People would not get as bent out of shape about their cell phone getting wet if it wasn’t for the reason that they were probably using it at the time. Often is the case that electronics cease to function once they make contact with water because the device is powered on when it hits the liquid. If you are one of the unfortunate many who has dropped a electronic device in the drink, don’t worry about it. Just make sure that it wasn’t on when you dropped it in. While water can cause damage to electronics, the electricity that causes it to work is what causes the machine to fry like an egg on the windshield of your car in triple digit weather. Turning on your device after it has been submerged will cause the electric current to run through it and will usually render the device useless.
There are obvious ways to prevent your device from being submerged in water. One such way is called being careful. But this method isn’t always effective. If your device is, let’s say, a cell phone, a cover for it is your best bet. While a cover won’t always, well, cover it, it will be a great way to prevent a good deal of moisture. If, say, your computer has some water spilled on it (and just what are you doing with liquids around your computer, anyway?) you should IMMEDIATELY unplug it and wait for roughly two weeks so that it has dried out, and there is no water to cause its very unpleasant death. It is very important that you keep the device in a cool, dry area that won’t pick up condensation, because that will cause the device to take longer to dry, and additional water damage can be done. It is also important to wait for a week or two, and to make sure that you do NOT shake the device to see if there is still water in it. This can just cause damage to the device, and then you will have waited for probably nothing.
Now, if you are the kind of person who doubts their repertoire of electronics knowledge, it’s best to simply take the device to an electronics repairman. You will have to shell out a few bucks, but not as many as you paid for the device. This can also be taken as a chance to make sure there is nothing else wrong with the device that should be fixed before it is used again.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Penicillin and Your New Baby
Ever since Penicillin was put into mass production back in the 1940’s, it has been noted that some people have experienced adverse reactions to the drug. What is penicillin?
Penicillin is an antibiotic that has been used for the past 70 years or so to treat different kinds of illnesses and infections. It comes from the mold penicillin notatum, which is a blue-green kind of mold sometimes found growing on food. Before the invention of this drug, infections and diseases that are only minor to us could very well be fatal. Because it is made from mold and reproduces quickly, it’s not very difficult to manufacture at all and therefore it is the most popular antibiotic in use worldwide today.
If you are allergic to penicillin or know someone who is, you might know a bit about what to expect if your new baby is allergic. If not, you should know that an allergic reaction to penicillin, especially at such a young age, can be fatal. These reactions can be anything from a simple skin rash all the way to breathing difficulties that can be life-threatening. If you go to a doctor regularly, you should have had to answer a question on a form that asked if you were allergic to penicillin. This is so they know whether or not they can administer the drug if you are admitted to the hospital because it is the most frequently occurring drug allergy in existence today.
Even though penicillin is a drug made from mold designed to help us fight infections, you can be allergic to it like any other mold. The medical industry is unsure why some people have reactions to penicillin and some do not, but knowing if you are allergic is very important. Some only have minor symptoms when exposed to the drug and some can be put near death by it. The only treatment for being allergic to the drug is simply not to use it. There are other antibiotics that can be used to fight infections besides penicillin.
The symptoms of a penicillin allergy include swollen lips, tongue, and face or sometimes rashes or hives that can cover a large area of the body. The most life-threatening reaction to the drug is when the bronchial airway becomes extremely swollen and it causes difficulty breathing. This can be followed by a drop in your blood pressure and will cause lightheadedness. This kind of reaction can be fatal and if you experience any of these symptoms after receiving a dose of penicillin, you should tell your doctor as soon as you can. If you are allergic, it’s possible that your newborn will be allergic as well, so your child’s doctor needs to know this before giving them a dose of the drug.
Penicillin is an antibiotic that has been used for the past 70 years or so to treat different kinds of illnesses and infections. It comes from the mold penicillin notatum, which is a blue-green kind of mold sometimes found growing on food. Before the invention of this drug, infections and diseases that are only minor to us could very well be fatal. Because it is made from mold and reproduces quickly, it’s not very difficult to manufacture at all and therefore it is the most popular antibiotic in use worldwide today.
If you are allergic to penicillin or know someone who is, you might know a bit about what to expect if your new baby is allergic. If not, you should know that an allergic reaction to penicillin, especially at such a young age, can be fatal. These reactions can be anything from a simple skin rash all the way to breathing difficulties that can be life-threatening. If you go to a doctor regularly, you should have had to answer a question on a form that asked if you were allergic to penicillin. This is so they know whether or not they can administer the drug if you are admitted to the hospital because it is the most frequently occurring drug allergy in existence today.
Even though penicillin is a drug made from mold designed to help us fight infections, you can be allergic to it like any other mold. The medical industry is unsure why some people have reactions to penicillin and some do not, but knowing if you are allergic is very important. Some only have minor symptoms when exposed to the drug and some can be put near death by it. The only treatment for being allergic to the drug is simply not to use it. There are other antibiotics that can be used to fight infections besides penicillin.
The symptoms of a penicillin allergy include swollen lips, tongue, and face or sometimes rashes or hives that can cover a large area of the body. The most life-threatening reaction to the drug is when the bronchial airway becomes extremely swollen and it causes difficulty breathing. This can be followed by a drop in your blood pressure and will cause lightheadedness. This kind of reaction can be fatal and if you experience any of these symptoms after receiving a dose of penicillin, you should tell your doctor as soon as you can. If you are allergic, it’s possible that your newborn will be allergic as well, so your child’s doctor needs to know this before giving them a dose of the drug.
Mold Trouble in Florida
If you live in Florida, you have probably experienced some damage to your home due to hurricanes, especially water damage. Mold also likes to start growing in homes that have been water damaged after hurricanes and other storms, especially since Florida is characterized by warm and moist weather. Mold can start to grow in these homes after about 48 hours, so it’s important to get any standing water in the home removed and the home dried out as soon as possible.
A large amount of all the buildings in Florida have to deal with some kind of water or mold damage and a lot of the time this is due to the frequent hurricanes that hit the state almost every single year. The electricity goes down and people are not able to use their air conditioners to help air out and dry the home. Air conditioners can also help to remove humidity by keeping the house at a certain temperature.
If you want to have a healthy and safe indoor environment to live in, you need to make sure your air conditioner is properly serviced as often as is necessary. If it is an old system and has a lot of problems, it is probably best to just replace it instead of doing work on it repeatedly.
