About Ottawa's Bridlewood

I am a firm believer in getting control of information in and around the home. One thing that many Organizers suggest is a family binder. It could be a file or a box of clipped papers but the contents are those things that the family will want to have access to frequently or when there is an emergency.

The first section or page of the family binder is a list of important phone numbers. Here is my list of the phone numbers, by alphabetic type only, that I have in my binder.:

• EMERGENCY : FIRE - AMBULANCE - POLICE - 911
• AMBULANCE:
• CABLE COMPANY:
• CREDIT CARD STOLEN:
• DENTIST:
• DOCTORS:
• DOG EMERGENCIES: Different from the vet's - this is the 24 hr service
• ELECTRICIAN:
• FURNACE:
• GAS COMPANY:
• INSURANCE EMERGENCY:
• PHARMACIES:
• PIZZA: You need this number for Friday night after a long hard week.
• PLUMBER:
• PHONE COMPANY:
• POISON CONTROL:
• SCHOOLS:
• SECURITY:
• SNOW REMOVAL: Remember, I do live in Canada
• TAXI:
• TOWING:
• VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
• OTHER

Other pages behind this 'master' page could be all the other contacts that you have in your personal contact file. I also like to photocopy business cards that I receive from service people and then write on the page what work they have done and when. That way, I do not risk losing the card or forgetting why I have the card in the first place.

Subsequent sections are up to the owner's discretion. What information do you need to have handy and in one location?

Valerie OrganiZINGER

Photo credit: Adapted from Dial 911 for emergencies