US Media Studios Reviews Fall and Winter Household Expenses

Household budgets are tight for many Americans. Yet, we still will spend a pretty penny to spiff up the home for the fall and winter holidays.

A recent poll from the National Retail Federation estimates that Halloween enthusiasts will spend $8.4 billion getting ready for the yearly fall holiday. That comes out to almost $83 per shopper and almost $10 more per shopper than last year. The estimate includes decorations, candy and the always popular costumes, which many people shop for in physical stores and online.

US Media Studios also notes from the survey that Americans spent more than $626 billion dollars in 2015 on winter holiday preparations. Meanwhile, it’s reported that we spend almost $76 billion dollars on back to school and college shopping, with Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Easter following in that order.

Fall and winter household expenses for home repair and preparation for cold weather should start now before the cold blast of winter air arrives. Check all windows and doors for leaks with special devices found in hardware stores.  A candle or cigarette lighter also works to check for air leaks. Caulk leaky window areas and add padding around the door frame. Run ceiling fans in the opposite direction to move cold air up and warm air down. Use the schedule function on thermostats as it saves electricity.

Fall is a great season to sleep with windows open a bit to enjoy the cooler air at night. If at all possible, it is also nice to open the doors and let fresh in and stale air out. This is assuming there are screen doors to keep closed.

Another way to save money on fall and winter household expenses is to bring out all holiday decorations and sort through them. Throw old ratty decorations and take stock of what is left and usable. Be creative and put Halloween costumes together from what wardrobe in the closet.  Dig deep. There may be some goodies in there!

Everyone likes to dress up for Halloween

US Media Studios Drives Road Safety Tips

How are the roads and interstates where you live? In some parts of the country, the main roads are free of potholes and unsecured debris scattered across the lanes of traffic. In other parts, the commute to and from work, or on a road trip, can be wrought with safety hazards. US Media Studios drives road safety tips for every person on the road – two lane country streets or major four land highways.

Look ahead

Look Ahead

It pays to look ahead. Drivers should scan the road ahead for traffic slowdowns, debris on the road, or rough roads. It is also best to not tailgate the vehicle in front of you. Leave room between your vehicle and the one in front of you to allow for sudden stops, or when at traffic lights.  It can make the difference if you need to swerve or stop suddenly when there is debris in the road. The American Automobile Association reports that more than 200,000 wrecks in the last four years can be blamed on blown tires, trash and other debris that litters roads and interstates. It doesn’t matter where you live, debris will end up on the road. From palm tree fronds to a plastic grocery bag, road debris is can wreak havoc on any vehicle and driver. If carrying a load, be sure it is secured and covered with a strong tied down tarp.

Wet Roads

The most dangerous wet road to drive on is one which is just wet enough to cause skidding. When a light rains falls and wets the road, it makes it more slick from the oil and water. Slow down and allow plenty of room to stop. Torrential rain can also wreak havoc for drivers. Poor visibility along with flooded intersections or places where drains are located creates trouble. Stay in the middle lane, if possible, to avoid flooded intersections or drainage areas. US Media Studios encourages readers to slow down, take your time, and arrive at your destination safely. Pull of the road if necessary and wait the rain out. Your life is more important than making it anywhere on time unsafely.

US Media Studios Highlights National Drowning Prevention Week Guidelines

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 10 people drown every day. Two are these are children aged 14 and under. Drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death in the country. US Media Studios highlights some important drowning prevention tips for people of all ages.

Risk Prevention

• People of all ages and genders are at risk of drowning in pools, lakes, oceans and other bodies of water. Risks can range from toddlers falling into the deeper sides of a public or private swimming pool.
• People who don’t know how to swim can drown in any body of water.
• Lack of adequate fencing and secure gates around private home pools can contribute to drowning injuries and deaths.
• Lack of not using life preservers, otherwise called personal flotation devices can contribute to drowning in and around natural bodies of water such as lakes and oceans.
• Not knowing how to swim out of a rip current can cause drowning.
• Alcohol use on boats and other vessels can cause accidents and accidental drownings.

Drowning Prevention Tips

• Keep small children at arm’s length when around water, even a small, portable “baby pool”.
• If going to the beach or boating on a lake or river, be sure there are enough life preservers for everyone onboard. Keep them in an accessible location.
• Pay attention to local water and weather events. Almost every weather-related app will send an alert for small craft advisories, rip current risks, and safety measures to take.
• Do not take any alcohol on any boat. Alcohol consumption leads to poor decision making which can lead to boating accidents, such as going too fast and stopping too fast.
• Be sure the boat has a working radio on it.
• Sign up family members for swimming classes. Ask friends and neighbors to join.  Many public pools and YMCA clubs offer these classes for free.

