Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you a safe and happy day!

Emergency Car Kits - Safety Education series

November 20, 2014

Safety Education: Emergency Car Kits

If you've watched the news lately, this cold snap

has brought more scenes of stranded travelers on

snowy roadways. I wonder how many had prepared

for such an emergency.

Today we are going think what it might be like to

be stranded in our vehicle for an extended period

of time...during daylight hours and possibly added

difficulties if we had to remain overnight.

Depending on their ages, they may need some

prompts from teacher. (food, water, warmth,

sheltering-in-place verses walking to safety)

Brainstorm a list of items that combat each

emergency scenario the kids mentioned. 

Talk about the viability and practicality of

each item, remembering, they will be stored 

in the vehicle.

Here's our list:

a case of water

flashlight with extra batteries

candles & matches in a can or glass jar

maps & compass

whistle

multi-purpose tool/knife

first aid kit

blankets

extra socks,coats, boots

large & small trash bags

a list of emergency contact numbers 

pen/pencil & paper

a bucket with lid, toilet paper, wet wipes

some dried or canned food with pull tabs

antifreeze 

windshield washer fluid

jumper cables

small shovel

ice scraper

road flares

bag of kitty litter (for traction)

cell phone chargers

Now, think about storage space in your vehicle.

(some of these items may already be kept there)

Most items may fit in a backpack or a 5 gal.

bucket. Are there drawers under your seats

or will everything need to be stored in your

trunk?

Gather and assemble your emergency car kits

as soon as possible. Even if your family never

experiences an emergency, having these items

may allow you to help others during your travels.

gathering items for our Car Emergency Kit - candles & matches

Mom notes:

A key component of educating our children in safety 

is to present different situations and have the 

children think of possible problems that could occur

and then discuss various practical solutions.

These thinking exercises have not only made my

children better prepared for emergencies but have 

also enhanced their leadership skills.

Thanks so much for 

joining us this week.

We will not have safety class next week, due to the

Thanksgiving holiday.

Our next class will be
Thursday, Dec. 4th.

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Homemade Spaghetti Sauce - printable recipe

We've been making spaghetti 

sauce over the last few days. 

It's SO good!

I know this is normally a summer activity 

for most gardeners, but cooking & canning 

all day doesn't appeal to me while I'm melting 

in the warmer weather. So I throw all my 

tomatoes in the freezer and wait for 'wood stove' 

cooking season.

With the latest cold front bringing in this chilly 

weather, mid-November, it appears the season 

has arrived!

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

(printable recipe)

½ bushel of tomatoes (more or less)

½  cup olive oil

6 - 8 garlic cloves, minced

1 Tablespoon salt

pinch of black pepper

8 - 10 ounces tomato paste

¼ - ½ cup sugar

¼ cup oregano

¼ cup parsley

¼ cup basil

1 cup zucchini, shredded (optional)

1. peel tomatoes

2. puree tomatoes in blender/food processor 

    for a thinner sauce

    OR mash them if you like a chunky sauce.

3. In a large pot (at least 10 quart) cook garlic in oil.

4. when garlic is tender, add tomatoes and 

    remaining ingredients.

5. IMPORTANT- taste periodically. 

6. Boil until sauce cooks down to desired thickness.

notes:

1. Paste tomatoes such as Roma or Amish have higher

levels of sugar and acids along with less moisture,

making them a better tomato to "cook down" than other 

tomatoes. They are sometimes called sauce tomatoes.

If using only sauce tomatoes, start with less sugar

than listed above.

Personally, I use whatever tomatoes I have on hand,

(Roma, Amish, Beefsteak, even Large Red Cherry) and

just adjust the seasonings as they're cooking.

2. To easily peel tomatoes, dip in boiling water for 

about 30 seconds or until skins begin to crack.

This is the personal recipe of Maria Matter @ Five Simple Things.

If canning, when your sauce reaches your desired

thickness, pour hot into hot jars, leaving ¼ inch [6mm]

head space. Process pint jars 30 minutes in boiling 

water bath.

one more note:

As I mentioned above, I put my fresh tomatoes

in the freezer until I'm ready to process them.

I core them first and cut off any bad spots, then

fill up a freezer bag, removing as much air as

possible.  

When you remove them from the freezer, place

them in a colander in the sink. As they start to

thaw, some of the water will drain reducing your

cooking time and the skins will crack on their own

eliminating the need to dip in boiling water. Let

them continue to drain for a while longer after 

peeling.

