FIREWORKS!! Think Safety FIRST!

Although fireworks are a fun and exciting way to celebrate our nation’s freedom, they can also be harmful or even deadly if not used properly. According to Fireworksafety.com, malfunction and careless use of fireworks result in nearly 10,000 injuries every year. More than 65 percent of all fireworks-related injuries occur during the month of July. Of those, more than half are to the hands, fingers, and eyes. The most common fireworks that cause injury are firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, fountains, and sparklers that are legal in many states.

This year let’s bring down that number of injuries by following these safety tips:

• Never use fireworks in your home. Always set them off outside on a driveway or sidewalk.
• Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.
• Always have water handy. (A hose or bucket).
• Be aware of other people around you and make sure they are out of range of the firework you are using.
• Never point or shoot fireworks at another person.
• Use common sense. Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter and the shooter should wear safety glasses.
• Do not try to re-ignite a “dud” as it could explode near your hands or face.
• Only light one at a time.
• Do not try to make your own fireworks.
• NEVER drink and use fireworks at the same time!

Remember to make smart decisions when using fireworks and to take proper precautions as indicated on the labels. If you or someone with you is injured due to fireworks, seek immediate help or dial 911.

The National Council on Fireworks Safety

Dehydration

Its 7:00 AM. and 84 degrees.  Looks like it’s gonna be another scorcher, Summer time is here!  This month we have tried to focus on being aware of summer time concerns such as drowning, sunburns, kids home alone, bug bites and skin rashes.  Another big concern is dehydration.  Here in the south it gets unbearably hot and many people I know work outside doing construction work, yard work, road work and other various jobs.  These folks have learned to be prepared and have plenty of water on hand.  For those who do not make a living in the summer time heat, they may not be as prepared.

Here are some signs of dehydration:

• Dry or sticky mouth
• Low or no urine output; concentrated urine appears dark yellow
• Not producing tears
• Sunken eyes
• Lethargy or comatose with severe dehydration

Tests to check for dehydration include:

• rapid heart rate
• Low Blood Pressure
• Blood Pressure that drops from a sitting to standing position
• Poor skin turgor
• delayed capillary refill
• Shock
• Blood and urine tests can also determine dehydration

Treatment

Treatment for dehydration is simply drinking water or electrolyte fluids such as gatoraid or sports drinks.    Do not try to drink too much at once, especially for small children.  This can cause vomiting.  Take small sips at a time.  More severe dehydration my require IV fluids.

Prevention

Even when healthy, drink plenty of fluid every day. Drink more when the weather is hot or you are exercising.  If you plan on being out for the day take plenty of water with you.

Have fun in the sun, but be safe too!

Skin Rashes that last and last …

by Diane Forrest

Coaster's hit song from 1959 - Poison Ivy:

Your gonna need an ocean

Of calamine lotion

You’ll be scratching like a hound

The minute you start to mess around

It’s a beautiful day, you are taking a nice stroll....the grass is green, the trees are green, there are green leaves everywhere!  But beware!  Leaves of 3 let it be!  Yes folks, I’m talking about poison ivy and poison oak.

    

This is a real problem in the southern states and I am sure other areas as well.  I am highly allergic, just writing is making me itch!  There was a large oak tree across the street from my school.  I would stand by it after school to wait for my mother to pick me up.  It didn't take too long for me to learn that it was covered with those nasty green leaves.   I touched it and swole up like that blueberry girl on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I had to go to the doctor and get what must have been a steroid shot  Back then my mother covered the rash with that pink calamine lotion.  Not only was I miserable with itchy seeping blisters all over my swollen face pink colored face, but I looked like a circus clown.

When my father gets around it, he immediately starts a steroid dose pack to keep from getting a bad case of it.  Not only can you get a reaction from touching the leaves, but if the leaves are burning and the smoke gets near you, you can get the rash, and also if you touch someone who has it you can get it.

Symptoms of the rash or contact dermatitis as it is more formally known as include:

• Itching at the site
• Redness at the site
• Heat at the site
• Localized swelling or tenderness
• Blisters or rash

Treatment

If you come in contact with poison ivy, wash immediately with soap and water.  If a rash develops use corticosteroid creams and ointments if the condition becomes unbearable, however sometimes the best treatment is no treatment.  Over treatment of skin rashes may cause you to develop reactions to other irritants.  However, you may need corticosteroid medication if it worsens.  It usually takes 2 or 3 weeks before the symptoms disappear.

