Never leave younger children unattended in bathrooms and kitchens; there are just too many things that can hurt them.

Never drive with children in the front seat and definitely not carrying in your lap when driving. You can easily kill them even in minor accidents.

Keep health information handy. Information about your blood group, allergies to medicines, special conditions like diabetes, heart disease, etc., should be carried with you at all times, in the event it is needed in an accident.

Make your home a safe place. Many dangers linger in your home to cause injury and death: slippery floors, open electrical wiring, sharp metal objects, hazardous chemicals (cleaning, paint, etc.), loosely hanging fixture, etc. Do an yearly audit of your home safety.

Use safety glasses when working with moving objects or sharpnels that can fly or when hunting or engaged in ball games.

Baking soda is an excellent home remedy. Use it for indigestion, deodorising refrigerators (place a box of baking soda, top opened in the refrigerator; after two months, drain it to clean pipes). Recently, athletes have begun taking baking soda before events to boost energy (by neutralising muscle acids) but this use is not yet endorsed by scientists.

Learn CPR and Heimlich Manoeuvre. Knowledge of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the technique to over come food choking is essential to your family 's survival should the need arise.

Jelly fish stings on beaches can be treated by applying alcohol or vinegar; a baking soda paste works wonders.

Bees are the only insects that leave the stinger behind; don't pull it directly with fingers or tweezers since it squeezes more venom in. Scrape away with a sharp blade held against the skin, then remove the stinger. Baking soda and meat tenderisers work wonders on stings from sea creatures. Carry them with you to beaches.

"Leaves of three, let it be," is a good advise; stay clear of poison ivy plants. If contacted, wash thoroughly and apply baking soda, calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching; scratching excessively can cause infection.