Make your home easy to find in emergency

Dear Heloise: I read your column in The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette. Your reader was concerned that emergency responders might not be able to find her home in an emergency.

Her solution of a strobe light on her porch would work. But suppose no one at home at the time remembers the light, or she is alone and unable to get it out of the closet and outside?

As a volunteer firefighter/ambulance driver, I strongly endorse the importance of clearly identifying your house. Please put large, high-contrast numbers on the mailbox or post at the street — high enough to clear snow or weeds. One example: Our local hardware store sells 5-inch numerals, black on a reflective white background, with adhesive backing. Picture an ambulance or fire engine trying to get to you as quickly as possible on a dark and stormy night. Help them out! Walt Seelye, via e-mail.

Walt, very good lifesaving advice! Folks, the numbers cost less than $2 each at hardware or home-improvement stores — a real bargain, especially if it saves a life. Heloise

Dear Heloise: Most people automatically reach for the hot-water faucet when needing a bit of water to rinse our hands, a dish, etc. A majority of the time, hot or warm water is not needed. A hot-water tank uses gas or electricity to keep the tank full and the water hot. It takes a bit of awareness to change the habit and reach for the cold unless hot water truly is needed (not very often, I have discovered). Marion, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: If you’ve ever noticed a funny smell in the kitchen when you come in after being out, you should check the inside of the garbage disposal (Be sure the disposal is turned off. Heloise). Food is splattered inside and is not always washed away when you run it. Remove the top rubber part (If it does not come out, you can still put a brush down there. Heloise) and, with a rag, reach inside and run it around, especially the top part. You’ll find gunk you never suspected was in there! Be sure to do this just before you go out of town. J.D.D., San Antonio

Dear Heloise: I haven’t purchased gift tags in years. I simply cut up this year’s Christmas (birthday, etc.) cards into small squares. I cut out the nice pictures, poke a hole in the corner with a paper punch and slip though string or thread. Lea Sammons, Sandpoint, Idaho

SBlt Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate