Sometimes, folks may find me boasting about the variety of accidental injuries that lay under my belt. A wounded warrior I am.  A worrier?  Yes. I was, and with reason. Throughout my years I've been hit by 3 cars. I’ve been stitched up after a rock climbing fall, a foot through a floor, and had a nasty  hit-run bicyclist knock-down. I've injured my ankle while horseback riding, and have been scraped up badly by beautiful coral. Not to mention that I've stepped on countless chunks of glass and have had my share of rusty nails punctures. I have accidentally bumped my head on everything from cash registers, bathroom sinks, file cabinets, and most recently on the other head of a friend's wedding guest. Knowing my accident speckled history, my newlywed husband wouldn't even allow me to hang-glide while on our honeymoon. Thanks to him I am still around, in one piece, to celebrate 13 years of marriage. As a mathematician and physicist, my husband  would most likely say, "The probability of the occurrence accidently injury to self is increased due to the quantity of activities that you participate in compared to that of the average individual." In other words, I get hurt more, because I do more "stuff." I worried. But, I lived life.

It was motherhood, the moment when my now 12-year-old was daughter was born, that turned me instantly into the "Mega Worrier."  The ultimate! With the fresh baby strapped, probably a lil’ too tightly, into the car seat, I nervously held my breath during the ride home from the hospital. Winding down Lake Shore Drive and finally to our apartment, I didn’t exhale until the moment we placed our newborn safely into her bassinette. "Is that gas I smell?" "Is she still breathing?" were just some of the roars of my past Mega Worrier self. Who would  have ever  guessed that, given my accident ridden past,  it would be the birth of my child that would prompt me to turn over my warted leaf and conquer my underlining fear of crisis. I thought to myself, I could not possibly be the only stress-bucket-new-parent in this high rise that holds anxieties and visions of toddlers bumping their heads on sharp corners and choking on tiny buttons. How can I possibly live like this?

It was then, when I formed a Mom-n-Tot group of approximately 20 first-time mothers & fathers, I realized that I was, by no means, alone in my world of worry.  After coming to this realization, I immediately, decided to host a couple of safety sessions.  I invited experts on how to baby-proof your home and set up infant CPR classes. Soon, our group of stress-drenched new parents, evolved into a crew of prepared empowered ones. I tried to encourage them to arm themselves with the ability to respond to emergencies with confidence in order to ease their nerves. In the process I eased my own. That time in my life, unbeknownst to me, was what led me down the path of becoming a volunteer First Responder, and has driven me to continue promoting safety awareness, and emergency preparedness. Now, safety is my thing. Hey,  I do believe that a lil’ bit of worry is  good.... Keeps you on your toes.   But safety is healthy and essential. Preparedness is empowering and calming. I hope that you find my website to be a place to where you can find a piece of mind, and resources that can help you become a better prepared citizen. 

Don't be scared … Be prepared.