Sometimes indoor air quality tests need to be done and not just in Florida. Mold testing should be done and while it’s become a multi-million dollar business industry, it is a necessary one. Mold has been proved to be very harmful to human (and animal) health. When you choose a company to do mold testing or remediation keep it in mind not to choose the same company to do both for you. If a company does both mold testing and removal, it is in their best interest for them to find mold on your property, so even if they say there is mold there, it might not be.
Make sure they have the latest technology in mold testing such as infrared thermal cameras, mold spore counters, air moisture meters, and etcetera. The company should also have a microbiologist in house and certified mold inspectors.
They should inspect the air conditioner, the exterior, plumbing, and they should perform moisture tests around the whole house.
You should do these things even if you do not live in Florida, but a large part of the state of Florida is at risk for water and mold damage because of the moisture and humidity that can exist there.
A large amount of all the buildings in Florida have to deal with some kind of water or mold damage and a lot of the time this is due to the frequent hurricanes that hit the state almost every single year. The electricity goes down and people are not able to use their air conditioners to help air out and dry the home. Air conditioners can also help to remove humidity by keeping the house at a certain temperature.
If you want to have a healthy and safe indoor environment to live in, you need to make sure your air conditioner is properly serviced as often as is necessary. If it is an old system and has a lot of problems, it is probably best to just replace it instead of doing work on it repeatedly.
Sometimes indoor air quality tests need to be done and not just in Florida. Mold testing should be done and while it’s become a multi-million dollar business industry, it is a necessary one. Mold has been proved to be very harmful to human (and animal) health. When you choose a company to do mold testing or remediation keep it in mind not to choose the same company to do both for you. If a company does both mold testing and removal, it is in their best interest for them to find mold on your property, so even if they say there is mold there, it might not be.
Make sure they have the latest technology in mold testing such as infrared thermal cameras, mold spore counters, air moisture meters, and etcetera. The company should also have a microbiologist in house and certified mold inspectors.
They should inspect the air conditioner, the exterior, plumbing, and they should perform moisture tests around the whole house.
You should do these things even if you do not live in Florida, but a large part of the state of Florida is at risk for water and mold damage because of the moisture and humidity that can exist there.
Mold Precautions for the Work Area
A thorn in the side of any and every workplace is mold. Mold is a very dangerous form of fungus that can get into our lungs and cause all kinds of nasty ailments such as asthma, colds, fatigue, bleeding in the lungs, rashes, uncontrollable coughing, and even chronic dandruff. Employers, as well as employees should take precautions to make sure that mold has not infected their work environment. It is also important to make sure that employers and employees immediately report if they experience any of the aforementioned symptoms. If so, professional help may need to be called in to clean out the mold and prevent further infestation.
If a mold inspector is called in and he or she does find mold, it is important that you inform your employees of the mold, and that the problem is indeed being taken care of. It is also important that you inform them of the measures that will be taken during the removal of the unwanted guest. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) strongly recommends that you do this for the safety of the employees. The important thing to tell the employees is when the remediation will begin and for how long, so that they know if they will have to make arrangements for the current situation. And if any employees begin to exhibit any health complications or symptoms brought on by exposure to mold, it is strongly recommended that they see their doctor before these symptoms worsen, and that they see an expert on medical effects of mold.
Once the infestation has been cleared out of the workplace, there is a test that must be passed in order for your employees to return. If the test is not passed, you will have to wait longer, but it’s not worth the safety of your employees to go cheap on these necessary precautions. Once the test has finally been passed, you can move your employees back into their respective work areas.
If you have chosen to simply ignore the mold infestation, you are liable for medical bills of your employees, and you could be in danger of losing your business. Of course, this can only happen if it is possible to proven that you knew of the infestation and chose to do nothing about it. However, it is definitely recommended to not ignore the infestation and shell out the cash to have it cleared out as soon as possible.
If a mold inspector is called in and he or she does find mold, it is important that you inform your employees of the mold, and that the problem is indeed being taken care of. It is also important that you inform them of the measures that will be taken during the removal of the unwanted guest. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) strongly recommends that you do this for the safety of the employees. The important thing to tell the employees is when the remediation will begin and for how long, so that they know if they will have to make arrangements for the current situation. And if any employees begin to exhibit any health complications or symptoms brought on by exposure to mold, it is strongly recommended that they see their doctor before these symptoms worsen, and that they see an expert on medical effects of mold.
Once the infestation has been cleared out of the workplace, there is a test that must be passed in order for your employees to return. If the test is not passed, you will have to wait longer, but it’s not worth the safety of your employees to go cheap on these necessary precautions. Once the test has finally been passed, you can move your employees back into their respective work areas.
If you have chosen to simply ignore the mold infestation, you are liable for medical bills of your employees, and you could be in danger of losing your business. Of course, this can only happen if it is possible to proven that you knew of the infestation and chose to do nothing about it. However, it is definitely recommended to not ignore the infestation and shell out the cash to have it cleared out as soon as possible.
Mold Insurance Claim Advice
If you have mold damage to your home and it is due to something that’s covered in your insurance, such as water damage, a lot of the time it is covered. If it is a mold infection that has occurred over time, it is probably not covered. These are two general rules to go by if you’re trying to get your insurance company to cover the cost of removing the mold from your home.
Insurance companies are scrambling for reasons to deny insurance claims concerning mold and what adjusters and claim representatives like to tell people intending on filing a mold-related insurance claim is that mold has been around longer than people have and that it’s not as dangerous as all the hype is making it out to be. If you are going to file an insurance claim related to mold and they tell you that, it might be a good idea (especially if your claims adjuster is Jewish or Christian) to quote to them Leviticus 14:33-48. This is a scripture in the Bible that all but plainly records what the Lord has to say about mold and the dangers of it growing in the home. It says that the house is considered unclean and the mold should be removed and disposed of properly (i.e. away from where there are people). In this way, you will possibly have the upper hand because they will no longer be able to say that mold has only been recently seen as a problem when it grows in the home. Even if you are not Jewish or Christian, the text does prove that mold has not only existed as long as people have, but that it has been a problem just as long.
