MADIGAN CAROL - Lifes Big Instruction Book: The Almanac of Indispensable Information

This book contains information on a broad range of subjects. None of the information is intended as a substitute for the advice of a professional in each of the relevant subject areas. The reader should regularly consult such a professional in connection with all matters that may require professional attention.

Copyright 1995 by Carol Orsag Madigan and Ann Elwood

All rights reserved.

Warner Books, Inc.

Hachette Book Group

237 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

First eBook Edition: December 2009

ISBN: 978-0-446-56867-8

To Brook, Betty, Johnny, Linda, and Peg,
with love and gratitude

C.O.M.

To Casey, Lizzie, Elvira, and Abby,
who kept me company

A.E.

We are indebted to Lee Clayton, Carol Dunlap, Wendy Hawkins, R. Brook Madigan, and John Zebrowski, who contributed their time and talent to this book. We also want to thank our families, friends, and associates who provided information and inspiration with special mention to: Beth and Doug Beagle, Belinda Borden, Laurie Brannen, John Bronson, Bill Gaupsas, Janet and Bill Goff, Michael Gorman, Larry Hawkins, Aline Hornaday, Micheline Karas, Mary Lou Locke, Arlene Mattioli, Peg Madigan, Betty Orsag, John Raht, Helen Rietz, Simone Taylor, Cynthia Truant, Kristin Webb, Linda Wood.

A book this size requires a publishing team with stamina as well as skill. Thus, we are fortunate to have worked with Joann Davis, Sandra Choron, Moira Duggan, and Grace Sullivan. And our deep appreciation goes to Heide Lange, our literary agent, who guided this project from start to finish with great diligence and enthusiasm.

Finally, we are grateful to the hundreds of organizations that provided us with enormous amounts of research and advice.

TEXT AND ART CREDITS

Height/Weight Table, reprinted courtesy of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Fitness Benefits of Various Activities, 1990, U.S. News & World Report. How Healthy Is Your State? excerpt from The NWNL State Health Rankings, 1993, Northwestern National Life Insurance Company, reprinted with permission. Are You an Insomniac? reprinted with permission of National Sleep Foundation. Contraceptive Failure Rates reprinted with permission of Alan Guttmacher Institute. Source for Recovering from Smoking, the Body in Healing, American Lung Association. Understanding and Helping the Suicidal Person reprinted with permission of American Association of Suicidology. Source for Ten Guides to Proper Medicine Use and Traveling with MedicinesCouncil on Family Health. Interactions Between Alcohol and Commonly Used Medicines reprinted courtesy of SRX Regional Program, Medication Education for Seniors, 1095 Market Street #601, San Francisco, CA 94103; 1993. Tallying Your Diabetes Risk reprinted with permission of American Diabetes Association, 1993. Clinical Depression reprinted with permission of National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association. A Patients Bill of Rights reprinted with permission of American Hospital Association, 1992. Excerpts from Just in Case Parental Guidelines in Case Your Child Might Someday Be Missing reprinted with permission of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Arlington, VA; all rights reserved. Have You Seen This Child? reprinted with permission of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Arlington, VA; all rights reserved. Excerpts from Help Us Find Abducted Children reprinted with permission of the Kevin Collins Foundation for Missing Children. Excerpts from Basic Facts About Child Sexual Abuse, 1988, reprinted with permission of the publisher, the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, Chicago, IL. 12 Things to Do So You Wont Hurt a Child reprinted with permission of Childhelp USA. Trauma of Victimization reprinted with permission of The National Victim Center. Crime Victims Have Rights, Too reprinted with permission of the National Resource Center for Consumers of Legal Services. Civil Legal Remedies for Victims of Violent Crime reprinted with permission of The National Victim Center. Community Service Profile reprinted with permission of Points of Light Foundation. Why CASA? reprinted with permission of National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association, 2722 Eastlake Ave. E, Ste. 220, Seattle, WA 98102; 1-800-628-3233. Ten Top Misconceptions Regarding Organ Donation reprinted with permission of Center for Organ Recovery and Education. Proposed Jurors Bill of Rights reprinted with the permission of the National Center for State Courts (Arlington, VA: Center for Jury Studies, 1979). Ageproofing Your House reproduced with permission from Live It Safe, public education brochure, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Rosemont, IL, 1992. Information in charts in Doing Laundry reprinted with permission of Maytag Company. Wallcoverings reprinted with permission of Sumner Rider & Associates, Inc. How to Plant a Tree reprinted with permission of American Forests, PO Box 2000, Washington, DC 20013. Excerpts from Child Care: Whats Best for Your Family, 1992, reprinted with permission of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Home Alone: Is Your Child Ready? from Assessing Your Childs Readiness for Self-Care reprinted with permission of the American Home Economics Association. Babysitters Checklist reprinted with permission of the Council on Family Health. 20 Ways to Encourage Reading, 1992, reprinted with permission of Reading Is Fundamental, Inc.; all rights reserved. Learning Disabilities reprinted with permission of The National Center for Learning Disabilities. Discipline reprinted with permission of the National PTA. The Five Stages in Raising a Money-Smart Kid reprinted from the March 1990 issue of Money magazine by special permission; 1990 Time, Inc. Teens, Alcohol and Drugs reprinted with permission of the National PTA. Missing poster reprinted with permission of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Arlington, VA; all rights reserved. Rankings of Romantic Acts reprinted with permission of Raymond Tucker, Bowling Green University. Dan Cupid Cachet reprinted with permission of the Loveland Chamber of Commerce; verse written by Steven J. Farnham; art created by Douglas Anderson. Living With Your Children, 1988, reprinted with permission of the American Association of Retired Persons. Dogs Do Not Belong in Parked Cars reprinted with permission of Animal Protection Institute. Your Net Worth reprinted with permission of the Consumer Credit Education Foundation, an affiliate of the American Financial Services Association. Improving Spending Techniques, 1992, reprinted with permission of Paul Richard and the National Center for Financial Education; all rights reserved. Nine Tip-Offs That a Caller Could Be a Crook reprinted with permission of the National Futures Association. Christmas Index reprinted with permission of Hugh Gee & Co., Inc. Credit for the First-Time Borrower reprinted with permission of the Consumer Credit Education Foundation, an affiliate of the American Financial Services Association. Investors Bill of Rights reprinted with permission of the National Futures Association. Turnoffs in a Job Interview from the Northwestern Lindquist-Endicott Report reprinted with permission of Victor R. Lindquist, Northwestern University. Investment Table/Saving for a College Education reprinted with permission of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Excerpts from Be Fire Smart: Tips for Travelers reprinted with permission of the Insurance Information Institute. Weathergraph reprinted with permission of Hotel and Travel Index, Reed Travel Group. Signs That Your Car Needs a Tune-Up reprinted with permission of the Car Care Council, Port Clinton, OH. Car Noises reprinted with permission of the Shell Oil Company. Checklist for Choosing a Repair Shop reprinted with permission of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Motorcycles and Cars: Sharing a Common Road, 1994, reprinted with permission of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation; all rights reserved. Tips for Safe Motorcycling, 1994, reprinted with permission of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation; all rights reserved. Making Reservations on Amtrak reprinted with permission of Amtrak. Catch and Release Fishing: No Kill and You reprinted with permission of Kaufmanns Streamborn, Inc. Bowling reprinted with permission of the Billiard and Bowling Institute of America. Are You a Compulsive Gambler reprinted with permission of Gamblers Anonymous. The Winning Contests and Sweepstakes section contains material published and copyrighted by