AFVOA Newletters of Year 2006

Page 14 of 77 ~ JK Rowling Matters AFVOA 54. Complimentary. The MANAVA SEVA DHARMA SAMVARDHANI, a charitable trust for the promotion of Social Consciousness have selected our past President AVM V Krishnaswamy, VSM and his wife Mrs. Jaya Krishnaswamy, for their pioneering work in the Social Sector for the Sadguru Gnanananda Seventh National Awards-2006. They were instrumental in establishing the Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children in 1989. They were honoured with the newly introduced special category of awards called “Families in Social Work” . The award was presented by Swami Nityanandagiri of Tapovanam on 04 Feb 2006 at the Narada Gana Sabha. 55. The AFVOA is proud of the achievement of our past President and his wife for their dedicated service in the cause of mentally challenged children in the age group birth to 6 years and wishes them both many more laurels in the years to come. 56. Safety of Members . AFVOA is ever concerned with the safety & welfare of its Members and the Senior Citizens in particular. The Editorial Team came across some useful and interesting information. We feel that sharing such information with our Members would be worthwhile. We publish two such items in the succeeding paragraphs. Your valuable suggestions and contributions in this regard are welcome for publication. 57. Precautions to be observed . It is suggested that older persons, specifically those staying alone should observe the following precautions:- (a) Get police verification done of your domestic help. (b) As far as possible, avoid employing foreign nationals as it is difficult to verify/trace the individual. (c) Install a “Magic eye” and door chain on the entrance door. Instruct your servants not to open the door without your permission. (d) A stranger could mean danger. Do not let in strangers unless identified. (e) Verify over telephone, the genuineness of strangers, who drop in with a relative’s reference. (f) Be in touch with neighbours and relatives. (g) Preferably install an alarm system to alert neighbours in an emergency. (h) Avoid any unnecessary show of wealth. (j) Avoid employing unknown persons as masons, carpenters, painters, plumbers, etc. treat with suspicion, their reappearance without being called. 58. Emergency Identification . There may be occasions when any one of us can either be a witness to an accident or we ourselves may unfortunately be involved in such a mishap. It is therefore necessary for us to know as to how we should afford help and take immediate action to save the victim. Conversely if we are ourselves in such a predicament, carrying certain useful information about ourselves in person, would greatly facilitate the rescuers to provide urgent and appropriate medical assistance. Such data would also be helpful to the rescuer from misunderstanding our condition. The following measures are suggested: (a) Carry a card giving details of the people to be contacted in an emergency with address and telephone number. (b) Indicate in the card your medical allergies, if any.