If you can prove that the mold in your home was a secondary problem caused by something that is covered by your insurance, your company might cover the funds needed to correct the problem. Read over your policy and determine what is covered by your insurance policy and what is not. Whatever you do, do not let your insurance adjuster sneakily get you to agree that the mold in your home has been around for a long time or that there could be a water leak hidden somewhere near the infection. As soon as you even remotely agree to something like this, they have you where they want you. Wait until any and all investigation into the problem is completed before you agree to anything with your insurance company.
List everything you need to have covered, including the cost of you having to relocate while the mold remediation is taking place and make sure you get all of the benefits that you are supposed to get under your policy.
Insurance companies are scrambling for reasons to deny insurance claims concerning mold and what adjusters and claim representatives like to tell people intending on filing a mold-related insurance claim is that mold has been around longer than people have and that it’s not as dangerous as all the hype is making it out to be. If you are going to file an insurance claim related to mold and they tell you that, it might be a good idea (especially if your claims adjuster is Jewish or Christian) to quote to them Leviticus 14:33-48. This is a scripture in the Bible that all but plainly records what the Lord has to say about mold and the dangers of it growing in the home. It says that the house is considered unclean and the mold should be removed and disposed of properly (i.e. away from where there are people). In this way, you will possibly have the upper hand because they will no longer be able to say that mold has only been recently seen as a problem when it grows in the home. Even if you are not Jewish or Christian, the text does prove that mold has not only existed as long as people have, but that it has been a problem just as long.
If you can prove that the mold in your home was a secondary problem caused by something that is covered by your insurance, your company might cover the funds needed to correct the problem. Read over your policy and determine what is covered by your insurance policy and what is not. Whatever you do, do not let your insurance adjuster sneakily get you to agree that the mold in your home has been around for a long time or that there could be a water leak hidden somewhere near the infection. As soon as you even remotely agree to something like this, they have you where they want you. Wait until any and all investigation into the problem is completed before you agree to anything with your insurance company.
List everything you need to have covered, including the cost of you having to relocate while the mold remediation is taking place and make sure you get all of the benefits that you are supposed to get under your policy.
Mold and Your Food
We’ve all had mold in our refrigerator at some point or another, but most of us just accept that this is going to happen and there’s not much that we can do about it. Food ages in our refrigerator whether it’s a piece of fruit, a vegetable, or a jar of grape jelly and becomes moldy over time. This mold spreads to the other items in our fridge and contaminates them, as well. What can you do about it?
Well, storing your food in your refrigerator properly is one of the most important things that you can do. Mold, bacteria, and mildew will start to grow in your fridge if you don’t. Check your food items in the fridge regularly and if anything is showing signs of mold growth, remove it immediately.
Don’t leave cracked egg shells in the carton. Bacteria exists on the outside of the egg shells and once on the inside, even if you’ve removed most of the egg, some of it still remains on the inside of the shell and bacteria will feed on it.
There are some general rules if you find food that has mold growing on it. There are some kinds of cheeses that are made with mold, but sometimes we see a spot of it that shouldn’t be there, like on a block of cheddar cheese. You don’t have to throw the whole block away, just take a clean knife and cut off the moldy part. It’s best to cut about an inch around and an inch underneath the spot to make sure that it doesn’t contaminate the rest of the block and don’t touch your knife to the mold. Don’t bother trying to save any soft cheeses or individual slices or sour cream.
You should follow the same rule for things like country ham and hard salami. If it’s covered with mold, though, toss it.
Any fruits and vegetables that are showing mold can be treated this way as long as they’re hard natured. Soft ones like plums or tomatoes should be thrown away if you see mold.
Any grains that you see with mold on them should be thrown away immediately. Be careful about any organic food that you buy; these don’t contain any pesticides or preservatives, they’re more likely to have mold growth.
Any tissue in potatoes that looks black or discolored in any way should be cut off.
Well, storing your food in your refrigerator properly is one of the most important things that you can do. Mold, bacteria, and mildew will start to grow in your fridge if you don’t. Check your food items in the fridge regularly and if anything is showing signs of mold growth, remove it immediately.
Don’t leave cracked egg shells in the carton. Bacteria exists on the outside of the egg shells and once on the inside, even if you’ve removed most of the egg, some of it still remains on the inside of the shell and bacteria will feed on it.
There are some general rules if you find food that has mold growing on it. There are some kinds of cheeses that are made with mold, but sometimes we see a spot of it that shouldn’t be there, like on a block of cheddar cheese. You don’t have to throw the whole block away, just take a clean knife and cut off the moldy part. It’s best to cut about an inch around and an inch underneath the spot to make sure that it doesn’t contaminate the rest of the block and don’t touch your knife to the mold. Don’t bother trying to save any soft cheeses or individual slices or sour cream.
You should follow the same rule for things like country ham and hard salami. If it’s covered with mold, though, toss it.
Any fruits and vegetables that are showing mold can be treated this way as long as they’re hard natured. Soft ones like plums or tomatoes should be thrown away if you see mold.
Any grains that you see with mold on them should be thrown away immediately. Be careful about any organic food that you buy; these don’t contain any pesticides or preservatives, they’re more likely to have mold growth.
Any tissue in potatoes that looks black or discolored in any way should be cut off.
Mold and Your Carpet
Nobody likes mold in the house, but whether we like it or not, mold will get into your home. It comes in the house attached to the bottoms of our shoes, attached to our clothing, and through the doors, windows, and the air conditioning unit. The only thing that you have control over is whether the conditions in your home are favorable for the mold to begin growing.
Something that mold loves to hide underneath is your carpet. If the carpet is old (especially if you have it in the bathroom), you can bet there is likely to be something living underneath it. Not only does mold like to hide under your carpet, it will also make a meal out of it. In order to reproduce, mold requires moisture, warmth, and food. The carpet provides part of the insulation that the mold needs to grow under it, so all that is left for you to provide is moisture either in the form of humidity or water spills that do not get cleaned up properly.
If you think that your carpet is moldy or mildewed, you can clean it with a biocide. Biocides are produced to stop things like mold and bacteria from growing where you do not want them to. Even if you use this, though, you will still have to remove the carpet padding underneath. This padding is not cleanable and will need to be thrown away. If your carpet has been completely submerged in water and it is not just a small area, it is advised to just tear it up and throw it away, as well. Cleaning a room’s entire carpet can be costly and it’s possible that you are better off just getting new carpet.
