Tax Day!

Are your taxes done? Filed?

The filing deadline for individuals was March 1 in 1913 (the first year of a federal income tax), and was changed to March 15 in 1918 and again to April 15 in 1955, in order to give individuals adequate time to gather their information from the previous year, organize the data and file accurately for what was due.

Punctuation marks aren’t deductible, apparently

One section of the Internal Revenue Code – 341(e)(1), if you must know – has, from the first capital letter to when you finally hit a period, more words than Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
The section, which deals with collapsible corporations, was repealed in 2004. It probably wasn’t because of the run-on sentence, but you never know.

Can’t buy me love – or tax relief

George Harrison wrote Beatles song “Taxman” as an attack on the high levels of progressive tax in Britain at the time. The lyric “There’s one for you, 19 for me” was in reference to the 95 percent “supertax” that the Beatles were subject to because of their income level.

The U.S. is no stranger to high marginal rates. During the latter part of World War II, the highest was 90 percent. (The effective or “real” rate was substantially less, it must be noted.) For comparison, right now, the highest marginal rate is 39.6 percent.

It happens in other countries, too, Director Ingmar Bergman and tennis player Bjorn Borg both left Sweden for Monaco because the tax rates were so high.

By the way, if you decide to follow their lead and leave the U.S. for tax-protest reasons, be aware that you’ll face a steep charge. An exit fee when you take your money oyut of the USA.

When the government takes your shorts

There have been many colorful acts of tax rebellion. There is one real case, well documented, in which taxpayers owed the government money and paid it with a check written on underwear… And the government cashed them.

Got a student loan? Pay attention

When student loans mature and start accruing interest, that interest is a deduction ­– but not just any deduction. It is what’s called an above-the-line deduction, with the “line” being the line of adjusted gross income on the form.

So what does that mean? Even if you take a standard deduction rather than itemized, you can still take a deduction for the student-loan interest on top of that.

Many people don’t realize, leaving their loan interest on the table.

One caveat: If Mom or Dad still list you as a dependent, you can’t claim it. But they might be able to.

We know your pets are family, but … well, they’re not, actually

Many people have tried to claim a pet as a dependent. No matter how much you love your pets (even if you love them more than your family), they can’t be claimed as a dependent.

People also have tried, unsuccessfully, to claim well-tipped restaurant servers as dependents, as well as deductions for donated blood, semen and eggs.

But you can claim this as a deduction

Gender-reassignment surgery is deductible, as long as the person is properly diagnosed with gender identity disorder or gender dysphoria.

This has not always been true, but even the IRS changes with the times and with changes in the medical community.

Everyone owes taxes – everyone

One of the big misconceptions  is that people think they didn’t owe any tax if they get a refund. You DID owe tax; you just overpaid.

And before you get too excited about that refund, remember that getting one means you gave the government an interest-free loan. If that’s less than palatable, you might want to revisit your withholding setup.

Even people in space

However, residents of the International Space Station are technically out of the country, so they trigger an automatic two-month extension. And they probably e-file.

Speaking of space explorers, there’s a story that members of the Apollo missions got hazard pay, and that was taxable ­– even though it was earned on the moon.

About that, ahem, side business

All income, even illegal income, is supposed to be claimed on your taxes.

Don’t believe it? Ask infamous gangster Al Capone, sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for not paying income tax on his ill-gotten gains. Of course, he also responsible for countless deaths, but it was the taxes that landed him in the clink.

And finally, for those of you who still aren’t finished with your taxes

Most people do not understand the nature of tax extensions… you can request one, and it gives you another six months to file and prepare. But it doesn’t give you another 6 months to pay any tax you owe. So if you owe money to the government, be aware that interest and penalties start accruing after midnight April 15, even if you don’t have to file for months because of an extension.

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Family Preparedness Webinar

On Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 2 P.M. Eastern Time America’s PrepareAthon! is hosting a webinar, “Easy Ways to Help Prepare Your Family for Disasters.”  The webinar panelists are mothers and well-known bloggers. They will offer valuable insights on preparedness and give their perspective on actions you can take before a disaster strikes. Let’s meet the panelists: 

Shelle Wells is a preparedness enthusiast and blogger who is passionate about spreading the disaster preparedness message. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and started her blog in 2012 during National Preparedness Month which takes place every September. Shelle works to “take the scared out of being prepared” by offering readers easy-to-do preparedness skills on her website three times a week. For the webinar, Shelle will discuss how to assemble and update your emergency supplies with a shopping checklist. Follow Shelle on Twitter at @PreparednessMa.

Erica Mueller is the owner of the Mom Prepares website.  In addition, she is a part-time web developer who has a love for all things information technology. Erica is a huge fan of cloud computing, especially when it comes to backing up important documents, files, and photos. For the webinar, Erica has chosen to discuss how to collect and safeguard critical documents using both physical and online solutions. Follow Erica and her website team on Twitter at @MomPrepares.

Tanya Ferraro is no stranger to disaster preparedness. She is the Training and Exercise Coordinator for the Fairfax County Health Department. In addition, she coordinated three Medical Reserve Corps units from southwest to central Virginia. She is a member of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and a champion of the Virtual Operations Support Team (VOST) model in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Tanya is passionate about educating, motivating, and training others to care about their own preparedness. During the presentation, Tanya will discuss how to develop and test emergency communications plans. Follow Tanya on Twitter at @tjlasagna. 

Shelly Lopez-Gray works as a clinical nurse coordinator for Texas Children’s Hospital Pavilion for Women and a labor and delivery nurse for Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital. During the webinar, Shelly will discuss disaster preparedness for pregnant women and parents with infants. Follow Shelly on Twitter at @shellylopezgray.

We hope you’re able to join the conversation. Closed captioning will be provided. Register today!

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Ways to improve your Ergonomic Health

When people hear the words “safety training,” hard hats and yellow tape spring to mind. But did you know that the most common workplace injuries are related to everyday strains and repetitive tasks? In fact, ergonomic injuries are the most frequently reported workplace injury.

Although the term sounds complex and foreign, ergonomic injuries are commonplace and make up the majority of office injuries. They can include joint deterioration, tendon inflammation, and muscle problems. Because these injuries develop in joints and muscles and don’t often involve breaks or serious illness, they can form over time or happen all at once.

Most ergonomic injuries arise from repetitive movements, awkward posture, and overextension during moments of everyday exertion. They can also arise from repetitive pressure, exposure to vibrations, and exposure to fluctuations in temperature.

With increasing digitization of work resources and programs, employees spend more and more time each day at their desks, staring at computer screen. In fact, many chronic issues related to ergonomics—such as back problems and hypertension—have seen dramatic increases (as much as double) with the use of computers in the workplace. Anywhere from 20 to 40 percent of office workers annually report being affected. Additionally, ergonomic problems disproportionately affect older workers and those already affected by chronic health issues.

In recent years potential ergonomic problems have become a major concern in many types of businesses. Many facilities are now devoting significant time and effort to controlling the twisting, turning, stretching and other motions that place stress and strain on employees’ bodies.

Our training products on “Industrial Ergonomics” focus on potential ergonomic problems in manufacturing, assembly and warehouse environments, and cover recognizing ergonomic problems, potential adverse effects, and pragmatic solutions employees can use to address to these problems. Topics covered in these products include:

• Physiology of the body.
• Parts of the body most affected.
• Eye strain.
• Pragmatic preventative measures.
• Correct use of office equipment.
• Exercises and stress release.
• and more.

