Here we are in the last week of the Year... have you resolved your Resolutions?

Are you Ready for whatever comes your way?

If now, here are a few suggestions we've offered that may give you some last-minute inspiration, or may guide you on making your New Year resolutions in a few days:

• Resolve to Save a Life in 2015
• Resolve to Be Ready
• Resolve to Be Ready for National Preparedness
• You need to change… Really
• Looking for a change in 2015?
• Don't let 2015 be a Disaster!

So Santa treated you well, and you've now got every multimedia mind-boggling, sensory overloads device you could dream of.. now plug them all in and enjoy, eh?

Stop and think a moment.

Extension cords are a convenient way to power electrical devices, especially during the holiday season. However, without proper use, extension cords can become a fire hazard.

Electrical Safety

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), most home electrical fires involve the home’s electrical wiring or lighting.  Follow these important USFA tips to keep your family safe:

• » Replace worn, old, or damaged extension cords right away;
• » Use extension cords for temporary purposes only;
• » Avoid putting cords where they can be damaged or pinched, like under a carpet or rug;
• » Don't overload power strips; and
• » Use power strips that have internal overload protection.

Keep your new toys and your home safe from electrical fire!

Family Traditions influence Company Habits.

Once upon a time, things weren't always on, always available, and at your fingertips... shoot, it's not really that long ago that 7/11 was an amazing thing conveniently (and somewhat outrageously) open 7am-11pm seven days a week! (most stores closed at 5 or 6, and nearly all were closed on Sundays.)

Now we're always open, always "on" our websites cater to the late-nighters and off-hour crowds, are supermarkets are open 24/7, and here we are working on Christmas Eve... it is expected of us by our customers in this immediate-gratification era, and while it is true that we and others may be closing our phone centers a little early, we certainly can't have the day off as in olden days.

Progress brings perks and penalties.

(By the way, we would rather spell it "perqs" since it is an abbreviation of "perquisite", but American English, especially after a charming recent coming of age movie dictates we spell it otherwise.)

Merry Christmas Eve to you all - we hope you enjoy the long weekend, as we will!

Having a Party?
Here are some smart TIPS:

If you plan on hosting a party this holiday season, please read the list of tips provided below for Adults and Drinking at parties.

1. Limit guests to those you know
2. Provide food and non-alcoholic beverages for guests
3. Do not serve Alcohol to Minors (nor allow them to serve alcohol) even if their parents say it is "OK" - it's not.
4. Arrange transportation or overnight accommodations for guests
5. Review your insurance policy before the event to ensure proper liability coverage
6. Stay alert. Always remember your responsibilities as host
7. Arrange activities that don’t require alcohol
8. Do not encouraging excessive drinking by guests
9. Stop serving guests who are visibly intoxicated
10. Only time will sober guests so either keep them around, or provide them a sober ride - Coffee won't help, it will just give a nice wide-awake drunk.
11. Read Holidays and Drunk Drivers

Parents -

Pediatrician Benjamin D. Hoffman, MD, FAAP, shares AAP child safety tips for holiday gatherings. Whether your family is traveling across the country or opening your home to visitors, the advice in this video will help keep a visit to a children’s hospital off the schedule during holiday festivities this year:

As the source for American Red Cross First Aid Kits, and Red Cross Gift Ideas, we share a lot of ARC information and tips:

• + We are American Red Cross Ready Rating Members. Are You?
• + American Red Cross
• + Red Cross Pet First Aid App
• + American Red Cross Pet First Aid
• + First Aid Tips from the Red Cross

Here's a timely post from the Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania for the Holidays:

How to Reduce Holiday Stress

1. Remember to eat healthy. Try to keep a balanced diet and drink lots of water.

2. Get plenty of rest. With so much to do, it may be difficult to have enough time to rest or get adequate sleep. Giving your body and mind a break can boost your ability to cope with the stress you may be experiencing.

3. Set priorities. Tackle that to-do list in small steps.

4. Be patient with yourself and those around you.

5. Stay connected with family and friends. Everyone is in it together, so ask for help if you need it and help them if you can.