How Secure is your Home?

How Protected is your Home?

This is one question that is not often asked by home owners. Today, WellBeingDigest is set to address and refresh our memory on things we must do and have, so that our wellbeing is not jeopardized.  The absence of this question creates a loop hole for criminals to operate. It is one thing to have or own a home; it is another thing to secure the home.

Permit me to analyse what happened in a home I once lived. Some years ago, I was resident in a two Storey building at the end of the Street neighboured by a surrounding fairly swampy area. The Land lord occupied the top floor, one tenant at the ground floor, then I the middle floor. The compound also had another lengthy one storey building with about six occupants. I noticed on different occasion that there was a wooden ladder left unattended in the open space of the compound. Hence, I often told the land lord to ensure the wooden ladder is kept from the public after each use. My advice was not always adhered to. This situation along with some other social challenges I was facing soon made me to pack out as I got another home.

Some few months after I left the above apartment, an information from the house agent reached me that criminals went into the compound on night when everyone where asleep, used the wooden ladder and climbed to the middle floor, tore the mosquito net to the window, and because the window was not having a burglary proof, the criminals gained access into the home with an occupant. According to him, the sliding glass window was not often locked especially at night when the temperature was high. The occupants never anticipate any danger as there was no fear of an invader climbing that high.  The criminals carted away with some properties of high value but without hurting the occupant even though he was not aware anything happened until morning.

WellBeingDigest believe in learning from incidence. No one will want to be victim from which people will learn such an ugly incidence for their benefit. Therefore, incidence like this brings out some learning points.

Furthermore, one other best way to secure your home is to have a check list as follows:

• Lighting system: Light up the outdoor and at night, ensure that the intensity of the light up indoor is lower than the outdoor. If you don’t adhere to this principle, you may be tempting intending criminal to sight your valuables inside the house.
• Hook up or lock up ladders/ climbing equipment: From my story above, you will agree with me that the cause of the ugly incidence was the ladder was carelessly kept. The criminals that perpetrated that act took advantage of the ladder.
• Keep low profile: This is very popular with Africans that flaunt their wealth to the public. This act is crime-inviting, especially if your status is far higher than the people in your immediate society. Avoid anything that will bring about advertising your home. Don’t advertise you are away from your on social media. One good way to avoid all these is to make it difficult for others to study and conclude on your routine timetable
• Hide all spare keys: Spare keys that are carelessly kept can be taken away, duplicated and finally returned by criminals. When this is done, it can take a long time before a break-into-the-house takes place so as to suspect no one.
  

  

  Burglar with a key

• Prevent children from speaking to strangers: Criminals or intruder can pave their way into your home through information gathered from children/under age. They can also entice these minors with snacks, sweets etc. in exchange for valuable information. Parents should have a check on how their children use the social media via the internet (online safety).
• Access to Police contacts: Most people or home owners do not have a local knowledge of their neighbourhood, talk more of Police contacts. Hence, don’t know the phone number to call during an attempt to invading a home. See the Police as your friend and obtain their contact.
• Question or report all strange movement: When you see strange person or persons loitering around your home, what do you do? Let them be, or report to local Security Watch/Police? Criminals often take their time to study an environment before executing their plan. Finally, on this note, it is necessary you know your neighbours.
• Hidden Security camera: Some people think CCTv is very expensive or not within the reach of the common man. This is one reason you only find them the dwelling places of the rich. But I wish to disabuse this mind set, and make you understand that there are affordable Security cameras. Carry out your research and contact a Security expert.
• Lock all access: Ensure that all windows and doors are well constructed and locked accordingly when leaving your home for other activities. Where possible, install panic alert in case doors and windows are to be force open.
• Keep a Dog: Keeping scary dogs often deter criminals by barking. But to ensure that your dog do not harm innocent neighbours, ensure it is chained. If criminals are at sight, the barking dog alerts you of possible intrusion.  

 

 

 

 

In case you are away, your good relationship with your neighbours can bring about alerting the Police.

Your Security begins with you.

Is Food Spoilage creating a hole in your pocket?

A large amount of foods meant for consumption get spoilt even before we know it. This in some cases creates a hole in our pockets as money meant for other things are diverted for this purpose.

The knowledge of food durability and those factors responsible for food spoilage can enhance our Wellbeing as cashlessness caused by premature food spoilage can affect one’s state of mind

  Come let find out why our foods don’t last for too long and identify ways to store these fresh foods for longer period.

 

What are the reasons for food spoilage?

