Today is the first day of Summer!  So exciting!  However, with Summer sometimes comes emergency room visits - heat stroke, broken bones, severe cuts, head trauma, etc.

Are you prepared for that trip to the Emergency Room of your local hospital?  Here are five things you should have ready to go:

1.  Your medications - "It is extremely important to know all of the medications you take, how often you take them, the dosage and when you took them last." according to Barb Taubenberger, RN, director of Emergency Services at Doylestown Hospital.  Keep this information in your wallet or purse for easy reference.  Usually a small index card will suffice.  

2.  Your insurance information - In an emergency situation, a hospital will treat you whether you have your insurance card or not but carrying it with you will save you from having to make numerous phone calls afterwards to work out the billing.  If you are not currently insured, let the hospital know before you leave so they can connect you with a financial counselor who will help you in making payment arrangements for your bill. 

3.  Your medical history -  Knowing your medical history helps to create a complete overview.  If your primary physician is on staff at the hospital or if you have been treated at that particular hospital before, they will be able to pull up your records on the computer.  If not, you will be asked about your medical history at triage.  Include previous surgeries, allergies or other chronic conditions you have. 

4. Your emergency contacts - Have a list of your emergency contacts easily accessible.  If you do not have contact information with you, it is a challenge for the staff.  Elderly patients, for example,  might be transported by ambulance and need a ride home.  They might not remember their contact information details of the person who would be driving them home.  Creating an emergency contact list and placing it in your wallet or putting it in your cell phone under "ICE" (in case of emergency) is a helpful tool to use.

5. Your discharge instructions - Sometimes, upon discharge, you are not feeling well and might have forgotten the details of your discharge instructions or the fact that you need to transfer your medical records.  Some hospitals are equipped with a central phone number to call.  Be sure to ask for this information upon discharge.  

I certainly hope that you have a safe and healthy Summer, but just in case, this information will help to make the emergency room experience more organized and less stressful.

Have a great week!

As you might know, I am very active on Facebook.  In fact, if you are not already a fan of my Facebook Page, I invite you to join me where I post daily organizing tips.   www.facebook.com/abetterspace

Today, I want to share with you "30 Uses for WD-40".  I recently found these on Facebook and thought "How Cool Is This!" 

This amazing product was created in 1953.  Three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company wanted to find a water displacement compound and with their 40th attempt, WD-40 was created. 

So here we go:

1. Protects silver from tarnishing.

2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.

3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.

4. Gives floors that "just waxed" sheet without making them slippery.

5. Restores and cleans chalkboards. 

6. Removes lipstick stains.

7. Loosens stubborn zippers.

8. Untangles jewelry chains.

9. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.

10. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.

11. Keeps ceramic/terracotta garden pots from oxidizing.

12. Removes tomato stains from clothing.

13. Keeps glass show doors free of water spots.

14. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.

15. Keeps scissors working smoothly. 

16. Lubricates noisy door hinges on both home and vehicle doors. 

17. Removes nasty tar and scuff marks from the kitchen floor without harming the finish. (Be sure to ventilate the area well if using it on a lot of marks.)

18. Removes those nasty Bug guts that eat away the finish on your car.

19. Lubricates gear shifts and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers.

20. Eliminates rocking chair and kid swings of squeaky noises.

21. Lubricates tracks in sticking windows to make them easier to open.  

22. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicle as well as vinyl bumpers.

23. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.

24. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.

25. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons and bicycles for easy handling.

26. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

27. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades and other tools.

28. Removes grease splatters from stovetops.

29. Removes all traces of duct tape.

30.  Removes crayon from walls.  Just spray it on the marks and wipe with a clean rag. 

There were some others but these were my favorites.  There are ideas here for women and men to use.  Try these out and let me know which are your favorites.  Any other ideas?  Please share.

Until next time, wishing you an organized day.  

It's very common to add more to our lives by adding something - a bigger home, more clothing, more decorations, more, more, more... 

However, the funny thing is - less is actually more.

Last weekend I decided to declutter and organize my own home.  I had been spending so much time helping others get organized, I was neglecting my own space.  Over time, things built up and it was time to do something about it.

Being a professional organizer, I know all too well that less is more.  When you clear out the clutter in your home and in your head, you clear out the clutter in your life.

Sometimes, our clutter means that we have too many time commitments.  

I decided to commit Memorial Day weekend to my own home and did not commit to any social activities.  I knew that if I committed this block of time to this project, I would be able to enjoy the rest of the Summer.  That was my motivation.  

I systematically went through my home, starting on the second floor and moving down to the first floor, one room at a time; just like what I do when working with my clients when they hire me to organize their homes.  I cleaned, I decluttered, I organized.  I worked 12 hours a day for two days.  It was a lot of work, but, oh, it felt so good!  During this week, I am going to work on my basement and storage room.  Then, my entire home will be organized!

Here are four steps you can take to create more with less:

1.  Enlist an "accountability partner".  Select someone who is committed to supporting you and perhaps creating change in their own life.  This "accountability partner" can be a friend, family member or even a professional organizer like myself to keep you focused and moving forward.

2.  Make a list.  Break down the various areas of your home that you wish to tackle and create a chronological list so you can check them off as you go and get that wonderful sense of accomplishment at the end.  As you think of things you need to do or want to purchase, write them down as well.  This will keep you on track. 

3.  Subtract as you go.  Look closely at what you have and eliminate the excess.  It could be clothing, paperwork, old linens, pantry food items, etc.  Take the time to truly evaluate what you need and will use.   Don't create excuses for keeping something you know you will never use.

4.  Find the additions.  This does not mean that you find more stuff to keep.  It means finding the joy in having less.  Celebrate your successes by inviting people over to see what you have accomplished.  Enjoy your new space and "live" in your home.  Your have now created more space for good things to enter your life.  

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of getting organized and need assistance in creating a home you enjoy living in and are ready to eliminate your clutter, once and for all, contact me.  I can help you to create a step-by-step system so you can have A Better Space.

In the meantime, have a great week!