Good dental hygiene can kill the bacteria that might cause aspiration pneumonia. Use a soft-bristled brush to clean the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth. If you use dentures, remove them before brushing. If you're assisting someone else, stand behind them and off to 1 side. Wear gloves. Peel back their lips with your fingers before brushing the teeth and gums thoroughly. A good mouthwash will kill bacteria in your mouth, even if you don't have teeth. Swish or gargle the mouthwash for 30 seconds before spitting it out in a sink or cup. If desired, add cleaning tablets to the water. When you remove the dentures in the morning, rinse them off with clean water and brush them before putting them in your mouth. Flossing helps remove bacteria between your teeth. Use about 18 inches (46cm) of floss, and wind the ends around your forefinger and thumb. Slide the floss up between your teeth and down again. If you're assisting someone else, make sure to wear gloves. Don't snap the floss between the teeth. Instead, slowly ease it up and down. If you're helping another person, standing behind them may help you floss more easily. The dentist can clean your teeth to protect you against bacteria that can cause aspiration pneumonia. They may also do screenings to evaluate your risk of aspiration or your ability to swallow. If you're a nurse or caretaker, arrange regular dentist visits. If the person is unable to leave their bed or home, see if you can find a dentist who will perform an oral screening at your home.

Summary: Brush teeth and dentures after every meal. Rinse your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash. Soak dentures in a cup of water overnight to keep them clean. Floss once a day. Visit the dentist at least twice a year.

Safety is obviously important when dealing with fire, but you're also dealing with electrical charges and batteries, which contain dangerous ingredients. Wear gloves. Although there aren't many safety measures available in prison to make the infamous lighter from "Orange Is the New Black," you'll want to take safety precautions and protect your hands. Keep a fire extinguisher and garbage receptacle ready. If you need to dispose of batteries, be sure to recycle them. Some municipalities and states, like California, require batteries to be recycled, and your community might have battery collection procedures. Dispose of the battery immediately if it starts to leak. This could be battery acid, which is dangerous and corrosive. You don't want a leaky battery. Plus, you'll need a charge to generate the flame. Most batteries will work, but a AA alkaline battery is common for this type of lighter and a good size. Use two batteries if possible, or a single 9 volt, because one AA battery might not provide enough power. This type of flame will start quickly and burn out quickly. So, have a flammable source on hand to transfer the fire, if you want to keep the flame going. Sheets of loose paper, newspaper, or dry leaves will work well here. It is important to transfer the fire and not let the battery itself light on fire, since it could explode. On most batteries, this should be clearly marked. On a AA battery and other cylindrical batteries, the positive (+) end or terminalknown as the cathodehas a small convex bump, while the negative (-) end or terminalknown as the anodehas the inverse: a small concave indent into which the bump can fit.

Summary: Take safety precautions. Use new batteries. Prepare a transfer source. Find the positive and negative ends of the battery.

When you're going out at night, even if you're just going around the corner, it's a good idea to carry some form of communication, so you'll be able to be in touch in an emergency. Make sure that you've got a fully-charged cellphone in your purse or in your pocket at all times. If you have an iPhone, set it up so your phone can be tracked via your Apple account, should you lose it, or it should be stolen. Sometimes, it's a good idea to keep your cellphone tucked away, unless you absolutely need to use it. If you've got the brand-new smartphone, it might be more attractive for muggers. It's always the best bet to stick with people when you're walking at night. Man or woman, young or old, you're safer if you've got some back-up. Don't walk late at night all by yourself. If you must walk alone, stick to well-lit areas, using reliable routes and get where you're going as quickly as possible. Call someone to let them know your travel plans, as soon as possible. If you go out drinking, make sure you get rides figured out before it gets late. If you end up downtown at 2am without a plan for getting home, you might end up in a sketchy situation. Avoid neighborhoods with high crime rates. Generally, you can contact the census in your area to find out which areas of your town are statistically more dangerous than others. Avoid these areas when you're walking alone. Try to keep in touch when you go out. You don't need to make a big deal out of checking in periodically with someone, just to be on the safe side. Let a parent, a close friend, or some other loved one know where you are, where you're going, and when you're likely to be back. At the very least, you'll keep people from worrying about you. . While it's not necessarily advisable for everyone, learning to safely carry pepper spray or mace can be an effective safety tool, if you absolutely must walk alone regularly. These deterrents are effective against assailants, stray dogs, and more importantly can help to keep you feeling safe as you walk around. Learn to use mace or pepper spray before you start carrying them. In many areas, it's illegal to carry these modes of defense without the proper training. Carrying concealed knives and guns can be more dangerous than safe, but if you're interested, learn to do it safely by enrolling in a personal defense course and learning to defend yourself properly. . Learning a bit about how to defend yourself in the event of a confrontation will help keep you feeling safe as you move through the world. You don't need to be paranoid, and you won't have to be if you're confident that you can defend yourself if it comes down to it. Avoid physical confrontations at all costs. The best way to win a fight is to avoid it entirely.
Summary: Carry a cellphone. Travel in groups. Let people know where you're going. Consider carrying some personal defense Learn to defend yourself confidently