Prevention

As my daddy will tell you, if it is green and has leaves, stay away from it!

For more information, please visit one of these sites:

www.poisonivy.aesir.com

www.webmd.com

www.poison-ivy.org

Camping anyone?

Do you remember?

Sometimes the most relaxing and memorable campouts can be in your own backyard. Follow these tips for creating a fun and festive outdoor adventure without leaving home.

The Gear

The great thing about backyard camping is you can reduce the amount of gear you’d typically take for a trip to the local campground. But, try to bring enough things out to your backyard camp site to limit trips into the house. That way, it will feel more like a true camping experience.

Tent.  Find a level spot in the backyard to pitch your tent. Or, make the sleep out an adventure by constructing a homemade tepee for the kids (see Julie B’s Tip on how to build your own tepee). Sleeping bags (or blankets) and pillows.

Sing along..off key didn't matter, just having fun.

Be a Singer. Campfire songs can be just as fun and memorable as stories, so pick a favorite and start a family sing-along. Just do it early enough as not to wake up the neighbors!

Must have!

Table. If you don’t have a picnic table, bring a patio table or even a folding card table to your camp site for food preparation.

Insect repellent and citronella candles.

Go ahead, get your gear and set it up!

Flashlights. Bring at least two if the kids are sleeping in a separate tent or tepee.

Beautiful setting.

Portable fire pit or chiminea; dry firewood or twigs. A campfire is essential to the experience. Include a grill if you can’t cook easily (or safely) with your portable fire pit or chiminea. Let the kids gather sticks and twigs for you to use to start the fire, just like they do at their favorite campground.

The Grub

Start with campground favorites like hot dogs, baked beans and marshmallows. Heat an open can of beans on the side of your campfire just like you’re “roughing it,” and use grilling forks or sharpened sticks the kids can use to toast hot dogs over an open flame. Make sure the forks or sticks are long enough to keep them a safe distance from the open flames, and exercise caution when placing food on sharp forks or sticks.

For dessert, toast marshmallows to use in the following smores recipe.

Campfire Smores

Ingredients

• 1 box graham crackers
• 1 bag marshmallows
• 1 bag chocolate chips
• (Note: add a little peanut butter to the crackers for an added treat)

Instruction

Toast your marshmallow over a campfire with a long stick until it is soft and gooey. Carefully place on one cracker (caution: gooey marshmallows can burn skin and mouth); sprinkle chocolate chips onto the marshmallow to taste. Complete the sandwich with the second cracker and enjoy!

Fun for the entire family.

The Fun

Consider these ideas to add fun and even learning to your great backyard campout.

Be a Botanist. Encourage your kids to discover the amazing diversity of plant life in their own backyard. Challenge them to collect leaves from at least a dozen different trees and shrubs. Help them identify each species, and put the leaves in a scrapbook.

Look at all those happy campers!

Be an Astronomer. Extinguish the candles and shut off the flashlights after dark, and look for constellations in the night sky. The next day, get on the computer and identify what you saw. Check out astronomy web sites for kids that identify constellations and explain what planets and constellations are most visible in the sky this month.

Be a Storyteller. Stories told around the campfire can stay with us for a lifetime. Use encyclopedias or search the web to research your region’s early inhabitants before your campout. Then, tell your children a story around the fire about the history of their neighborhood.

From days gone by...

Darn Pesky Insects!!

One of the funniest movies I have ever seen is called Pure Luck, with Martin Short and Danny Glover.  In this movie, anything that can go wrong does.  There is one scene where Martin Short sits on a bee.  He has stated earlier that he is allergic to bee stings.  He gets stung, and begins to swell up.  While this depiction in the movie is incredibly funny, allergic reactions to insect stings are not.

Summer time is the time to spend outside.  People go camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, picnics, or just working out in the yard, cutting grass or growing gardens.  People aren't the only ones who like to live outside.  There are millions of insects around, and many of them like to bite unsuspecting humans.  Some of these pesky critters carry viruses and diseases and here are a few to look out for and some precautions you can take.

Mosquitoes

We can thank these blood suckers for spreading the dangerous West Nile Virus.  In 2007, 115 deaths were attributed to this virus.  The people most at risk are those over 50, and young children, and those with compromised immune systems.

