| How to Prepare for a Winter Storm Posted: 02 Dec 2019 12:00 AM PST Are Mother Nature's snow and ice spectaculars hitting your area hard this year? Having a few emergency supplies on-hand can save you a lot of discomfort and trouble when the storm hits. Stock up on items you need to survive without leaving your house for a few days, as well as tools to help you leave if necessary. Once the storm begins, cuddle up, stay informed, and stay warm. [Edit]Stocking Up Before the Storm - Get a shovel. Get a quality snow shovel so you can dig yourself out. You may also need to shovel to dig your car out once the storm is over.[1]
- Try the shovel out before you buy it. Check that it handles easily.
- Consider getting a small snow shovel to dig snow out of smaller corners.
- Rock salt is effective at melting snow, but it can be devastating for your local water and soil, not to mention the sidewalk. Use a shovel or hot water instead.
- Buy flashlights and battery powered lamps. Put fresh batteries in your lamps and flashlights if a storm is coming. Go for model that can power your cell phone if you can.[2]
- Stock up on candles and holders. In case your flashlight suddenly gives out or you run out of batteries, you can light your home the old-fashioned way. However, fire from candles during a blackout is a real risk. If you use candles, put them in safe holders. Keep them away from anything flammable. Never leave them unattended.[3]
- Fill some shelves with non-perishable food. Stock up on canned soups and vegetables, powdered food, and grains like rice and pasta. Make sure you have enough to last your family at least three or four days. Find a manual can-opener, as well.[Image:Prepare for a Winter Storm Step 1 Version 9.jpg|center]][4]
- If you drink coffee, get instant coffee.
- If you have pets, stock up on pet food as well.
- Fill up some containers of water. If you're worried about the pipes freezing, stock up on some water. You can buy it bottled, or in gallon jars. You can also simply purchase a few gallon jugs and fill them from the tap.[5]
- Gather blankets and warm clothing. You may already have these items, but remember you will need enough blankets to keep you warm without any heat and in adverse conditions. Consider purchasing mittens, thick woolen socks, and a hooded sweatshirt, if you don't already own these items.[6]
- Locate your first aid kit. You never know what kind of injuries or emergencies will happen when the lights go out. Buy a first aid kit if you don't have one, and familiarize yourself with the contents.
- Check through your kit to make sure you have sterile bandages, disinfectant, antibiotic ointment, and over-the-counter painkillers available.
- Get your hands on a camping stove or grill. A gas-powered camping stove is a wise investment for any emergency situation. If you have an electric stove in the kitchen a camp stove is almost a necessity. Be sure you use it with proper ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, and have plenty of backup fuel.
- Find some matches. You can use these to light your gas range, camping stove, and candles. Do not rely on lighters, as these can run out of fuel or break down all too easily.[7]
- Ensure you have a phone you can use. Get a cordless cellphone charger if you can. Landline phones work during power outages because the power comes from the phone company. However, cordless home phones will not work when the power is out.[8]
- Many states require at least one wall plugged phone, which receives power from the telephone connection, in all households.
- Stock up on diapers, formula, and baby food. If you have an infant, make sure you have a few days of supplies for them. Consider getting disposable diapers, as you may not be able to do laundry.[9]
- Buy powdered milk, as fresh milk may spoil.
- Get a refill on your prescription medications. If you're not due for a refill, call your doctor and explain that you're worried about running out during the storm. Get enough to last you for several days.
- In some states, pharmacies are permitted to issue emergency refills when there's a dangerous weather alert. Check your state's law.[10]
- Consider investing in a battery operated radio. It's best not to rely on cell service or wireless connections during a storm. With a radio, you can get news without wall power. Make sure the batteries are good. You can buy a motion charging radio, as you can with a flashlight.[11]
[Edit]Planning Far in Advance - Winterize your home. Protecting your house and outbuildings from the cold can save you a lot of money and hassle down the line. Insulate walls and attics, caulk and weather-strip doors and windows, and installing storm windows or cover windows with plastic.
- Clear rain gutters and repair roof leaks in order to avoid clogging and flooding.
- Cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm.
- Consider hiring a contractor to check the structural strength of the roof. Make sure your roof can sustain the unusually heavy weight of snow - or water.
- Insulate pipes with insulation and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing.
- Invest in a carbon monoxide detector. If you ever need to run a gas stove inside your home for heat or cooking, you'll definitely want a carbon monoxide detector on-hand. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, but deadly.[12]
- Keep your supplies current. Check the batteries in your flashlights every so often, and make sure you have enough potable water and non-perishable food to last your family at least 48 hours. Once every year or two, replace your current stock of canned goods with a fresh batch
- Consider investing in a generator. If the power frequently goes out where you live, consider getting a portable or stationary electrical generator. Generators cost anywhere form $400 to $10,000 dollars.[13]
- Run the generator outdoors. Do not run it in your house or your garage.