Ergonomic injuries can mean big expenditures for a business. They cause serious pain and debilitation, are difficult to properly diagnose, and can easily put an end someone’s career on the job site or at the office. There are often no cures for ergonomic injuries because repetitive movement and time usually play such a large role in how they develop. However, there are important things you can do to prevent these types of injuries from gaining traction.
Here are 5 ways you can prevent ergonomic injury:

1. Watch your posture

Whether an ergonomic injury happens all at once or gradually, posture helps build the muscles that prevent strains and helps slow deterioration by supporting joints. Keep the weight of your arms supported at all times, and square your body to your computer monitor. Avoid eyestrain by keeping your screen at arm’s length. If you’re on the phone frequently, use a headset to avoid neck problems.

2. Stay mobile and supported

Many diseases and clotting conditions can affect the leg’s blood vessels. Many can also be prevented by regular movement and stretching. Be sure to get up from your work station at frequent intervals throughout the day to stretch and walk around. Many exercises that improve circulation can be done within the confines of an office. Taking a break from your computer will also relieve eye strain and promote the natural movement of your ocular muscles.
If you work on your feet, it’s important to support your body with proper footwear. In some cases, back support can also be used to prevent similar injuries and strains.

3. Use the tools at your disposal

Many back injuries happen because employees were lifting improperly, either without appropriate help or with improper or no tools. Remember to lift from the legs without bending your back and ask for a hand if objects are awkwardly sized or weigh too much to lift. There is no universal standard for how heavy an object can be before you must use a lift or ask for help, so use your own judgment and listen to your body. Additionally, use power tools whenever possible to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome.

4. Keep healthy

Health is a major contributing factor to ergonomic injuries. Getting regular exercise outside the office can go a long way to preventing injury and has the added bonus of extending your life. Stay hydrated and maintain proper nutrition to avoid muscle cramps and problems. Fatigue can also play a role in many forms of stress, so be sure to get a good night’s rest.

5. Avoid risky behavior

Many ergonomic injuries happen from overextension. You can prevent them by avoiding activities that you know may put you at risk. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to let your boss know that you think something is outside of your physical capabilities. If an activity or working condition seems unsafe, report it and defuse the situation before it turns into a workplace injury.

Every job makes a different set of demands on the body. Today the issue of how this impacts employees, and what can be done to reduce or eliminate adverse effects is receiving a lot of attention. While there is much debate about many aspects of ergonomics, everyone agrees on one thing… that is by using proper ergonomic techniques, employees can be safer and more productive as well as feel better at the end of the day.
Our training products on “Office Ergonomics” address how to recognize ergonomic problems, the potential of adverse effects and practical solutions employees themselves can use to help deal with ergonomic problems in the office. Topics covered in the products include:

• Physiology of the body.
• Parts of the body most affected.
• Eye strain.
• Pragmatic preventative measures.
• Correct use of office equipment.
• Exercises and stress release.
• and more.

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How To Baby Proof Your Home

When you first bring your baby home from the hospital, there’s not a lot he or she will be able to get into — that’s because, babies are still too small to crawl or pull objects down. However, in only a few short months, he or she can be reaching, climbing and/or knocking over all sorts of everyday items. That’s why now is a great time to think about baby proofing your home. Even before you bring your precious little one home for the first time, it’s never too early to start covering electrical sockets and fastening cabinets. With that in mind, here’s a checklist of steps to guard all the major parts of your home:

• Cover Electrical Outlets: Buy safety plugs for all unused electrical outlets to protect curious fingers from poking inside.

• Hide Electrical Cords: Keep easy-to-grab electrical cords out of reach by hiding them behind furniture or using devices that tuck away loose cords.

• Install Doorstops: As your child gets increasingly mobile, it will be easy to push doors and accidentally get caught in a latch. Protect babies’ fingers by adding doorstops and door holders to doors throughout your home.

• Install Baby Gates: Anywhere you have staircases that your child can access, you’ll need a baby gate to block him or her from falling. Block stairways at the tops and bottoms so that your little one isn’t able to accidentally take a tumble.

• Block Openings on Railings: If there are any openings on staircase railings that are wider than 4 inches in size, use materials like Plexiglas or garden fencing to block them. Even though 5 inches may seem small, it can be large enough for a baby to reach through and/or get stuck, so you need to be proactive about preventing accidents.