While you are cleaning your moldy carpet, you should wear gloves. After it has completely dried, using a vacuum that has a HEPA filter on it should remove any mold spores that still remain in the fibers of the carpet.
Having wall-to-wall carpeting is not advised. If you already have it, you can reduce the chances of mold and mildew growing by removing your shoes before walking on it and disallowing pets to enter carpeted areas. Using a good vacuum cleaner (with a HEPA filter) regularly will also help to stop mold from growing. HEPA filters are about 99.97 percent accurate in removing particles from your carpet and air.
Something that mold loves to hide underneath is your carpet. If the carpet is old (especially if you have it in the bathroom), you can bet there is likely to be something living underneath it. Not only does mold like to hide under your carpet, it will also make a meal out of it. In order to reproduce, mold requires moisture, warmth, and food. The carpet provides part of the insulation that the mold needs to grow under it, so all that is left for you to provide is moisture either in the form of humidity or water spills that do not get cleaned up properly.
If you think that your carpet is moldy or mildewed, you can clean it with a biocide. Biocides are produced to stop things like mold and bacteria from growing where you do not want them to. Even if you use this, though, you will still have to remove the carpet padding underneath. This padding is not cleanable and will need to be thrown away. If your carpet has been completely submerged in water and it is not just a small area, it is advised to just tear it up and throw it away, as well. Cleaning a room’s entire carpet can be costly and it’s possible that you are better off just getting new carpet.
While you are cleaning your moldy carpet, you should wear gloves. After it has completely dried, using a vacuum that has a HEPA filter on it should remove any mold spores that still remain in the fibers of the carpet.
Having wall-to-wall carpeting is not advised. If you already have it, you can reduce the chances of mold and mildew growing by removing your shoes before walking on it and disallowing pets to enter carpeted areas. Using a good vacuum cleaner (with a HEPA filter) regularly will also help to stop mold from growing. HEPA filters are about 99.97 percent accurate in removing particles from your carpet and air.
Home Water Damage Causes
Despite the general knowledge that water damage is bad for any building, especially one’s home, it is not so well known just what all the possible causes for water damage are, or what factors can lead to it. The most common known causes of water damage are leaky plumbing, and leaking roofs, but there are mounds of other causes that are not as well known.
If you have a basement, and you have it insulated with fiberglass, it is easy for moisture to become trapped behind the walls, and air between one floor of the home and the basement floor can leak into them. It is because of this that insulating your home with fiberglass is not recommended, nor is installing plastic sheeting, as it is capable of trapping just as much moisture. A good idea for the insulation is using blue board, as it allows the moisture to move about the wall freely and makes the wall better able to dry off.
Problems, however, can arise if the land your home is on is sloped towards its foundation. If water is flowing towards the home, as opposed to away the home, it can seep into the basement and cause serious damage to the structure of your home, and can cause sink holes, which can cause your house to sink.
You should especially be careful to have your ceilings properly insulated in a cold climate, on account of the fact that they are not, water can leak into your house by way of what are called “ice dams”. In a warmer climate, flaws in air conditioning or air ducts can cause water damage by the formation of steam and humidity that likes to attach itself to things like roofing. And this build up can cause rotting on your roof as well as the infestation of mold, which can be harmful on one’s respiratory system as well as many other sicknesses that may result.
Improperly shielded attic hatches are another chief offender of water damage to one’s ceilings, as condensation is far more likely to gather in this manner. Lighting fixtures should be as tight as humanly possible when you install them, especially the recessed kind and exhaust fans are not directed outside from the house, it should be, whether they are in the bathroom, or places of this nature. Exhaust fans should have vents to the outside so moisture does not condense and cause avoidable water damage.
If you have a basement, and you have it insulated with fiberglass, it is easy for moisture to become trapped behind the walls, and air between one floor of the home and the basement floor can leak into them. It is because of this that insulating your home with fiberglass is not recommended, nor is installing plastic sheeting, as it is capable of trapping just as much moisture. A good idea for the insulation is using blue board, as it allows the moisture to move about the wall freely and makes the wall better able to dry off.
Problems, however, can arise if the land your home is on is sloped towards its foundation. If water is flowing towards the home, as opposed to away the home, it can seep into the basement and cause serious damage to the structure of your home, and can cause sink holes, which can cause your house to sink.
You should especially be careful to have your ceilings properly insulated in a cold climate, on account of the fact that they are not, water can leak into your house by way of what are called “ice dams”. In a warmer climate, flaws in air conditioning or air ducts can cause water damage by the formation of steam and humidity that likes to attach itself to things like roofing. And this build up can cause rotting on your roof as well as the infestation of mold, which can be harmful on one’s respiratory system as well as many other sicknesses that may result.
Improperly shielded attic hatches are another chief offender of water damage to one’s ceilings, as condensation is far more likely to gather in this manner. Lighting fixtures should be as tight as humanly possible when you install them, especially the recessed kind and exhaust fans are not directed outside from the house, it should be, whether they are in the bathroom, or places of this nature. Exhaust fans should have vents to the outside so moisture does not condense and cause avoidable water damage.
What You Need To Know About Water Safety
If you decide to go swimming this summer, there are a few things that you need to think about in order to keep yourself and your family safe.
If you decide to go swimming somewhere like a creek, river, or ocean, you need to realize that you are not the only one swimming there. While there may not be many other people there, there are probably other animals there and they probably do not like the fact that you are on their property. This can be anything from snakes to spiders and other wildlife, so you need to be careful and watch for them. Know your local wildlife, especially poisonous ones like snakes and spiders, and know how to react if you are attacked by one of them. Jellyfish are particularly dangerous in the ocean and some varieties have been known to kill people, especially off the coast of northern Australia.
Another thing that you need to know if you are going swimming in an area where there are not a lot of people is CPR and other basic first aid techniques. These can save your life or the life of someone else and if you are taking your family to a place to swim alone with not much access to the outside world, this may be your only option if one of them gets hurt.
Never dive into the water unless you are absolutely sure of how deep it is. You cannot test this by just looking at the water. You need to physically test the depth of it before you do any diving.
It may not seem like a huge risk, but going barefoot near creeks and rivers may not be a good idea. Purchase some shoes that you can wear underwater. The reason for this is that some areas that you may want to go swimming in will have sharp rocks and even used drug needles. Take a good look around an area before you decide to take your family swimming there.
