March 2008

The Art of Arriving on Time-A Three Part Series
There is an art to arriving to any job on time. It seems like a simple task, but when you break it down, there are many important steps involved. For our purposes the steps will be divided into 1. Preparation the day or night before the job, 2. Getting out the door, and 3. Traveling to the job and arriving on time. We will discuss Step One in this newsletter. Look for Steps 2 and 3 in the next two newsletters.

The Day or Night Before the Job Checklist:
____ Make sure you have a full tank of gas, or at least enough to get there and back easily.
____ Make sure your car is in good running order. Having tires properly inflated helps get better gas mileage. Attend to scheduled maintenance according to the owner's manual.
____ Plug in your cell phone to make sure it is fully charged.
____ Confirm that you have all the information you need to get to the client's house: name, address, phone, cell, children's names and ages, pets, special needs.
____ Use MapQuest to get another set of directions other than the ones the client gave you. Take both sets of directions with you.
_____ Get your clothes ready and clothes for any children you have. Be ready to get up and get dressed. This may include washing, ironing or sewing. Take your child (ren) to school or daycare before you get to your job.
____ Make sure you have something on hand for a quick but nutritious breakfast: oatmeal, breakfast bar, fruit, cheese, yogurt. Don't waste time and money at the fast food drive in. It can really slow you down.
____ If you are a person who bathes or showers in the morning, consider bathing or showering the night before.
____ Pack your lunch, drinks, snacks and anything else you'll need for the day the night before.
____ Go to Bed. Most Americans need 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. Most Americans are sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation is a heath hazard related to automobile accidents, stress, heart conditions and even stroke.


Do You Know the Signs of a Stroke?
Educate yourself for your loved ones, your patients and yourself. You could save a life.

The 3 steps to recognizing a stroke are STR.
S-Smile-ask the person to smile
T- Talk-ask the person to talk and speak in simple sentences. The sentences must make sense.
R- Raise-raise both arms.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
A New Sign of a Stroke. Ask the person to stick out his tongue. If the tongue is crooked, if it goes to one side or the other, this is also an indication of a stroke.

Feel free to pass this valuable information on to others in your life.


Spring Cleaning Tips for the Playroom from Real Simple Cleaning.
Real SimpleCleaning is advocating using Clorox Disinfecting Wipes but use whatever you feel best about using or what the client prefers. We recommend using Green Cleaning Products whenever you can in the home. They are better for you, the children and the environment.

In Five Minutes: Wipe doorknobs, light switches, drawer handles and TV remote.
In Ten Minutes: in addition to the above, wipe the phone receivers, the computer keyboard and the mouse and any video game controls. Sanitize plastic tabletops and chairs with daily sanitizing spray and wipe with a clean cloth
In twenty-five minutes: In addition to the 5 and 10 minute steps, disinfect hard plastic toys in a solution of Clorox bleach. Wash, wipe or rinse toys in water, then soak in a solution of ¾ cup of Clorox Bleach per one gallon of water for 5 minutes. Rinse and then let air dry.
Disinfect wastebaskets with Disinfecting Spray. Don't use sprays around children.
Use all products as directed and keep out of the reach of children at all times.


Calling All Caregivers Who Have Worked for A Friend of the Family in the Past 12 Months
A Friend of the Family has a big group staffing challenge coming up on Friday, April 25, Saturday, April 26 and Sunday April 27, 2008. We have been awarded a contract to provide childcare for the U. S. Army Reunion at a hotel in downtown Atlanta. This is a chance to show the men and women who serve in the Army our appreciation for their sacrifice. Their families deserve our support as well, especially the children. See the current Job List on our website at www.afriend.com for more details or just call the office to sign up. Pay is $12 an hour. It should be lots of fun for everyone.

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