If you've never made your own sauce, I encourage

you to give it a try and I would be happy to answer 

any questions you may have.

Enjoy! 

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Winter Storm Emergency Kit - Safety Education series

November 13, 2014

Safety Education: Winter Storm kits

With the arrival of winter weather, it's time to

put together some winter storm emergency kits.

First, talk to the children about what they think

might happen during a winter storm; what

emergencies your family might experience.

This will make you aware of their level of 

understanding and be able to address their

specific concerns.

Next, we will gather some emergency supplies.

Having these items on-hand will save you a lot

of discomfort and trouble when a storm hits.

Here are some basic supplies.

(If you don't have them all now, gather what you

can and make a list of what you still need.)

a 3-day supply of water, 

a gallon per person per day

a 3-day supply of non-perishable food

and a manual can opener

(heat & eat food if you'll have a 

source of heat to cook)

flashlights and extra batteries,

glow sticks

candles and matches

blankets and warm clothing

or a few Mylar blankets

a NOAA hand-crank weather radio/flashlight

hand crank weather radio

a first aid kit 

(like we assembled for our class back in Oct.)

a shovel and some Rock Salt

a deck of cards or other non-electric games

This is by no means an extensive list. Each family 

should have an ample supply vital to their individual household before a storm hits. 

(medications, care items for elderly, infants and pets)

Also, discuss where in your home you can store these

gathered emergency supplies. If an area needs to

be cleaned out to make room, make it a family 

project. That way everyone will know where the

supplies are kept!

Mom notes:

Have the children calculate the amount of water 

and food each person will need for three days. 

Make sure your children know how to light an

oil lamp & adjust the wicks if you'll be using them.

Also, make sure your older children know where

the gas cans are kept, how to start a generator, how

to use a fire extinguisher or how to shut off utilities

if necessary.

For all pet owners, be sure to check which emergency

shelters allow pets in case you would ever need to 

evacuate. ( have the kids research this online)

Here's a Winter Storm Safety Checklist (pdf)

print-out from the American Red Cross!

Thanks so much for joining our safety class,

see you next week!

Do you keep winter 
emergency supplies on hand?
Did I forget anything?

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Kitchen safety tips- Safety Education series

November 6, 2014

Safety Education:  a Safe Holiday Kitchen

With the holiday season approaching, 

the kitchen will become a hub of activity! 

Unfortunately, it also can quickly turn into 

a site for injuries and fires during this busy 

time of year, according to the Fire Marshal's

fire safety council. 

Here are a few Kitchen Safety Tips to review.

· Stay in the kitchen while cooking. 

If you must leave, turn down the heat 

on appliances and return quickly. 

· Keep anything that can catch fire, 

such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, 

curtains, etc., at least three feet away 

from the stove top. 

· Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing 

when cooking (such as long open sleeves) 

which can be ignited by hot burners.

· Remove mats or runners in the kitchen 

and dining areas that could cause someone 

to slip or trip while carrying hot dishes. 

· Always turn pot handles inward to prevent 

small children from reaching up and pulling 

down a hot pan. 

· Keep hot items, such as hot beverages and 

trays that have just come out of the oven 

away from the edge of counters, so that small

children are not able to reach them. 

· Hot liquid and food burns often occur when 

little ones pull hanging tablecloths or place mats. 

Use table cloths and decorations with care. 

· Food cooked in a microwave can be 

dangerously hot. Remove lids or other 

coverings from microwaved food carefully 

to prevent steam burns. 

· Keep young children and pets away from 

the stove when anyone is cooking and never 

leave small children in the kitchen unsupervised 

when food is being prepared. 

· Store knives and other sharp objects 

out of the reach of young children. 

via

After reading, have students create a checklist for these tips 

or a pictorial poster to be posted in the kitchen.

Mom note:

During the holidays our whole family normally

works together in the kitchen to prepare festive 

meals. However, over the years,depending on 

the age of the child, they might only have a few 

dishes to help prepare. So we would always set 

that child on a stool, partially outside the busy 

cooking path, in the kitchen with the above 

checklist to have them "watch over" us noting 

any safety concerns. We made sure they 

understood this was an important job being 

entrusted to them in helping to keep our family

safe!

Thanks so much 

for joining us!

See you next week.

Do you have any other
kitchen safety tips to share?

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