Make sure you and the rest of your family have the correct floatation devices for each person’s level of swimming experience. If you are going boating, lifejackets are typically required in most states.
Finally, the most important thing to learn is how to swim. A large number of people do not know how to swim beyond the dog paddle, and while even this low technique can save your life, there are other and better ways to learn how to swim, especially if you are dealing with a rough current. A dog paddle may not always be able to sustain you. If you are having a hard time swimming, find someone who can teach you how to float. The human body is made of a large percentage of water and floating is fairly easy once you have practiced it for a while.
If you decide to go swimming somewhere like a creek, river, or ocean, you need to realize that you are not the only one swimming there. While there may not be many other people there, there are probably other animals there and they probably do not like the fact that you are on their property. This can be anything from snakes to spiders and other wildlife, so you need to be careful and watch for them. Know your local wildlife, especially poisonous ones like snakes and spiders, and know how to react if you are attacked by one of them. Jellyfish are particularly dangerous in the ocean and some varieties have been known to kill people, especially off the coast of northern Australia.
Another thing that you need to know if you are going swimming in an area where there are not a lot of people is CPR and other basic first aid techniques. These can save your life or the life of someone else and if you are taking your family to a place to swim alone with not much access to the outside world, this may be your only option if one of them gets hurt.
Never dive into the water unless you are absolutely sure of how deep it is. You cannot test this by just looking at the water. You need to physically test the depth of it before you do any diving.
It may not seem like a huge risk, but going barefoot near creeks and rivers may not be a good idea. Purchase some shoes that you can wear underwater. The reason for this is that some areas that you may want to go swimming in will have sharp rocks and even used drug needles. Take a good look around an area before you decide to take your family swimming there.
Make sure you and the rest of your family have the correct floatation devices for each person’s level of swimming experience. If you are going boating, lifejackets are typically required in most states.
Finally, the most important thing to learn is how to swim. A large number of people do not know how to swim beyond the dog paddle, and while even this low technique can save your life, there are other and better ways to learn how to swim, especially if you are dealing with a rough current. A dog paddle may not always be able to sustain you. If you are having a hard time swimming, find someone who can teach you how to float. The human body is made of a large percentage of water and floating is fairly easy once you have practiced it for a while.
Starting Smoke Damage Clean Up
A house fire is something no one wants to have to go through, but after the fire is over and out, the thing that can damage a part of the house the fire was not even in is smoke. When a fire starts, smoke goes everywhere and is pretty indiscriminate as to what it damages. It damages basically everything in the house. What can you do after the fire trucks are gone and the cleanup has to start? Here are a few things to get you started.
Your house might smell like smoke for a while until you get the place cleaned up, but you can always assist getting the smell out the door by, well, getting the smell out the door. Get some box fans and open all the windows and doors of the house so the air can circulate in and out of the house, carrying the smell along with it.
Soot that becomes built up on the walls and ceiling is pretty ugly. Anyone who has moved into a home that has had people who smoke living in it knows this fairly well and the only real thing that you can do to completely get rid of the look is paint over it. It sounds labor intensive, but if you do not want to do this, you can always hire someone to do it for you or maybe someone in your family or community will help you for free. Not too many people will volunteer for things like this, but if you are physically unable to do the job, it never hurts to ask around for some help.
You should try not to walk on carpet, if possible. Replacing the carpet is probably a good idea, depending on how much damage there really is to it, but if you want to try and keep it, you will have to vacuum it carefully. An upright will not work for this, since there are brushes on the bottom that will scrub the soot into the fibers. After you vacuum it, you need to have it steam cleaned. This should remove the smell, but if it does not, you will want to replace it.
Upholstered items in the house will also need to be vacuumed with a vacuum without brushes. Do this carefully.
Your curtains and other fabric items all around the house will need to be shaken out, washed, and dried naturally. Do not use an electric dryer to dry these, because it essentially bakes the smell of smoke into the item and makes it almost impossible to get out.
Your house might smell like smoke for a while until you get the place cleaned up, but you can always assist getting the smell out the door by, well, getting the smell out the door. Get some box fans and open all the windows and doors of the house so the air can circulate in and out of the house, carrying the smell along with it.
Soot that becomes built up on the walls and ceiling is pretty ugly. Anyone who has moved into a home that has had people who smoke living in it knows this fairly well and the only real thing that you can do to completely get rid of the look is paint over it. It sounds labor intensive, but if you do not want to do this, you can always hire someone to do it for you or maybe someone in your family or community will help you for free. Not too many people will volunteer for things like this, but if you are physically unable to do the job, it never hurts to ask around for some help.
You should try not to walk on carpet, if possible. Replacing the carpet is probably a good idea, depending on how much damage there really is to it, but if you want to try and keep it, you will have to vacuum it carefully. An upright will not work for this, since there are brushes on the bottom that will scrub the soot into the fibers. After you vacuum it, you need to have it steam cleaned. This should remove the smell, but if it does not, you will want to replace it.
Upholstered items in the house will also need to be vacuumed with a vacuum without brushes. Do this carefully.
Your curtains and other fabric items all around the house will need to be shaken out, washed, and dried naturally. Do not use an electric dryer to dry these, because it essentially bakes the smell of smoke into the item and makes it almost impossible to get out.
Keeping Your Kids Safe Around Water
During the summertime, going swimming is something that a lot of families like to do, but there are only a few of us lucky enough to have a safe swimming area in the backyard. Going to the river, the creek, or even the ocean can be dangerous, but you may not think about the dangers that can exist on your own property. If you do have the privilege of owning your own swimming pool, there are some safety rules that you need to have followed by all the members of your household if you are going to have a safe summer.
When it comes to having a pool, children that live in the home or in neighboring homes should be taken into account. One thing that every pool needs to have around it is a fence to keep not only intruders, but also neighborhood children out of it. This is for privacy reasons as well as safety, since if a child from the community manages to get in your pool and drowns, you are completely responsible because it was not sufficiently blocked off. However, if you have a fence around the pool and it is locked, the likelihood of this happening is extremely reduced.
Something that you can use to keep your own children safe and out of the pool when you do not want them in it is a product called Safety Turtle, which is a wrist strap that you put on the child and when it is exposed to water, it causes the base station that comes with it to sound a loud alarm that tells you the child is in the pool. If you have small children that you cannot always keep track of and you want to make sure they stay away from the pool, this is the best product to give you peace of mind.