- Plug equipment directly into the generator. Do not use your home's electrical system while the power is out, as this could harm utility crews.[14]
[Edit]Staying Safe During the Storm - Keep the heat in. Losing heat is definitely uncomfortable, but you can survive it if you keep yourself warm.[15]
- Stop your pipes from freezing. Go around your house and turn on every faucet so that it's dripping just slightly. Keeping the water moving through the pipes should help prevent them from freezing.
- Seal up any drafts. Put towels at the bottom of any doors that have a gap, or around loose windows. If your windows are single-paned, close the curtains or pin a blanket up over them to keep the heat in.
- Keep yourself warm. Bundle up in warm clothes and stay near your loved ones. If you're all in a room together you'll help keep each other warm with your body heat.
- Dress in layers. Put on a thin layer of cotton clothing close to your skin, and cover as much as your body as you can. Long underwear or warm leggings will help. On top of that, wear as many layers as you need to keep warm, finishing with one (or two) pairs of warm woolen socks and a sweatshirt or coat with a hood.
- Wear a hood. You lose a lot of heat from the top of your head, so keep it covered. If you don't have hooded clothing, wrap a scarf or towel around your head, or put on a warm winter hat.
- Stay in bed. Put as many covers as you have left over onto your bed, and hop in. Keeping your body heat in an enclosed space like the sheets will help you stay as warm as possible.
- Cuddle up. Join forces with a freezing roommate or family member and huddle under the same blankets — you'll warm up faster.
- Stay updated. Having current information is vital in an emergency, so make arrangements to stay informed.
- Watch updates on the news or listen to the radio for as long as you can before power goes out.
- Use social media for updates. If you don't have access to a battery-operated radio, follow national and local disaster agencies (such as FEMA) on Facebook and Twitter. Check periodically for updates.
- Use SMS messaging if land-line service is down. You can send an SMS via basic text messaging, or through Twitter updates. Get the phone numbers or Twitter handles of all your family members, and make sure they know how to reach you.
- Keep tabs on your family members. Try to find out where everyone is before the storm and make a plan to stay in a safe location. If you're going to be separated from anyone, set up a pre-determined time and method for touching base again, such as connecting via text message every 12 hours.
- Keep the fridge closed. This will help it stay cool in spite of the lack of power, and keep your food from spoiling as quickly. Only open it when it's absolutely necessary, grab what you need, and close it up.[16]
- Place frozen items outside. Make use of Mother Nature's freezer, and put them in a snowbank outside. If temperatures are below freezing, you could also keep refrigerated items in an enclosed porch.
- Plan some entertainment. It can help you stave off boredom while you wait for the power to return.
- Play cards. Use a classic deck for games like Blackjack, Poker, War, Go Fish, Crazy Eights or Egyptian Ratscrew.
- Read a book (to yourself, or aloud for others). Try to pick an engrossing epic that will keep you engaged and entertained for hours, such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Harry Potter novels, or whatever interesting book you happen to be reading.
- Get artsy. Draw on pads of paper, or do handcrafts like crocheting or knitting.
[Edit]Warnings - Never use charcoal, or a propane heater in an enclosed area without proper ventilation. Carbon monoxide can build up. Silent and odorless, it is deadly. Cook on the back porch or near an open window.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.
- Canned food
- Can opener
- Battery powered radio
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- A self powered radio and a self powered flashlight. Batteries will run down eventually, especially if you live in a remote area that is iced in. Some models will also charge your cell phone.
- Coleman stove or grill
- Enough fuel to run the stove
- Blankets
- Lots of clothing
- Water
- First aid kit
- Foot and hand warmer packs
- Matches
- Extra hats, socks and mittens
- Any necessary medications
- Non-electric entertainment: books, cards, board games, etc.
- Portable fire extinguisher
- Pet supplies: food, litter and water for your pet to drink. An emergency shelter lined up (who will take pets) in case you need to evacuate.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Improve Your ACT Score Posted: 01 Dec 2019 04:00 PM PST If you've gotten your ACT results and they're not as high as you hoped, you may want to consider taking the test again. A higher score increases your chances of being accepted into the college of your choice and can help you earn scholarships, so it's worth the effort and preparation involved in taking the test again. When you're properly prepared, retesting can raise your score by several points. In fact, students who retook the ACT scored an average of 2.9 points higher on their composite score than people who took the test only once.[1] By practicing efficiently and using solid testing strategies, you can improve your ACT score. [Edit]Analyzing Your Score - Review your score report. You can get a copy of your test booklet to find out which questions you missed. Use your score report as a guideline to help you focus your efforts. Concentrate more of your efforts on improving your weaker areas to practice more efficiently.[2]
- As you're reviewing your score report, reflect on your testing day. Take notes of any sections that you felt were difficult or places where you ran out of time and couldn't complete the questions.
