How vulnerable are YOU?

We rely on so many services each day that we take for granted—clean water supply from our taps; electricity that powers all our appliances—fans, coffee pots, washer & dryer, ovens; cellular networks for Internet, cell phones, business; gas &/or electricity for our vehicles, and more. What happens to you personally when one of those services is curtailed? How vulnerable are YOU? Do you have a Plan B as a backup?

What would happen to YOU if there were a major power outage for two weeks?

Here are some things to consider:

·        How can you renew your drug prescriptions if the pharmacist        

         can’t get on their computer to check your request?

·        Can you get out of your garage?

·        Do you rely on an elevator?

·        Do you rely on electricity for your oxygen supply?

·        Do you have a backup canister?

·        Do you rely on electricity for your mobile wheelchair?

·        Do you have a Plan B backup?

·        Do you rely on electricity for your cooking? Plan B?

·        Camp stove? Bar BQ?

·        Remember the restaurants will also be without power so that is          not a Plan B.

Let’s take some time to think about our personal Plan Bs.

·    What would YOU do if you are without support from that person you rely on?

·    What would you do if there is a major chemical spill, earthquake, fire, natural gas incident, flood, heat dome, or another extreme weather event?

·    Do you have an Emergency Preparedness kit ready with the “stuff” you need for two weeks?

Staying cool outside

Lower your activity level and avoid strenuous activity. If you must do errands or plan to exercise, do so early or late in the day when it is generally cooler. 

Never leave children or pets in a parked car 

Avoid direct sun by staying in the shade and wearing a hat and protective clothing. Use sunscreen and UV-protective eyewear 

Seek cooler, breezier areas when outdoors, such as large parks near trees and water 

If you work in a hot environment, discuss and act on ways to decrease heat exposure with your employer and coworkers

TIP: Pets are part of the family too. Make sure they have plenty of water and are with you in cool locations. When outside, stay in shady areas and avoid asphalt and pavement. Those surfaces can burn paws.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE GETTING TOO HOT

Overheating can be harmful to your health and potentially deadly. If you’re experiencing symptoms such as rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, extreme thirst, and decreased urination with an unusually dark yellow colour, take immediate steps to cool down and seek emergency care:

Get medical attention, or call 911 or your local emergency number

Submerge yourself or the person you’re helping in cool water

Remove clothes and apply wet cloths to the skin

 

When to retire?

 As I stated in an earlier post, more people are or have retired and this is causing an interesting shift in the attitude of both employees and employers. Over the two years since the Covid-19 pandemic struck, more people than usual have retired. Research showed that since the pandemic started, a quarter of people had changed their plans for retirement and around one in seven considered accessing their pension funds earlier than planned.

The decision on when it’s the “right time” to retire is not easy, it is complicated and personal. It can be influenced by your health and ability to remain in employment, or the health of a loved one, Many boomers are providing care to elderly relatives, sometimes alongside supporting their own children.

However, there are also many benefits to staying in employment, not just financial but also social interaction and sense of purpose. In the past, many people assumed they would retire between 60 and 65. Many pension plans offered by employers coincided with government pensions.

However today there is not a normal age to retire, and government pensions in some countries are offering incentives to work longer and in others, they are increasing the age in which a person can collect the pension.

The rules differ from country to country about when a person can/should retire. In Canada, most individuals can start taking their Canada Pension from age 60, with more pension income the longer one waits. The Old Age Security kicks in when a person reaches 65. In Canada and other countries, because of the labour shortage, there is growing interest in “transitioning into retirement”, reducing hours or days worked.

For those who have already retired and who were told that retirement is an irreversible decision. It is not. On retiring, you may give up the right to return to that job, but in today's job market you may still work at your old job, but only part-time. Another alternative is that you can always seek new employment, which need not be in your previous line of work.

Even so, deciding when it is the right time to retire can be a daunting decision and financial advisers and retirement coaches can help you weigh up all the factors.

STAYING COOL INSIDE

In homes without air conditioning, heat builds indoors over the course of a few days. It may stay hotter inside than outside overnight. Without air conditioning, the longer the heat lasts, the more dangerous it becomes.

Take the following steps to keep yourself and members of your household safe:

·   If you have air conditioning, turn it on. It does not need to be going full strength to help you stay safe

·   If you have air conditioning, and vulnerable friends and family do not, bring them to your home

·   If you do not have air conditioning, move to your pre-identified alternate location with air conditioning or cooler spaces

·   Sleep in the coolest part of the residence. Outdoor temperatures are usually lower than indoor temperatures overnight, so consider sleeping outside if you can safely do so

·   Sleep with a wet sheet or in a wet shirt

·   Take cool baths or showers to draw heat from your body

·   Drink plenty of water, regardless of whether you feel thirsty. Be aware that sugary or alcoholic drinks cause dehydration

·   If you are taking medication or have a health condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it increases your health risk in the heat and follow their recommendation

·   If your doctor limits the amount you drink, or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is h