If you are going to have a pool, you should also put a good amount of thought into learning CPR and other first aid techniques. Community pools have lifeguards on duty at all times, but when you are in the privacy of your own home, you do not have this benefit, so you need to learn these things yourself in case an accident occurs.
Please make sure that your children and the adults in your house all know that running outside around the pool is not acceptable. This is extremely dangerous and has been known to end in extreme head injuries and even death.
When it comes to having a pool, children that live in the home or in neighboring homes should be taken into account. One thing that every pool needs to have around it is a fence to keep not only intruders, but also neighborhood children out of it. This is for privacy reasons as well as safety, since if a child from the community manages to get in your pool and drowns, you are completely responsible because it was not sufficiently blocked off. However, if you have a fence around the pool and it is locked, the likelihood of this happening is extremely reduced.
Something that you can use to keep your own children safe and out of the pool when you do not want them in it is a product called Safety Turtle, which is a wrist strap that you put on the child and when it is exposed to water, it causes the base station that comes with it to sound a loud alarm that tells you the child is in the pool. If you have small children that you cannot always keep track of and you want to make sure they stay away from the pool, this is the best product to give you peace of mind.
If you are going to have a pool, you should also put a good amount of thought into learning CPR and other first aid techniques. Community pools have lifeguards on duty at all times, but when you are in the privacy of your own home, you do not have this benefit, so you need to learn these things yourself in case an accident occurs.
Please make sure that your children and the adults in your house all know that running outside around the pool is not acceptable. This is extremely dangerous and has been known to end in extreme head injuries and even death.
Keeping Safe Around The Water
Lots of families go swimming during the summer to find relief from the heat, especially since their air conditioners may not work, but one thing that a lot of people are not fortunate enough to have is a swimming pool in their backyard. Many people would be grateful just to be able to afford to go to the community pool, since most of these places require an entry fee, but if you have your own pool, you really do feel on top of the world. There are a lot of safety rules that you should follow if you are lucky enough to have your own pool, though, and we are here to tell you what they are.
Children are the victims of most pool-related accidents, so you need to make every attempt to make the pool area as childproof as possible. This means making sure that you factor in the cost of building a fence around the pool to keep not only your children, but other children that live in your neighborhood safe, as well. Unfortunately, you are liable if a child from the neighborhood falls into your pool and drowns. This is the last thing that anyone wants to happen, so building a high privacy fence around the pool and keeping the gate locked at all times is extremely important.
Another good thing to have in your home if you have small children is an item called the Safety Turtle. This is one of the best products that you can purchase for your home and it will give you a lot of security when it comes to keeping your little ones out of the pool. A wrist strap is put on the child that has a small turtle-shaped device on it and when that device is submerged under water, the base station that is hooked up inside your house makes a loud noise so that no matter where you are in the house, you know that the child has likely fallen into the pool.
Your children and any visitors to the home need to be taught that it is not a good idea to run around the pool. They can fall, hit their head, and drown much faster than you realize.
Any pool chemicals that you have should be stored in a safe place and locked up so children and pets cannot get into them. These items are poisonous and if ingested, could kill you.
Children are the victims of most pool-related accidents, so you need to make every attempt to make the pool area as childproof as possible. This means making sure that you factor in the cost of building a fence around the pool to keep not only your children, but other children that live in your neighborhood safe, as well. Unfortunately, you are liable if a child from the neighborhood falls into your pool and drowns. This is the last thing that anyone wants to happen, so building a high privacy fence around the pool and keeping the gate locked at all times is extremely important.
Another good thing to have in your home if you have small children is an item called the Safety Turtle. This is one of the best products that you can purchase for your home and it will give you a lot of security when it comes to keeping your little ones out of the pool. A wrist strap is put on the child that has a small turtle-shaped device on it and when that device is submerged under water, the base station that is hooked up inside your house makes a loud noise so that no matter where you are in the house, you know that the child has likely fallen into the pool.
Your children and any visitors to the home need to be taught that it is not a good idea to run around the pool. They can fall, hit their head, and drown much faster than you realize.
Any pool chemicals that you have should be stored in a safe place and locked up so children and pets cannot get into them. These items are poisonous and if ingested, could kill you.
How To Keep Your Kids Safe Around Water
Summers can get pretty hot in the United States depending on where you live and not a whole lot of people can afford to have a pool in their own backyard, but some of us are lucky enough to afford the privilege. For those of us who can afford this luxury, there are some rules that you need to follow to keep both you, your family, and the rest of the neighborhood safe.
If you decide to have a pool put in your backyard, you need to have a fence built around it, preferably a fairly high one. This is to keep your kids and the other kids in the neighborhood safe. You probably do not realize it, but if a child wanders into your yard, falls into the pool, and drowns, you are legally responsible because the area was not properly blocked off. A child drowning in your pool, whether it is your own or a neighbor’s, is the last thing that anyone wants to happen, so factor the cost of a privacy fence into the cost of having the pool built. A fence also serves to keep out pool hoppers.
Your children should understand that if they are caught running around the pool, they will be punished in some form or another. The surface around the pool can be slick and you can fall very easily into it, hit your head, pass out, and drown. No matter how safe you may feel like you are running, accidents can still happen, so make sure all of the adults in your home lead by example and do not run around the pool.
Care should also be taken when storing pool chemicals such as chlorine tablets and other necessary items. These can be poisonous and you do not want children or animals getting into them.
Kids should never be allowed near the pool while unsupervised and a product called Safety Turtle can help you monitor them. A base station is purchased along with a wrist band that, when submerged underwater, causes the base station to alarm. This will let you know from a good distance away that your child has either gotten into the pool or has fallen into it.
Something else you need to consider if you have a pool at your home is learning CPR and first aid. While a lifeguard at a city pool may know these things and you feel safe there, you do not have the benefit of a lifeguard in your own home unless you learn to be one.
If you decide to have a pool put in your backyard, you need to have a fence built around it, preferably a fairly high one. This is to keep your kids and the other kids in the neighborhood safe. You probably do not realize it, but if a child wanders into your yard, falls into the pool, and drowns, you are legally responsible because the area was not properly blocked off. A child drowning in your pool, whether it is your own or a neighbor’s, is the last thing that anyone wants to happen, so factor the cost of a privacy fence into the cost of having the pool built. A fence also serves to keep out pool hoppers.