Signs of West Nile:

• Severe headaches
• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Disorientation
• Chills
• Muscle aches, pain, stiffness

These symptoms usually occur between 5 and 15 days following a bite, and if you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

Precautions:

• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeve shirt when outdoors.
• Make sure all of your window screens fit tightly and are in good repair.
• Use insect repellant
• Empty buckets, cans, and other receptacles to prevent water from collecting.
• Cover wading pools, but take care to drain water that may collect on pool covers.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs. When they are not in use, keep pools empty and covered.
• Change water in bird baths every three or four days.
• Keep roof gutters clear and draining properly.
• Report standing water to your local health department.

For more information see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htm

Wasps or bees

Some authorities regard wasps and bees as more dangerous in North America. The primary danger is to those who are allergic (or turn out to be allergic) to their stings. Repeated stings can also be dangerous to non-allergic individuals (especially the very young or old).  Many stings at once can even lead to death.  If you are stung, or see someone stung, here are some tips:

Have someone stay with the injured person to be sure that they do not have an allergic reaction.  Signs of allergic reactions are:

• Hives (raised itchy bumps on the skin) and itching all over the body
• Swelling of the mouth or throat or both
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath or other difficulty breathing
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Anxiety
• Chest pain

Wash the site with soap and water.

Remove the stinger using gauze wiped over the area or by scraping a fingernail over the area.  A piece of tape over the stinger will also help remove it.

• Never squeeze the stinger or use tweezers.
• Apply ice to reduce swelling.
• Do not scratch the sting as this may increase swelling, itching, and risk of infection.
• May take ibuprophen for pain and benedryl for itching.

People with known allergies will need to have an Epi pen for emergency treatment.  This is a shot of epinephrine that will prevent serious complications if a sting occurs.

Prevention:

• Ways to avoid stings include the following:
• Avoid known areas of concentration such as hives and nests.
• Do not molest hives and nests.
• Take care with motorized equipment such as lawnmowers, because they may provoke the insects.
• If flying insects are around, leave the area and refrain from swatting at them.
• Avoid activities outdoors with sugary drinks, brightly colored clothing, and strong fragrances or perfumes because some insects may be attracted to them.
• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts because they may also provide some protection.
• Keep outdoor dining and camping areas clean and free from garbage.

We will be covering other insects in future articles such as these depicted in this graphic:

Today is take your dog to work day.  Now I bet some of you are thinking that I just make this stuff up, but no this is something that has been taking place for 13 years now!  First celebrated in 1999, Pet Sitters International’s Take Your Dog to Work Day was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs.

David with Spot

Since I work at home, this is not a problem for me, my dog lives here and goes to work with me every day.  Snoopy is a shiatsu.  He was given to my husband following the loss of his dachshund, BJ.  My husband has always been a dog lover since his first dog, Spot, pictured here.  He would tell me all kinds of stories about the trouble he and Spot would get into.  While I always had dogs growing up, they were outside dogs, and not allowed in the house.  Once I got married, that all changed.  I learned to live with a dog inside, but drew the line at a dog in the bed.  After my husband was injured on the job, he spent his day’s home unable to do anything.  One of our favorite weekend activities was garage sailing.  

We would start early in the day armed with the newspaper with all the listings, and ride around looking at all the treasures for sale. At one of these homes we discovered a beautiful Collie that had just had puppies.   My husband fell in love and asked the owner about adopting one of the pups.  She took our number and promised to call once they were weaned.  A few days later we received a call from the lady.  Her son had been in an accident and she had to leave at once to take care of him.  She had a pup, the runt of the litter, that needed to be bottle fed, and asked if my husband was up to the task.  He immediately agreed, and so began his task of being a substitute puppy daddy.  He fed that baby every 2 hours with warmed goat’s milk.  He used an eye dropper because it wouldn't suck from a bottle.  It was so tiny; it would fit in the palm of your hand.  He gave that little pup so much love and care that it grew and grew to a big, happy playful pup.  It nearly broke his heart when we returned him back to the owner, but within a few days a co-worker gave me dachshunds his heart quickly mended.  BJ was his constant companion, they did everything together, he even got the same kind of spinal cord injury that my husband had, and this led to his untimely death.  He was inconsolable.  This is when Snoopy came to our home.  Snoopy kind of took charge when he moved in, he was the boss and we were his servants.  My husband spoiled him rotten, and Snoopy showered him with love and attention daily. 