- If you scored high on a particular section, don't devote too much of your practice time to that area. Don't aim for perfection; it's better to target your weaker areas to improve your score.
- Use data to your advantage. As you're practicing, make notes to help refine your study techniques. Time your practice and track which sections are taking the longest, and how many questions you're able to complete within the time limit. Analyze which questions you're missing the most often, and try to figure out why. [3]
- Keep track of your practice test scores to monitor progress. As your scores improve, shift your focus to weaker areas.
- Space out your study sessions. Rather than long weekly sessions, try several short daily sessions. Schedule two or three 30-40 minute blocks of study time with breaks in between. Cramming in too much information all at once is counterproductive and could lead to burn out.[4]
- Consistent practice is important, so once you've made your schedule stick with it.
- Rethink your time management strategy. The ACT is a fast-paced test. Plan ahead how you'll manage your time effectively to maximize your score and avoid leaving questions unanswered. Decide how you'll handle hard questions, and how you'll make sure you're staying on track timewise.[5]
- When in doubt, guess! A blank answer is a guaranteed loss of points, but a good guess could result in points.
- Consider choosing a standard answer like C to bubble in when you're running out of time. When the five-minute warning is called, fill in all unanswered questions with the standard answer to avoid blank answers.
- A digital watch with a silent timer is a great tool to make sure you're staying on track.
[Edit]Seeking Additional Practice Help - Take an ACT prep class. ACT prep classes can help you learn effective test-taking skills and strategies. They can also help you target your weak content areas. Bring your results with you so your teacher can help you devise an efficient study plan. [6]
- Work with a tutor. A tutor is great if you need more one-on-one help and attention. Tutors are also a great resource for help with filling in knowledge gaps in specific content areas. You can ask another student who is great in your weaker subject areas to help you out or hire a tutor from a local tutoring company.
- Maximize low-cost resources. Not everyone can afford a tutor or prep class, and that's ok! There are tons of reliable free or inexpensive resources to help you do your best on the ACT. Check your local library for ACT practice tests, or utilize online resources like Khan Academy's math, science, and grammar tutorials.[7]
- If your library ACT prep books are out of date, that's ok! As long as they are authentic ACT prep material, they'll be helpful
- Consider forming a study group with your friends! It will make studying more enjoyable.
[Edit]Preparing for the Test Day - Pack your bag the night before the test. Make sure you have your ticket, your ID, several sharpened pencils, and an ACT approved graphing calculator. This will save you a lot of stress, and prevent you from running out the door without something you need. [8]
- Properly fuel your body. Your brain works more efficiently when it has the proper fuel. Eat a breakfast high in protein to give you the energy and stamina to complete the test. Bring healthy snacks in your bag to refuel on your breaks. Make sure to drink plenty of water. [9]
- When packing your snacks, choose foods like fruit, nuts, and cheese for healthy lasting energy.
- Go to bed early. Your brain can't operate at peak capacity if you're tired. Not getting enough rest affects your processing and speed and memory. Make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep so you can perform your best. [10]
[Edit]References |
| How to Introduce the Elf on a Shelf Posted: 01 Dec 2019 08:00 AM PST The Elf on the Shelf is a fun way to get your kids even more excited for the Christmas season while reminding them that Santa is watching. However, introducing the elf can be tricky! To get your kids familiar with the Elf on the Shelf, plan a day to explain everything about their new gift from Santa. [Edit]Getting a Delivery from Santa - Pick a date when you'd like the elf to start appearing. Normally, the elf can show up as early as early November to keep an eye on the kids for the Christmas season. Some elves start coming on December 1st, to get kids in the mood for Christmas and remind them that Santa is watching!
- A good rule of thumb is to start the elf when you put up the Christmas tree for the year.
- Keep in mind that the elf has to come every day until Christmas Eve. If you forget or miss a day, you'll have to come up with a reason for why the elf didn't move.
- Come up with a name for your elf. Having a name for your elf can make it seem like a member of the family. Make sure you introduce the elf by its name and encourage your kids to call it that while it's there. Soon, they'll be excited to see their elf every morning.[1]
- You can make your name something festive and Christmas-themed, like Jingle, or a common name, like Jeff. It's up to you as the parent!
