Why do we do things to have regrets later? Well, I am sure we do not do any of that if we are aware of those actions. Sometimes we do not have deep knowledge about many subjects. We shouldn’t and cannot be expected to know. Some other times, we do not remember to do what we know. Here are a few examples of steps we can take that could come to our rescue. Remember since tragedies do not happen when we take precautions, we take it for granted that accidents would never happen.
Here are a few steps we can take that help with minimizing the unexpected.
Orientation;
Know where everything is in your home. It is interesting to note that the first action when you board an airplane is to familiarize yourself with your surroundings in case an accident happens. In every flight, the flight attendants review with the passengers, whether it is the passengers’ first time or a hundred times flying where the doors are and how they have to use the oxygen mask. It is interesting that they want the adults to use the mask first and then put the mask on the children. Do you know why?
We need to follow the same procedures at home. Do you know where the electrical main breaker, and the water and gas shut-off valves are? Do you know how to operate them? Or, do you have the tools to turn them off and on?
First Thing First.
Now let’s assume you will be on a long vacation. Do you need to turn any of them off and is it safe to do that? Perhaps the easiest and most vulnerable one to damage is the main water valve at home. If the water line breaks, i.e. dishwasher and washer water supply lines, the water could be flowing into the home and for some time, no one would know about it. This scenario can cause tremendous damage quickly. Another case you may want to remember is to have somebody around if you are working on a little more complicated project. Let’s assume you are replacing a faucet in the master bedroom on the second floor. You are under the sink in an awkward position trying to loosen up the nut to remove the faucet. All of a sudden, the valve breaks and the water gushes out profusely. Can you imagine the time it takes to get up from under the sink to go downstairs to where the main valve is to shut it off? If you had someone there by you who could have shut the water off, you would have been in a position to avoid the tragedy. Better yet, if you turned the main valve off before you started the work, you would have avoided the possibility of things going wrong.
For gas and electricity, the incidents may be less frequent. Still, it will be prudent to follow the safety guidelines of the professionals at the electricity and gas companies. The idea should always be; “To be safe, not a hero”.
What if Scenario
Do you know Murphy’s Law? Murphy believed what can go wrong will go wrong. What about Hinnigan’s Law? No? Hinnigan, another philosopher, believed Murphy was too optimistic.
Believe it or not, things happen under any laws. At the same time, we can prevent the issues most of the time. I am not saying all the time, but almost all the time, if we prepare for it. Here are a few steps we can take.
- Get familiar with your surroundings.
- Prepare for the routine changes in Summer for Winter cold weather, and in Winter for the Summer hot days.
- Prepare for the unexpected. Asking what-if questions about everything and anything will do you wonders. What if the power is interrupted? What if there is a food and grocery products shortage? Do you remember the toilet paper shortage during COVID?
- Know your nearby professionals and maintain a list of professionals you can contact.
While orienting yourself with the surroundings, taking the orderly steps in tackling the projects, and preparing for the “What if” scenarios are helpful but the list of steps you can take to avoid bigger issues and damages goes on and on.