LITTLE ROCK — DEAR READERS: Remember the demonstrations in school: a raw egg cradled in an insulated foam head dropped onto the gym floor, teaching how fragile our heads are? With summer on the way and kids spending more hours outdoors, here’s a reminder about biking safety:
Pick a helmet that fits you well, is smooth on the outside and has a sticker certifying that it meets the Consumer Product SafetyCommission standard. Fitting the commission standard is a law - to be sure you’re safe.
Always wear your helmet level, covering your forehead, with the straps fastened securely under your chin.
The best helmet to buy isn’t always the most expensive! The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (bhsi.org ) states that regardless of price, the protection from impact is equal across the board for safety commission-approved helmets. Prices can range from $10 to $200.
Wearing a helmet doesn’t give you license to be reckless, but it will provide protection in case something does happen.
DEAR HELOISE: All the media suggest changing batteries in our smoke alarm when the time changes. Since daylight saving time is now for nearly eight months, this leaves batteries in twice as long as “regular time.” I change ours Jan. 1 and July 4. This equals battery time of six months each, and they are easy dates to remember.
- J.B. in Atlanta, Texas
DEAR READER: According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, once a year is fine for changing the batteries in smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors.
DEAR HELOISE: Plastic bags from dry cleaners are great for covering seasonal centerpieces, floral centerpieces and door wreaths.
Plastic hangers with “clips” on each end are great for drying hand-washables. Roll an item in a bath towel to remove excess water, then hang it on the clips.
- G.P., Middlebury, Conn.
DEAR HELOISE: I use a drawer-style plastic box (17-quart size) in my cupboard to hold all my mixing utensils and measuring cups, spatulas, potato masher, etc. I have limited drawer space, and those utensils cluttered my counter space. It doubles as a shelf to put hot pads, recipe books or even towels on.
- A Reader, Sanford, Mich. Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or e-mail
Weekend, Pages 38 on 05/24/2012