US Media Studios encourages everyone to practice safe water guidelines this summer. Swimming, boating, snorkeling, wading, paddle boarding – all of these are great fun and refreshing activities. Don’t let them become tragic. Prevention is the key to a long life.

US Media Studios Covers Food Poisoning Prevention Tip

The summer holidays are times families and friends gather to celebrate and eat al fresco together. Let’s make it a good time, and not time spend in the bathroom all afternoon or night long. US Media Studios also shares what to do if you are hit with a bout of food poisoning.

Food poisoning can happen at any time and any place, even at Aunt B’s famous Memorial Day cookout. Below are some common sense prevention tips so we can have a great summer:

Avoid food that smells “off”. This can mean grilled chicken or hamburgers. One bite and most people know when the meat or poultry is not safe to eat. Don’t swallow the bad bite, but spit it out in a napkin. Kindly let the hosts know. Wash the taste from the mouth with a beverage.

Avoid foods made with milk or mayonnaise and which have been left outside or on the counter and not in a cold pack. Essentially, all prepared food should be kept in cold picnic containers until ready to eat.

If a bout of food poisoning should occur, it can happen a few hours, days or even weeks after ingesting affected food. It feels like one minute you are feeling fine and the next you are sitting on the bathroom floor worshipping the porcelain god.

Symptoms can include: feeling bloated, extreme abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, cramps, watery diarrhea and fever. After the wave of these symptoms subsides, US Media Studios suggests drinking water slowly to flush out the bacteria. Ginger ale sipped slowly can also ease nausea. Sports drinks can replace lost calcium and electrolytes. Eat bland food slowly for a day or two until you feel stronger and not so shaky.

It’s okay to enjoy the homemade goodies family and friends bring to picnics, cookouts and parties. Just be sure they are stored correctly, and if heating or cooking is needed, that it is done thoroughly.

US Media Studios Examines the Safety of Public Pools

How safe is the public pool people enjoy? How clean is the water? US Media Studios examines the safety of public pools.

How clean is the water in a public pool?

A recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that almost 80 percent of the 50,000 public pools, hot rubs and water playgrounds they tested had at least one violation. One in eight inspections resulted in immediate closure due to serious health and safety problems. The highest numbers of closures were related to “kiddie” wading pools. Closures result from common contamination in the water such as fecal matter or urine.

Poop in the pool does have to be seen to be prevalent. Microscopic particles can stem from an adult with diarrhea getting in the pool or hot tub. The swim diapers worn by infants, toddlers and small children are not preventative in keeping fecal particles from getting in the water. Wading pool water is shallow and easily warms up in the heat of day.

Safety is another public swim issue which led to some closures. Lack of lifeguards, lack of safety equipment, poor drain coverage, a pH level too low –these can close a favorite water park or pool immediately. Inadequate disinfectant concentration is also to blame for closures. So too is a pool with an unusually high amount of chlorine in the water.

US Media Studios suggests checking public health records for all public pools, including those in condo and apartment communities, homeowner associations, hotels, motels and resorts.  Summer is around the corner. Some US states are already experiencing summer temps. As the heat moves in, people head to pools to cool off. We remind readers to take a shower before entering the pool. Take small children to the rest rooms every hour and be sure to clean bottoms well.  After all, no one wants to swim with poop in the pool.

US Media Studios on How to Avoid Holiday Traffic Jams

Traffic and the holidays go together like a family gathering. There are some rough spots and some smooth spots. Some days are more free flowing than others. And then there are the days when there is nothing but bumper to bumper movement. US Media Studios explains how to avoid holiday traffic jams.

The AAA club in the US estimates that 47 million people will hit the road for Thanksgiving this week. Don’t get stuck in a nightmare traffic jam.

There are many good smart phone apps which direct people away from the worst and heaviest traffic. Turn on the GPS function of smart phones and enter your location and the final location. Change the options to avoid the heaviest traffic routes and to offer alternative routes when accidents block the highway or where the traffic is thickest. WhatsApp is an app which can also re-route drivers for a more expedient route.

The worst traffic jams happen in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. The American Highway Users Alliance rates the worst traffic jam cities here.  The US Media Studios encourages readers who will get on the roads for the holidays to find and use a good app or two to maneuver around the bottlenecks, avoid accidents, construction spots and other traffic snafus. Everyone wants to get to their destination as quickly and safely as possible. Plan ahead. Take it easy on the road. Get to your destination safely and as quickly as possible.