Your children should understand that if they are caught running around the pool, they will be punished in some form or another. The surface around the pool can be slick and you can fall very easily into it, hit your head, pass out, and drown. No matter how safe you may feel like you are running, accidents can still happen, so make sure all of the adults in your home lead by example and do not run around the pool.
Care should also be taken when storing pool chemicals such as chlorine tablets and other necessary items. These can be poisonous and you do not want children or animals getting into them.
Kids should never be allowed near the pool while unsupervised and a product called Safety Turtle can help you monitor them. A base station is purchased along with a wrist band that, when submerged underwater, causes the base station to alarm. This will let you know from a good distance away that your child has either gotten into the pool or has fallen into it.
Something else you need to consider if you have a pool at your home is learning CPR and first aid. While a lifeguard at a city pool may know these things and you feel safe there, you do not have the benefit of a lifeguard in your own home unless you learn to be one.
House Fire Sources
Fires can start in the house a number of different ways and knowing as much as you can about fire safety in the home is important in preventing this from happening.
Cooking in the kitchen poses the most amount of risk, but since most people have to do this to survive because they cannot afford to eat out all the time, it must be done. Safety comes first and this means that you should not leave anything on the stove unattended in the kitchen. If you do have to leave, turn it off or leave someone in the kitchen to watch it for you.
Space heaters that you using during the winter time can also present a substantial amount of risk if you do not know where you can safely place them in your home. They should never be put near furniture, curtains, or any other fabric item. Something else you need to know is that extension cords should never be used with appliances that use a lot of electricity or put out a large amount of heat. Electric skillets and deep fryers fall into this category along with space heaters and if you use a normal household extension cord with them, they will melt. If you have to use one, use a heavy duty one that is normally used outside.
If you smoke, this is another possible source of fire in the house. If you have to dump out cigarette ashes, make sure everything in the tray is completely put out. Something you should never do is smoke while you are in bed. Do not let yourself become too relaxed in a chair, either, since you may end up falling asleep and dropping the cigarette, either on the chair, bed, the floor, or yourself.
Chemicals that are flammable like gas and turpentine should be kept outside the house, preferably in a separate building. This way, if they catch on fire for some reason, the extra building will be on fire and not your home.
Electric blankets are also a great convenience, but the bad thing about these is that people tend to leave them on all night while they are sleeping instead of just using them to heat up the bed. Beds catch on fire due to improper use of these, so never leave the house while they are on and never leave them on while you are asleep.
Cooking in the kitchen poses the most amount of risk, but since most people have to do this to survive because they cannot afford to eat out all the time, it must be done. Safety comes first and this means that you should not leave anything on the stove unattended in the kitchen. If you do have to leave, turn it off or leave someone in the kitchen to watch it for you.
Space heaters that you using during the winter time can also present a substantial amount of risk if you do not know where you can safely place them in your home. They should never be put near furniture, curtains, or any other fabric item. Something else you need to know is that extension cords should never be used with appliances that use a lot of electricity or put out a large amount of heat. Electric skillets and deep fryers fall into this category along with space heaters and if you use a normal household extension cord with them, they will melt. If you have to use one, use a heavy duty one that is normally used outside.
If you smoke, this is another possible source of fire in the house. If you have to dump out cigarette ashes, make sure everything in the tray is completely put out. Something you should never do is smoke while you are in bed. Do not let yourself become too relaxed in a chair, either, since you may end up falling asleep and dropping the cigarette, either on the chair, bed, the floor, or yourself.
Chemicals that are flammable like gas and turpentine should be kept outside the house, preferably in a separate building. This way, if they catch on fire for some reason, the extra building will be on fire and not your home.
Electric blankets are also a great convenience, but the bad thing about these is that people tend to leave them on all night while they are sleeping instead of just using them to heat up the bed. Beds catch on fire due to improper use of these, so never leave the house while they are on and never leave them on while you are asleep.
Fire Safety For Home Buyers
Buying a home for the first time can be pretty intimidating, but the thought of losing that new home to a fire is a whole lot scarier. For those of you who are purchasing a home for the first time, one of the first things that you need to learn about is fire safety. Your home is likely to be the biggest investment you will ever have at any one time and protecting it is something that should be at the front of your mind at all times. There are a lot of different things in your home that can cause a fire and most of them can be avoided if you know what to do.
An unfortunate fact is that most house fires start in the kitchen and because people simply are not paying attention to what they are doing. Becoming preoccupied with other chores or things in the house, like the television or family members, is one of the worst things that you can do while you are cooking dinner or any other meal. If you have to answer the phone, make sure it is in the kitchen and that it stays with you in the kitchen at all times. You should never, for any reason, leave the house while you are cooking unless someone will be there to watch the stove while you are gone.
Grease fires are also common in the kitchen, even though most of them are small and easily put out. Most of these are not reported for this very reason, masking just how common they really are. Be ready for a grease fire by heating oil slowly, having a pot lid the size of the pan you are using to smother the fire, and some baking soda in case it starts underneath the burner. Fires start under stove burners most often because they have gotten grease on them or under them and have not been cleaned out as they should be. Put these out with baking soda, but you should also have a fire extinguisher at hand in case the fire gets out of control.
You also need to be careful when you are using deep fryers and electric skillets. Although these can have settings of up to or over 400 degrees Fahrenheit, you should not leave these appliances on at these temperatures for very long. Extension cords should also never be used with these items, unless they are heavy duty ones. Small, typical household extension cords will melt.
An unfortunate fact is that most house fires start in the kitchen and because people simply are not paying attention to what they are doing. Becoming preoccupied with other chores or things in the house, like the television or family members, is one of the worst things that you can do while you are cooking dinner or any other meal. If you have to answer the phone, make sure it is in the kitchen and that it stays with you in the kitchen at all times. You should never, for any reason, leave the house while you are cooking unless someone will be there to watch the stove while you are gone.
