbb,
Always so nice to see you! And even nicer when you say such nice things about my project! giggle, giggle, blush, blush Thank you!
Funny, I was going to slightly update the information last week and ended up working 16 hours on that list! NOT in my plan, but oh well.
Then tonight I was going to just add your wonderful suggestions in there and ended up working another 8 hours on it! Right now I am not sure what it says! HA!
I do love your tips and you are exactly right. It can be really steamy indoors, even outdoors after a hurricane comes thru. A fan would be nice to have. Almost a necessity in some cases.
Funny too- I have one! I forgot to add it, so the prep person thanks you for your important reminder! And for making me look so "smart". HA!
Also great idea about the square containers. Makes a lot of sense. I "imagine" square containers being the old time ones people would use to freeze food in? (I canned everything so not real familiar.)
If you had something else in mind I'd appreciate you letting me know. I put an "example" link on the site (picture), but not sure if that is what you meant.
The 2 liter bottles are cumbersome and don't fit nicely, so I thank you now for that suggestion and thanked you on the site too! Credit where credit is deserved.
I am so sorry to hear of the disasters you've experienced. Hugo was so bad- horrible I'd say, nothing less than that. You can still see the damage it caused almost 30 years later!
And a boat rescue! Wow! You were lucky! Good to hear the damage wasn't as bad at your place as it could have been, but still a mess I know. Never something you want to see happen.
And thanks for encouraging others to be prepared. I feel like a broken record on the topic.
But, I did have a life before Lyme and this disaster work was a big part of it. My family is still involved and I still try to do what I'm able, even if it is just something like this project.
If anyone else has any tips I would love to know about them!
Thanks again cbb. Hope you are yours are doing well!
posted
Wow, Tincup, I was overwhelmed by all you said, and I'm the one giggling and blushing now. Thanks for giving credit in the list, but it can be deleted now to save space and time when people are reading it.
Sorry adding my information stretched into hours of work. I'm always amazed with all you do!! Also, I'm so impressed that you and your family have worked with disasters for so long. We need more good families like that. There never seems to be enough.
Square containers? Yep, you got it right. I'm still using my decades old freezer containers. I'm almost as old as dirt and I use things till they fall apart. I never learned to can, but I'd freeze lots of veggies in the summer.
The fans aren't just for a disaster. They are great when my grands have games on a hot day. Just take one to the ball park and enjoy.
You may not need to add this to the list, but there's one thing I learned about an upright freezer. After Hugo, I knew I should put the expensive stuff, like meat, at the bottom of the freezer, and less valuable stuff higher. Definitely eat the ice cream before it's soup.
All the family is fine, especially the grandson Dr. J cured of LD and Bart. With the help of my LLMD in NYC, I'm kinda holding my own in spite of having Lyme, Bart, and Babs for about 37 years (12-14 years before diagnosis). Thanks for asking.
And thanks for all you do for the Lyme community. You're an inspiration to me!!
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
So good to hear about the family- especially grandson's news. I smile.
I added the additional information you provided and thanks for that. I told everyone ton eat the ice cream. That out to go over big!
I do remember trying to stuff down about 1/2 of a container of ice cream one day for breakfast. HEY! It was an "emergency situation". ~smile~
Thanks again for the kind words and the great tips! Sure are appreciated.
Now, let's all pray we won't need to deal with any disasters this year... or ever!
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