Holiday Safety Tips

It's that time of the year again and the risk of accidents occurring rises considerably during holiday periods.

When you are unfamiliar with your surroundings these holidays, it is important to look out for hazards and prevent unnecessary injuries to children. Bored children are more likely to investigate new 'risky' objects and areas!

Nationwide

Police & Fire: 10111
Ambulance: 10177

Police,Fire & Ambulance:
112

Cape Town

Police,Fire & Ambulance:
107

Police,Fire & Ambulance:
021 480 7700

ICE Campaign

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in memory. If you were to be involved in an accident or taken ill, the people attending you would likely have access to your mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence the 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.

The concept of 'ICE' is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations, using the mobile phones that are carried by the majority of the population.

All you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons to be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE' in your contact list. For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc.

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scene of an accident there were always mobile phones with patients but they didn't know which number to call. His idea is that there should be a nationally recognized name for this purpose so that emergency service personnel and hospital staff will be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as ICE.

Please forward this. It won't take too many 'forwards' before everybody will be informed. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. If your children have mobiles, don't forget to tell them how to do it... on second thoughts... ask your kids how to do it! If your phone has a camera, take a picture of yourself and call it ICE - Me. This will identify you with the phone.

Read more holiday safety tips.

Discovery Health Emergency Services:

Discovery Health members have access to taimeous, optimal patient care in emergencies. Calls to Discovery 911 will be managed by highly qualified emergency personnel who will assess each case and initiate the most appropriate air or road evacuations based on protocols and resources available within a specific geographical area.

• Call Discovery 911 on 0860 999 911 - this number is displayed on your membership card and car sticker for easy reference. Add this number to your cell phone contact list.
• Discovery 911 Alert is an additional service available to members who are Vodacom subscribers and is a cellular phone-based panic alert system which can be used when a member cannot speak in a medical emergency situation. In a medical emergency, you push a key on your cellphone and a medical person will phone you back. If there is no response from you, an emergency vehicle will be dispatched. This is an alert service. To activate Discovery 911 Alert, log on to www.discovery.co.za and register.
• The International Travel Benefit provides cover of up to R10 million for each person on each journey for emergency medical costs while you travel outside South Africa. This cover is for a period of 90 days from your departure from South Africa. Cover includes appropriate emergency evacuation and transport if needed. Read more about the international travel benefit.
• Cover for evacuation in Africa. The Africa Evacuation Benefit covers you for emergency medical evacuations from certain African countries back to South Africa. Call Discovery before travelling on 0860 99 88 77 to get a list of African countries this benefit covers and the details of the cover before. All emergency treatments outside the borders of South Africa must be confirmed by calling International SOS on + 27 11 541 1222. This number is displayed on your membership card. Read more about the Africa Evacuation Benefit.

A Final Hint For The Festive Season:

Before you take that well-earned break and start to spend money that will earn no return, or on non- essential items, consider giving to yourself first by putting in place a wise monthly investment or increasing your monthly unit trust contribution. It is wonderful to give and receive gifts, but this time be wise as well as giving (more modestly, perhaps) to your loved ones.

Should you experience any financial emergencies and need to contact somebody at Silke Financial Services please contact me on my cell phone 082 373 2899 and I will assist you where possible.

Shane Thom CFP®
Managing Partner and Lead Financial Planner