Preparing for every emergency is essential to peace of mind. Whether you’re stuck in your car in bad weather, your child or a family member gets sick, your house suddenly has a leak in one of its pipes, or any other emergency that may arise; The preparation you invest in now will pay dividends!
Trip:
When traveling abroad, take a photo of your passport when you travel in case it is lost or stolen. This will save you time and headaches at the embassy.
Fill your bag with the essentials for any items you can find.
Home maintenance:
Five dollars worth of caulking around your window now can prevent a $500 repair bill later.
Teaching your children how to operate a shut-off valve when they clog the toilet can prevent water damage and messes later on.
Plumbing Emergencies: Know Where the Shutoff Valve is in Your House!
It was New Year’s Eve and a cold winter day. She was coming home for lunch from work. As I approached our house I felt something was wrong! As I approached our house, steam was rising from the chimney. I walked into the house to the kitchen, wearing my blue 3 piece suit and noticed water all over the floor. I went into the pantry and saw that the hot water heater had a hole the size of a quarter. I tried the shutoff valves and they weren’t out of budget. I quickly called a plumber we knew and trusted on my cell phone and he told me he was out of town to call his brother who was also a plumber. I called his brother and he told me where the shutoff valve was outside the house. I found the shutoff valve outside in the front yard and couldn’t close it because I needed a special long tool to stop it.
He said he’d be right back! The plumber came over and turned off the water. I went into our bedding and pulled out several large towels to soak up the water and our mop. I’m still in my work clothes and I called work and said I had a plumbing emergency to take care of. The plumber bought a new water heater and installed it and I continued to clean up the mess!
Moral of this story: Know where your shutoff valve is and have the right tools to cut it off! Periodically check plumbing pipes and make sure there are no leaks. Water heaters last between 8 and 12 years.
Know who to call in an emergency, whether it’s a plumbing expert, doctor, auto expert, or anyone else.
In the houses things to remember inside and outside: Have a checklist and walk around your house and check:
– New battery in smoke/fire detector.
-Change the filters once a month or if you use a 3 month filter every three months, date them.
-Know where the house’s water shut-off valves are.
-Check the pipes under the sink regularly to make sure they are not leaking.
-Does your thermostat need new batteries?
– Check the caulking around your bathrooms around bathtubs, showers and sinks to see if holes are forming and caulking is needed.
– Check around windows inside and out to see if it’s time to replace the caulking.
– After rain and storms, check your roof by looking at the roofs and the outside to see if shingles are missing, gabled screens or on the ground. Are you still sitting at home?
For over twenty years, my husband and I have had the same company to clean our gutters, downspouts, check and repair gable vents, and clean and check our chimney. We have built a relationship of trust over the years. When looking for a new pest control company, we immediately called them for a recommendation. We have built many relationships this way over the years.
Build strong relationships with contractors, mechanics, and others.
Personal recommendations are extremely important to have your own circle of experts. Choose your friends wisely, handymen, plumber, electrician, roofer, HVAC specialist, doctors, trauma surgeon, lawyers and other experts! Plan for things to happen. They will do it when you least expect it!
Connecting with others and building strong relationships is about helping others, finding common ground with them, and building a relationship of trust with the other person.
“To be confident is a greater compliment than to be loved.” said George MacDonald, the Scottish novelist.
Sales king Jeffrey Gitomer says he wants to do business with a “trusted advisor.” Someone you trust and like!
Dr. John C. Maxwell, the #1 leadership guru in the world, one of my mentors and coaches, says there are three questions you can ask yourself.
1) “Can I trust you?
2) “Do you care about me?”
3) “Can you help me?”
Character and trust are the glue that holds a good relationship together!
In cars things to remember:
– New battery in car every 2 to 3 years.
– New windshield wipers every year.
-In your car and at home have an emergency kit.
-Walk around your car and check your tires.
– See if there are any leaks under your car.
– Know how to monitor your fluid levels
It’s the little things that make the big difference between a small job and a big one.
Damaged car:
A few years ago, my husband and I were driving our used red Duster in New York City, where we lived and worked. The car suddenly stopped on a busy highway. We turned on our hazard flashers and tried to push the car to the side of the road! It was a long and miserable day! Imagine if it had been snowing too!
What should you do?
1) Be prepared. Have your emergency kits and lists to check things regularly. Regularly update your list of experts! Have your cell phone charged and keep a charger in the car.
2) Connect with others. Build strong and meaningful relationships with others. Talk to them regularly and have an up-to-date list of experts to help you.
3) Walk quietly in and out of your house to see if everything is in order or if you need a little help. Walk around your car, check your tires, windshield wipers, battery…!
4) When traveling with children and other family members, have your emergency kit and copies of all passports with you if traveling abroad.
What strategies do you use to be prepared for your emergencies?