Our newspaper had a contest for people to send in pictures of people who look like their pets.  He won first prize!  The last words my husband spoke was to tell me he loved me and tell Snoopy good night.  Snoopy has been such a comfort to me in the months that have followed.  He stays right by my side, and yes, the line I drew to keep dogs out of the bed has been erased.  Like it or not, he is still the boss of the house, and when I go lay down, up he jumps, and it's nice to know I’m not alone.

• Most people will not be able to take their dog to work, however, if you are able, make sure to have plenty of water, food, or treats available. 
• Make sure they have a collar with licenses in place
• Make sure they are friendly and obedient.
• Take them outside often for bathroom breaks and exercise.

For more information check out:

http://www.takeyourdog.com/

Burns - Ouch!

by Diane  Forrest

A burn is an injury to the flesh that is caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation or friction.  Most burns affect only the skin, and very rarely the bones, muscles tissues or blood vessels.  Most burns can be treated with first aid, and don't require emergency treatment, however for more serious burns patients may be transported to a specialized burn unit.

There are many types of burns

• Heat burns (thermal burns) are caused by fire, steam, hot objects, or hot liquids. Scald burns from hot liquids are the most common burns to children and older adults.
• Cold temperature burns are caused by skin exposure to wet,  wind, and cold conditions.
• Electrical burns are caused by contact with electrical sources or by lightning.
• Chemical burns are caused by contact with household or industrial chemicals in a liquid, solid, or gas form. Natural foods such as chili peppers, which contain a substance irritating to the skin, can cause a burning sensation.
• Radiation burns are caused by the sun, tanning booths, sunlamps, X-rays, or radiation therapy for cancer treatment.
• Friction burns are caused by contact with any hard surface such as roads ("road rash"), carpets, or gym floor surfaces. They are usually both a scrape (abrasion) and a heat burn. Athletes who fall on floors, courts, or tracks may get friction burns  to the skin.

Burns are categorized as first, second, third or fourth degree, with the 4th being the most severe and involves deep tissue, muscle and maybe even bone.  Treatment for fourth degree burns is normally amputation. 

3rd Degree Burn (WebMD.com)

Third degree burns go through the entire layer of skin, and is usually painless because the nerve endings are destroyed.  Possible amputation with this type of burn may also occur.

2nd Degree Burn (WebMD.com)

Second degree burns involve the first layers of skin.  Area is red, and blisters form, may cause infections and is very painful as the nerve endings are affected.  These burns usually take 2 to 3 weeks to heal.

1st Degree Burn (WebMD.com)

First degree burns are the most common.  These involve the first layer of the skin, causing redness and takes about a week to heal and during that time you will notice the skin starting to peel.  The most common type of first degree burn is the sunburn, which is the focus of today's article.

Now that summer is here, more and more folks are heading out side.  They are going to beaches, lakes, pools, on picnics and trips to the zoo, spending more time in the sun after being cooped up all winter long.   Sunlight is very beneficial to us.  Not only is it a great source of Vitamin D, which is most known to regulate calcium levels and absorption. It is necessary for healthy bones and teeth. Also important for healthy immune function, nervous function and for insulin/blood sugar regulation, numerous endocrine and digestive functions, vitamin D is a necessary component for good health.  The sun also benefits us by regulating our biorhythm cycles allowing us to have a better, deeper night’s sleep, and   it increases our detoxification and purification systems.

However, too much of a good thing can also be bad for you.  Not only does overexposure to the sun cause the skin to burn, it can also cause skin cancer.  To avoid this from happening, here are some precautions to take:

• Use a high rated spf sun block.  SPF is Sun protectant factor;
• Apply sun block 15 to 30 minutes before exposure, then again after 30 minutes of exposure;  
• Reapply sun block after swimming or excessive sweating;
• Wear wide brim hats and sunglasses;
• Sit under an umbrella or shade tree;
• Wear loose fitting clothes that provide maximum coverage of exposed skin; and
• Drink plenty of fluids.

The sun's rays are the worse during the hours of 10 and 4, so plan activities before or after those hours.

Enjoy your fun in the sun, but take the precautions to keep safe.