• Availability of the Oxygen in the air – Oxidation, which is the gain of Oxygen by the fresh food, alters the chemical nature of the food thereby encouraging the Micro organisms which will finally bring about the spoilage.
• Temperature is a key determinant of food durability, as pathogens are stimulated and attracted to foods at Room Temperature.
• Duration or Life span – Just like man has a life span, food too is not excluded. Perishable foods such as tomatoes may not last as corn grains.. Every food has its own life span.
• Rodents/Insects often enhance food spoilage after biting or piercing our foods. Their saliva and enzymes facilitates the spoilage.
• Physical damages such as cracks and dents probably caused either during transportation or storage. This process in turn creates an entrance for microorganisms.

 

 Incases your burdened with challenges of premature food spoilage, the following guidelines can better your Wellbeing;

 1. The reason why foods like vegetables are stored in cool, dry place is to keep them out of direct sunlight. Storing by way of refrigerating foods will actually make them spoil quicker. Alternatively, store root vegetables in paper bags stored in the cabinet to avoid dryness. Always endeavor not to sore different kind of foods in the same chamber. Example, onions ought to be stored in separate place from potatoes.

 

2.Cheese and cakes should be wrapped in wax paper before storing it in the refrigerator. This will allow the cheese to breathe but will not allow excess moisture to reach it. Be sure to keep each type of cheese separate from the others to avoid its flavours from mixing.

 

 3. Foods such as soups should be adequately stored in the refrigerator.

 

 4. Canning fruits and vegetables is another way to store them for a longer period. Home canning really is not difficult and you know what you have added to the foods. Foods to be caned should be cooked for a short time to kill the microorganisms capable of creating the enzymes for food spoilage.

 

 4. A vacuum sealer is also a good investment for storing food. This option may cost more than others, but vacuum-sealed foods can last for months past the normal storage time. When you vacuum seal the food and then place it in the freezer, your storage time increases even further. A quality vacuum sealer may cost between $39 and $59 on most online shops, but they are definitely worth the price when you consider how much food you can save.

 

 5.  If you have stored as much of your food as you can and you still have fresh fruits or vegetables that are starting to look too ripe, look out, give to someone out there who needs some, rather than letting it go to waste. You will save money by keeping the food out of the trashcan.

 

 6. Just in case you could not avoid the food spoilage, do not simply throw it away. Start a compost pile for leftovers or foods that have gone bad. Composting the food will at least provide nutrition for the soil in the garden. But in case you don’t have a garden, sell that manure and earn some money.

 

 6. Do not refrigerate foods like tomatoes as it alters the taste; rather store them in an airy environment with room temperature. If you must refrigerate, blend and steam-dry.

 

 7. Remember that tuber foods such as yams naturally do not last for too long. Store them in well ventilated area. Although this depend on your geographical location on the globe.

 

8. For processed foods, ensure you check up expiry date on the product before buying. Ensure you consume the food before the expiry date. This is also for your Wellbeing and Safety, in order to avoid food poisoning.

 

 9. Plan a meal time table and avoid bulk buying of perishable foods, especially if you do not have adequate storage facilities. Although, this may not be a best way of managing your cash. Buy the quantity you can consume within the space of time.

 

Your Environment Is Attacking You

Our environment, among other things such as Lifestyle, Diet, and Fitness & Exercise is one of the Pillars of Health.

The Environment is being degraded at a faster rate as our population increases. Today’s environment is burdened with pollutants capable of bringing your life to a premature end.

Wherever you are, and no matter what you are doing, the world around you

is attacking you 24/7 and, if your wellbeing matters to you, then you need to start learning about it right now and how you can help the environment to sustain its healing properties such as discovering what you can do to slow down the effectiveness of the elements that the world is constantly making upon you and your body!

These destructive environmental elements include:

 

Free Radicals

In simple scientific explanation, our bodies are made up of millions of different types of cells. These cells comprises of molecules, which are made up of atoms.

The nucleus at the center of these atoms is surrounded by a cloud of electrons.

In a normal healthy cell, these electrons surround the nucleus in pairs, but just occasionally an atom loses an electron, leaving it with an “unpaired” electron.

This atom is referred to as ‘free radical’.  It is very reactive, because it will now actively seek another cell to ‘pinch’ an electron from.

Thus, it sets off a chain reaction of highly unstable and extremely short-lived

free radical cells destroying healthy cells.

During their fleeting existence (estimated at a trillionth of second!) these

highly unstable particles can inflict considerable harm on your body.

 

Free radicals leave a virtual killing field of destructions, punching tiny holes in cell membranes. Hence, altering the cells molecular blueprint.