• Put an Appliance Latch on the Oven and Fridge: Protect your baby from accidental oven burns by securing the door of your oven with an appliance latch — this keeps him or her from being able to open the oven and reach inside when it’s cooking. Likewise, install an appliance latch on the refrigerator door to prevent unauthorized access or injury.

• Store Dangerous Items Out of Reach: From kitchen knives to breakable knick-knacks, store any and all potentially dangerous items high and out of reach of your baby.

• Secure All Low Cabinets: Any doors or drawers low enough for a crawling baby to reach should be secured to prevent access. This goes for kitchen and bathroom cabinets, as well as any other low areas that could be easy to open.

• Tuck Away Trash: Keep trash cans in protected cupboards or choose models that have child-resistant covers in order to keep your baby from getting into something he or she shouldn’t.

The bottom line with baby proofing is to try and think like a crawling infant and then get rid of all the opportunities for harm. In addition to the checklist above, try getting on your hands and knees and moving through your living areas the way your child might: What could you grab? What could easily fall on you? Are there better places to move lamps or heavy items? Identify any possible dangers and take steps to remedy them before they can cause harm to your child!

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The Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack

Heart Attack – Signs & Symptoms

 Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack can be the most critical step in saving your own life, or the life of a loved one. If an artery leading to the heart becomes blocked, the affected tissues of the heart will begin to die almost immediately. This is called a heart attack. A heart attack does NOT mean that the heart has stopped. Rather, it is a warning; indicating that the heart may stop at any moment. Do not perform CPR on an individual who is still breathing, instead, identify the problem, call 911 immediately, and monitor the victim. The signs and symptoms of a heart attack may include:

1. A crushing pain, pressure or squeezing sensation in the center of the chest lasting 2 minutes or longer. This pain may begin to radiate up toward the neck, back or out toward the left arm.
2. Tightness of the chest. Patients may describe the sensation as if someone were sitting on their chest, causing breathing difficulty. This may intensify with activity. Any chest pain or breathing difficulty should be immediately reported to 911.
3. Other signs may include pale/ashen, cool, and moist skin. This is not the hot sweat you might get from exercise, but more like the cold sweat you get from doing your taxes. The victim may also experience nausea and/or dizziness.
4. Denial is another very common response to this kind of emergency. Do not allow yourself to be dissuaded. Heart attack victims often claim that their pains are due to indigestion, heartburn, asthma, or illness. The longer that you argue with the victim over the validity of their claims, the less time they may have to live. Go to the another room if necessary and call 911 before the heart stops.

 As the heart tissue continues to die, a critical mass may be reached and the heart will stop beating. This is called Cardiac Arrest. If CPR is not initiated immediately, the victim will be brain dead in 4 to 6 minutes. If the EMS is notified early, Cardiac Arrest may be avoided and greatly increase the patient’s chances of survival. Remember, the best chance of surviving a heart attack occurs when signs and symptoms are recognized early. Be ready for such an emergency and do not hesitate to call 911 for assistance.

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3 key safety measures for the prevention of vehicle fires

A lack of basic car maintenance is one of the biggest sources of vehicle fires. A car that is not regularly serviced by a mechanic who has been professionally trained is far more susceptible to the risk of a fire, as is a car that has not had its MOT carried out by a reputable garage.

Leaks of oil, petrol and other inflammable fluids should be dealt with immediately to avoid the potential of a fire related accident. A good way to check for vehicle leaks is to look underneath the car to see if the ground appears wet, discolored or stained. If you do find a leak, take the car to a garage as soon as possible so that the car can be made safe. Older cars are far more likely to have issues related to wiring or electrical problems and fuses that blow more than once can indicate a more serious underlying problem that should be addressed immediately. Rapid changes in engine temperature can also result in problems.

