Do you lock your doors at night? Do you have an alarm system on your car? Do you have street sense about your surroundings? Safety. It's become an International issue to be aware, be on alert and above all to stay safe. From an early school age, we are taught to be aware of our surroundings, strangers and have 'street instincts' - but as we become adults, safety becomes even more vital, protecting ourselves, our homes, our communities and our loved ones. The U.S. Census Bureau recorded of 30.2 million households in 1998, about 3 in 10 are maintained by women alone, and about 27.2 million Americans lived alone in 2000, accounting for about 26% of all households. With this figure on the rise, Discovery Home Channel's "Toolbelt Diva," Norma Vally is on a mission to show women how to GET SAFE! With Home Safety for Women Hosted by The Home Depot on Saturday, May 19th, 2007 - 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at The Home Depot in Huntington Beach.
"Don't you want to feel safe, in of all places, your own home? The thing is, most women don't realize that they can secure their home themselves. Think about it--let a complete stranger in to your home to install new locks? Kind of defeats the purpose, no? Get Safe! is a comprehensive safety event that I've created to show women exactly how to be safe and secure at home. Hosted by The Home Depot, and with the help of expert guest speakers, women will learn things like how-to install bolt locks, fire-prevention, and even self-defense tips. It's all about bringing know-how and empowerment to women," states Vally star of Toolbelt Diva and author of Chix Can Fix: 100 Home Improvement Projects and True Tales from the Diva of Do-it-Yourself.
This Toolbelt Diva knows what she is talking about. Not only is she one of the experts, she is the event producer, proving Chixcanfix more than just things at home, they can fix up ways to provide some inspiration in the community as well.
Joining Vally will be Huntington Beach Police Department, Presenter: Lieutenant Craig Junginger, Women's Transitional Living Center, Inc., Presenter: Rocio Watson, Executive Director; Aikido of Rossmoor, Women's Self-Defense Demonstration - Presenter: Derek Nakagawa 4th degree black belt in Aikido' CPTED Security Consultants, "Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design" and Huntington Beach Fire Department, Presenter: Fire Captain. These expert speakers will join Vally in offering information on crime awareness, self defense, domestic violence awareness, and fire prevention. Vally will provide a HANDS ON WORKSHOP arming attendees with the know-how and skills to Install a peep-hole, add bolt locks to doors and change locks, mount motion sensor lights...and more. There will be a Q&A raffle, with great prizes - including Norma Vally's book, "Chix Can Fix: 100 Home Improvement Projects," T-shirts, and Ryobi Power Tool Kit for correct answers to the safety discussions and d emos. The event is free to the public.
"Did you know a burglar enters a US home every 14 seconds and 60% of burglaries occur while someone is home?! There is no reason why women shouldn't take charge of how safe and secure you feel in their own home. You can install a new bolt lock, add a peep-hole, install motion sensor lights. My goal is to show you it's easier than you think! It's time for women to take charge of their home and personal safety," explains Vally.. "I created GET SAFE! in order to empower women with power tools! Too often I hear women say, 'I'd do it myself, but I have no idea how.' GET SAFE! is an event that will not only show you how, but show you how easy it is. I'm thrilled that The Home Depot and expert guest speakers have joined me to bring to women, and yes men too, the know-how and awareness to be safer and more secure in their homes," states Vally.
Vally is aware that most people take safety for granted until something happens. Her mission is a strong one, focusing beyond this local event and hoping to create change with information and educational tools on a national and international level to empower women everywhere, hoping to inspire people in every community city-to-city. Vally hopes to bring about awareness to safety being something that anyone can do themselves. Aside from doing things to be safe in your home, Vally also has her "Top 10 Diva's Dos and Don'ts" list of helpful hints to help people be safe at home while doing home projects and while taking care of the home.
"TOP 10 DIVA'S DOS AND DON'TS" FOR AT-HOME SAFETY"
1. DO clean your dryer hose with a special dryer brush regularly--clogged dryer vents slow drying time and are notorious for causing fires.
2. DO unplug your power tools when you're adjusting a part or changing a blade. "Just turning the tool off isn't enough," cautions Norma. "Accidents can and do happen, so be sure to always unplug your tools or remove the battery."
3. DON'T wear loose clothing while performing home improvement tasks. Loose-fitting garments can get caught in power tools, especially saws--a potentially life threatening situation.
4. DO know where the main shut-off valves for all your utilities are located. Women need to know how to turn off the main power sources for the gas, water and electricity in their homes. This is critical in an emergency.
5. DO use a sharp blade in your utility knife--a dull blade will cause you to "force" and that's when injuries happen.
6. DON'T where open toed shoes when working on a project--something as simple as a dropped tool could cause a major injury.
7. DO wear safety glasses when cutting, scraping, prying, and working above your head.
8. DO be aware of lead in older homes as well as mold and other harmful agents in paint and construction dust. Wear a filtered respirator--a dust mask will not suffice.
9. DO use an appropriate gauged extension cord for the tool you're powering--it should be listed on the tool label or in the instructions.
10. DO follow all ladder safety instructions posted on the ladder--i.e., make sure it's locked in its open position, on a stable surface, etc. Never stand on the top step, stay centered between the rails, and don't exceed maximum weight. Ladder injuries account for 163,000 emergency room visits per year!
Environmental awareness is a hot topic these days. It took Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth" to win an Oscar to take the awareness to a mainstream level. And Vally is definitely part of the green team - aside from being safety-conscious, Vally is also environmentally conscious. She has done many show segments utilizing environmentally friendly products in and outside of the home. Going green is not only earth-friendly, but 'green' friendly in savings.
" Let's face it--going green's not just for tree-huggers anymore! Everyone's talking about it, but where do we get started? I want to show people how easy it is to go green in your home. And if saving the planet's not enough motivation, how about saving money? Yep, going green can actually help you keep more green in your wallet, " Vally exclaims.
Going green is also safer. And that's party of what Vally's mission is all about. Vally's list of tips and hints goes beyond these ten items. TOOLBELT DIVA airs Fridays at 8 PM ET/PT on Discovery Home Channel.(check your local listings). Her book, "Chix Can Fix: 100 Home Improvement Projects" by Norma Vally available at For more on Norma Vally go to , where you can also find more information about the local Huntington Beach Get Safe! event hosted by The Home Depot.
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