- Stage the first appearance. Have the elf appear one morning in an open place where you know your kids will see it, such as the kitchen or living room. Keep it simple for the first morning, and ask your kid what they know about elves. They might surprise you with what they already know about your family's new friend![2]
- For example, you can have the elf sitting on the dining room table or couch with its book, waiting for your kids when they wake up.
[Edit]Explaining What the Elf Does - Write a letter from Santa to arrive with the elf. This letter can explain what the elf does, how long it's going to be staying, and set some rules for the kids. For example, you can have Santa tell them that kids aren't allowed to touch the elf, that the elf comes every day until Christmas, and that it reports back to Santa in the North Pole every night.[3]
- You can also have the letter be written by the elf instead of Santa. That way, the elf can "talk" directly to the kids and let them know what's going on! However, hearing the rules from Santa, who they respect, might be more effective for some kids.
- If you have more than one kid, you can write individual letters or just have one letter for the whole house.
- Read the Elf on the Shelf book with your kids. The book does a great job of explaining where the elf comes from, and where it goes every night. Sit down with them in the morning that the elf comes and read the book together, or have your kid practice their reading out loud.[4]
- The book is aimed for kids ages 5, 6, and 7 to read aloud.
- There's also a movie, called An Elf's Story: The Elf on the Shelf, that tells the backstory of the elf and might be more engaging for your kids if they don't like reading.
- Answer any questions your kids have about the elf. Be prepared for questions! This new member of your family is fun and exciting, but kids are smart and can be skeptical at first. They might have questions about why your family got an elf, or why they've seen the elf in the store.[5]
- If your kid has friends who don't have an elf, you can tell them that there's a long list of families who are waiting to get an elf, and you guys were lucky enough to get one this year.
- To explain why the elf can be bought in the store, tell them that elves can be bought in the store for families who don't get them from Santa. However, let them know that your specific elf is special because it was a gift from Santa.
[Edit]Moving the Elf - Position the elf in the Christmas tree, hanging onto an ornament. This is a quick, easy idea for a night when you might have less time. The elf has velcro hands, so you can have the elf hanging from a higher branch of the tree near an ornament as if it were trying to help decorate.
- Placing it about mid-way up the tree will keep the kids from reaching it, but will ensure that they're still able to see the elf in the morning.
- Set up the elf to "play" with other toys. If your kids have a favourite doll or action figure, set up a scene where they're playing dress up, having a tea party, or fighting crime together. Doll-sized cars and trucks are also great for setting up "racing" scenes between the elf and other toys.
- If you're stumped with how to set up the scene, you could position the elf climbing into or out of a toy box or dollhouse to make it seem like it was just hanging out with the other toys!
- Create a stuffed animal parade with the elf at the front. Stuffed animals are great for making creative scenes with the elf. Have the elf "ride" a larger animal like an elephant or dog, and make an animal parade by setting up other stuffed animals in a row behind them!
- If you're having trouble getting the elf to sit upon the animal, try having them lean forward and hold onto the animal with the velcro on their hands.
- Set up a Christmas countdown involving the elf. If you get the elf started early, you can start a Christmas countdown by using small treats like chocolate to spell out the number of days until Christmas. You can make it look like the elf set out the treats, or have a few chocolate wrappers surrounding the elf—like it ate some of the treats!
- You don't have to do this every night, but you can do it on major milestones like 1 month, 12 days, or 1 week until Christmas!
- Use packets of hot cocoa and a cocktail umbrella in a cake pan to make a "beach". Sprinkle 3-4 packets of hot cocoa mix into the pan to coat the bottom. Then, position the elf in the pan to lounge along the side. Remember to place the umbrella next to the elf to shade it from the sun!
- If you don't have a hot cocoa mix, you can use crushed graham crackers or brown sugar instead.
- Use a round cake pan to create a smaller beach, or cookie sheet for a bigger one. You can get as creative as you want with a beach towel, doll-sized surfboard, or a mini drink for the elf!
- Most children who are old enough to know the story of Santa will also be excited by the elf. If your child is still confused about Santa, or doesn't know the story of Santa, try explaining that to them first.
- Plan your first week of elf appearances beforehand so you don't forget! The first week is important for showing your kids that the elf is really going to come every day and is watching them for Santa.
- Set an alarm on your phone every night to remind yourself to move the elf. When things get hectic, it's easy to forget to do it! An alarm will help you remember to do it quickly before bed.
[Edit]References |
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