During the summer months, the threat of a vehicle fire is significantly increased. It goes without saying that throwing a lit cigarette out of the window on dry grass or close to litter is not only a risk to the vehicle, but to the surrounding area and also any wildlife. Fires can spread very quickly at this time of year and rapidly become out of hand when the grass is dry. Litter can be highly flammable, particularly aerosols and many other materials particularly plastics are a source of toxic fumes.

• Have your vehicle serviced regularly
• Check regularly under the car for any signs of leaks
• Park safely and away from flammable materials, or other substances that could set fire rapidly such as long grass and litter, especially during summer months.

Although picnic trips in the summer are one of life’s greatest pleasures you need to take special precautions to ensure that you do not park your car on long dry grass. If grass is allowed to touch the catalytic converter for example, this poses a significant risk. Any heat source that connects with dry grass has the potential to cause a fire.

Having a fire extinguisher on hand is a very sensible measure and means that small incidents can be safely dealt with before they become bigger problems. However it is important to have the right type of fire extinguisher to deal with the problem. For example trying to put out an electrical fire with a water extinguisher can lead to electrocution.

A good all round fire extinguisher to have on hand is a powder based extinguisher. These are suitable for Class A fires (wood, textiles and paper), Class B fires (petrol, oil, paint and tar) and Class C fires (flammable gasses). Choose an extinguisher that is BS EN3 standard. A 1kg powder extinguisher comes is a compact size which can be easily stored in a car boot, some even come with mounting brackets so they can be affixed to the wall of a garage.

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 Now this is really CPR 101!

Longest save on record! 101 minutes of CPR revived the victim!

It is a common part of learning CPR to be taught that immersion in cold water can extend the period of Clinical Death beyond the normal 4-6 minutes prior to irreversible brain death, but this one is amazing!

Clinical Death/ Biological Death
Allow me to take a moment to explain what happens when an individual’s breathing and heartbeat stop. The first stage is called Clinical Death. Clinical death is not necessarily permanent. An individual’s brain can stay alive for about 4-6 minutes after breathing and heartbeat have stopped. This isn’t much time, but it is our “Window of Survival.” If appropriate medical care is initiated within the first minutes of cardiac arrest, the individual has a much greater chance of survival. Many individuals have survived because of early entry into the Emergency Medical System (EMS), and prompt bystander CPR and Defibrillation. If more than 4-6 minutes elapse, however, the individual will most likely experience permanent and irreversible brain damage or Biological Death.

One hour and 41 minutes of CPR later, a Mifflinburg toddler regained his pulse and heart rate after being submerged in icy water at least 20 minutes — and may well be a medical miracle, said a Geisinger Medical Center physician, among about 50 people who had a hand in saving the 22-month-old child.

According to the The Daily Item, not only was the boy resuscitated, he’s also recovered neurologically, said Dr. Frank Maffei, director of pediatric intensive care at Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville.
The child eventually wound up at Janet Weis for treatment via Mifflinburg EMS, Evangelical Community Hospital and Life Flight medical helicopter after he was pulled from a swift-moving creek in West Buffalo Township.

The child was discharged Sunday after five days in the hospital, and physicians will continue to watch his health. “But at this time, he has a highly favorable recovery,” Maffei said.

The 50 people include the neighbor who pulled the boy from the creek to the responding medical professional chain who kept the CPR going, Maffei said. “It was teamwork like I had never seen and a privilege to be part of,” he said.

“As far as we can tell, there is no evidence of gross brain damage,” the doctor said of the boy. “He ambulates, speaks, remembers his (siblings.) He asked for apple juice and played with trucks.”

Plunge and recovery



The child’s story began last Wednesday about 6 p.m. along Emery Road in Mifflinburg. According to state police at Milton, the toddler disappeared while playing near a small creek with two older siblings.

He was found face down about a quarter-mile downstream, stopped by a large branch, Maffei said. It was here a neighbor, who Maffei identified as Randall Beachel, of Mifflinburg, got the child from the water. Beachel did not return a phone call for comment by deadline Monday.

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