Wide-eyed Shockers

Five things that could happen in the blink of an eye… and how to deal with them

Research suggests that the average person blinks approximately 15 to 20 times each minute, with each blink lasting about 400 milliseconds. Based on this estimate, the average person blinks for 10% of the time they are awake, or between 5.2 and 7.1 million times a year.

That is a lot of blinking, but it does give credibility to the well-known idiom ‘in the blink of an eye’ – referring to something that happens so quickly it is almost imperceptible. When you consider how much you are not seeing while blinking, it is entirely plausible that things will, inevitably, happen just as you blink.

Here are five things that have a very good chance of happening in the blink of an eye in South Africa, along with advice from an expert on how to handle them perfectly.

Water works

It is almost unavoidable that, at some point in your adult life, you will have to deal with a burst geyser. This happens when the thermostat fails to control the heat levels and the pressure eventually causes the geyser to explode.

“A faulty geyser is a serious concern as it can cause injury and/or damage to property, which is why it is important to have your geyser serviced by a qualified plumber every three years,” advises Chris Steyn, head of Miway Blink.

Be prepared and check that a burst geyser is covered by your household insurance before it burst. In the event of it bursting, be sure to immediately switch the electricity off at the main electricity supply of your residence. Contact your insurer as soon as possible, so that you can set the repair or replacement process in motion.

In a flash

Flash floods are fairly common in parts of South Africa, particularly Gauteng, Kwazulunatal, and the Free State, and while we are grateful for the rain, these natural occurrences can cause severe damage – particularly to motor vehicles.

“If you can, the best is always to stay off the roads during a flash flood. Many motor vehicle insurance providers have a mobile app that warns you when flash floods or hail storms are lurking in certain areas, so pay attention to these notifications and plan your travelling accordingly,” says Steyn.

Shed the load

Blink too long and you may find yourself in the dark! The best way to deal with loadshedding is to accept that there is little you can do to solve the problem. Be prepared by downloading one of the apps that alert you to when it is happening in your area. At least then you

will know to charge your phone and laptop, and have the candles and torches handy. Loadshedding tends to exacerbate traffic jams, especially in the absence of the traffic lights, particularly in the big metros – which is why it is recommended that you wait the loadshedding out before travelling, if you can.

“Consider using loadshedding as your legitimate respite from work or other activities that require electricity and use the time to connect with loved ones, have a bath by candlelight, or take a nap,” suggests Steyn.

Too hot to handle

A sunny South African day could have you dealing with an overheating car. This is especially common if you drive an older model. If you find yourself in this situation, there are a few things you could do to lighten the load on your engine, such as shutting off the aircon, turning on the heater (ironically, this helps to draw excess heat out of the engine), pull over, and call for help as soon as it is safe to pull over.

It is recommended that you always make sure that your smartphone is charged, and that you have data or airtime on your phone to make an important call to a family member, friend, or the AA, pronto, from the roadside. Better safe than sorry.

Flat and furious

The worst surprise to have when out on the road is a flat tyre. The good news, however, is that changing a flat tyre should not take any longer than 30 minutes. You must always be prepared by having a spare tyre, a jack, and a wrench in your car.

They say prevention is better than cure, but Steyn reckons preparation is key, because some events cannot be prevented. Make sure to check if your car insurance offers roadside assistance – in this case, you may not need to change that tyre yourself after all.