 

It must be noted at this point that not all free radicals are harmful. Some of these Free Radicals arise normally during metabolism, and sometimes the body immune system deliberately creates them to help to neutralize viruses and bacteria.

Generally, the body can handle free radicals, but if the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur.

Free radicals are a major contributory factor to many medical conditions and illnesses, which alter our WellBeingwell . It can be said to be the ’ prime movers’ behind the basic human aging process and illnesses such as Heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes,  and even obesity.

Although some people believed that the number one factor that dictates how fast a person will age is genetic, free radicals are also an extremely important factor here.

 

But, what are the causes free radicals?

Excessive free radical formation in human cells can be induced through exposure to such things as environmental pollutants, industrial chemicals, agricultural pesticides, cigarette smoke and radiation which is the most common cause of cancer today.

Living in a densely pullulated environment means that your health is under attack by free radicals.

 

It’s time for you to start fighting back

Anti-Oxidants

Oxygen is the giver of life to all creatures . At the same time it is also our long term mortal enemy too. Oxygen involvement in all of life’s processes lies at the very heart of the human aging process, as it is the primary molecule involved in the production of free radicals.

Oxidation is the gain of oxygen while Anti-oxidants are substances that inhibits oxidation in our body. Hence, can be seen as the front line defences against free radical induced oxidative damage.

The power of anti-oxidants lies in the fact that they can safely interact with free radicals and halt the chain reaction that they instigate before vital molecules are damaged.

 

The basic anti-oxidants are quite easily obtainable, as the three main ones are vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene

Vitamin E: or alpha-tocopherol is a fat soluble vitamin present in fish oil, seeds, vegetable and nuts, whole grains (eg. wheat germ), fortified cereals, apricots etc.

Vitamin C: or ascorbic acid is a water soluble vitamin present in citrus fruits and juices, green peppers, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, kale, kiwi, and strawberries.

Pro-vitamin A: or Beta-carotene (retinol) is present in tomatoes, egg yolk, milk, butter, spinach, carrots, squash, broccoli, yams, liver, peaches, and grains.

 

Nutrition wise, a good starting point would be to eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day. That would certainly provide a healthy dose of all of anti-oxidants shown above, as well as a significant proportion of your required daily fiber as well.

 

The next thing that you might want to consider is whether you should you should boost your levels of these vital anti-oxidants, as well as other vitamins and minerals, by using a good quality dietary supplement.

Certainly, doing so will ensure that you have sufficient levels of all the necessary vitamins and minerals on-board to stay in the best of health, as vitamin deficiency has been proven to be a major cause of many medical conditions.  (Caution: consult your medical officer)

 

So, it certainly appears that supplementation will help in your daily fightback against an environment that is, quite literally attacking you!

Our depleting environment is fast attacking our health. Hence, do not be tempted to wait to fall ill before fighting back. Only for those that cherish their WellBeing.

 

How to be safe from kidnapping

The following precautionary security measures against Kidnapping, a taking away of a person against the person’s will. We hereby present for school owners, the various school /education Management systems, relevant government agencies, and the students:

1. Never use car stickers that says where you work, especially if you have a prestigious job, don’t let show off expose you.

2. Avoid making your financial status public, don’t be the one that jumps to front of the church to make donations or the one pastor raves about.

3. When you attend parties, don’t let the band get you so high that you start spraying money like no man’s business, use an envelope.

4. Don’t be the one that tries to empty the ATM machine by making large withdrawals …You don’t need 50k in your wallet to feel like a man.

5. Always delete your bank transaction notifications, especially SMS…you really can memorize your bank balance….Shred ur POS/ATM receipts.

6. Don’t go jogging while it’s dark, you really should be smarter than that. If you can, get someone trusted as company.

7. Always lock your doors, even if you’re only going out to switch off your generator.

8. NEVER EVER, NEVER EVER WEAR YOUR ID outside your work place. No one needs to know you work with “?”, don’t be stupid.

9. Be accountable to your spouse or parents, let someone know where you are at every point, don’t branch to Oworo when u should be in Ikeja.

10. As much as you can avoid it, don’t send kids on errand outside your house, they are soft targets.

11. Don’t try to form richest dude in the neighborhood by making large donations in your estate meetings, learn modesty.

12. When you give, give with modesty and privately, learn to say “I can’t spare that amount now”. Stop doing Baba Olowo for the boys dem.

13.  Don’t stay late in your office long after closing hours. That deadline work can be done at home.

14. Make safety the number one factor in your decision always!

God will keep and protect you as you also apply discretion.

-Stay SAFE all the time….. don’t take your security for granted.

(Credit: N. I. Curtis ( CSS. CSI. SBID. MNIIS)