Grease fires are also common in the kitchen, even though most of them are small and easily put out. Most of these are not reported for this very reason, masking just how common they really are. Be ready for a grease fire by heating oil slowly, having a pot lid the size of the pan you are using to smother the fire, and some baking soda in case it starts underneath the burner. Fires start under stove burners most often because they have gotten grease on them or under them and have not been cleaned out as they should be. Put these out with baking soda, but you should also have a fire extinguisher at hand in case the fire gets out of control.
You also need to be careful when you are using deep fryers and electric skillets. Although these can have settings of up to or over 400 degrees Fahrenheit, you should not leave these appliances on at these temperatures for very long. Extension cords should also never be used with these items, unless they are heavy duty ones. Small, typical household extension cords will melt.
Fire Safety For First Time Home Buyers
If you are thinking about purchasing your first home, one of the most important things that you can learn about is fire safety. If you do not have much experience cooking for yourself, you are more likely to start a fire in the kitchen than if you have a lot of experience working with the stove.
Most fires start in the kitchen. This is just a fact that has held true for a very long time, since the majority of concentrated heat in the home is produced by the stove and the oven. If you do not know what you are doing when you use this major appliance, a badly cooked meal will be the least of your worries.
The most common fire in the kitchen is a grease fire. Cooking with grease the right way can be somewhat tricky even for experienced cooks. Depending on the kind of oil you are using, it will catch on fire faster or slower. The point at which the oil begins to burn is called the smoke point. Some oils have high smoke points around 500 degrees or so, but others are much lower than this. Oils that reach their smoke point should be allowed to cool and then thrown away, because they are no longer suitable for cooking with after they reach this point. They will lend a bad flavor to the food.
You should heat any oil that you are cooking with slowly. This will reduce the chance that it will catch on fire by quite a bit.
If you do end up with a grease fire, there are a couple of ways that you can put it out without using a fire extinguisher. The first kind of grease fire typically comes from underneath a stove burner where it has not been cleaned out in quite some time. Food particles get under the burners quite frequently and catch on fire, but you can put this out using baking soda. A few handfuls of this should take care of the problem, since most of these fires are small and confined to the burner itself.
The second kind of grease fire is the one that comes from within the pan or skillet itself and you can put this out easily by using a pot or pan lid to smother it. This should work, but if it does not, do not hesitate to use your fire extinguisher on it. Every kitchen needs to have at least a 5 lb fire extinguisher and a smoke detector.
Most fires start in the kitchen. This is just a fact that has held true for a very long time, since the majority of concentrated heat in the home is produced by the stove and the oven. If you do not know what you are doing when you use this major appliance, a badly cooked meal will be the least of your worries.
The most common fire in the kitchen is a grease fire. Cooking with grease the right way can be somewhat tricky even for experienced cooks. Depending on the kind of oil you are using, it will catch on fire faster or slower. The point at which the oil begins to burn is called the smoke point. Some oils have high smoke points around 500 degrees or so, but others are much lower than this. Oils that reach their smoke point should be allowed to cool and then thrown away, because they are no longer suitable for cooking with after they reach this point. They will lend a bad flavor to the food.
You should heat any oil that you are cooking with slowly. This will reduce the chance that it will catch on fire by quite a bit.
If you do end up with a grease fire, there are a couple of ways that you can put it out without using a fire extinguisher. The first kind of grease fire typically comes from underneath a stove burner where it has not been cleaned out in quite some time. Food particles get under the burners quite frequently and catch on fire, but you can put this out using baking soda. A few handfuls of this should take care of the problem, since most of these fires are small and confined to the burner itself.
The second kind of grease fire is the one that comes from within the pan or skillet itself and you can put this out easily by using a pot or pan lid to smother it. This should work, but if it does not, do not hesitate to use your fire extinguisher on it. Every kitchen needs to have at least a 5 lb fire extinguisher and a smoke detector.
Cleaning Up A Smoke Damaged Home
If your home has been damaged by fire and smoke, there are a lot of things that you need to do to get your home back to livable condition. These are usually things that you can do yourself, although if you do not have the time, you can hire someone else to do them for you. No matter which one you choose, these are the things that you are going to need done to get your home back to its former condition.
Getting the smell of smoke out of the house is not going to be too easy, so open the windows and doors throughout the house and use fans to get the air circulating.
The smoke damage is going to be easier to take care of in the house than the fire, especially on the walls. Unfortunately, cleaning the soot off the walls is probably not going to be an option, since trying to wipe it off will only smear it. This means that you will have to paint over it. If you have a popcorn ceiling, you will have to strip it in order to be able to paint over it. Most popcorn ceilings make a house look outdated, anyway, so removing this will probably be a good thing, anyway.
Try not to walk on any carpet that has been affected unless you plan on removing it, anyway. If you want to try and clean it, though, you will have to vacuum it with a vacuum that does not have brushes, since they will only work the soot down into the fibers. Steam cleaning the carpet may remove the smoky smell and it may not, so you may end up having to replace the carpet.
Appliances are also going to have to be checked out and cleaned thoroughly before they can be used again. Basically every surface in your house is going to have to be cleaned spotless.
Towels, curtains, bed linens, and all other fabric items in your home will need to be washed and dried. When you dry them, try to dry them outside, if possible, since using an electric dryer to do this can set the smell of smoke further into the fabric and make it harder to get out.
No matter what, you should hold your ground against your insurance company, because if they can convince you that they do not have to pay for something (even though your contract says that they do), they will not pay for it. Make sure you know exactly what your contract covers and you should make sure that you prepare for an event like this by having at least a few months’ worth of salary saved up, since most insurance companies expect you to pay for things and then, they will reimburse yo
Getting the smell of smoke out of the house is not going to be too easy, so open the windows and doors throughout the house and use fans to get the air circulating.
The smoke damage is going to be easier to take care of in the house than the fire, especially on the walls. Unfortunately, cleaning the soot off the walls is probably not going to be an option, since trying to wipe it off will only smear it. This means that you will have to paint over it. If you have a popcorn ceiling, you will have to strip it in order to be able to paint over it. Most popcorn ceilings make a house look outdated, anyway, so removing this will probably be a good thing, anyway.
Try not to walk on any carpet that has been affected unless you plan on removing it, anyway. If you want to try and clean it, though, you will have to vacuum it with a vacuum that does not have brushes, since they will only work the soot down into the fibers. Steam cleaning the carpet may remove the smoky smell and it may not, so you may end up having to replace the carpet.
Appliances are also going to have to be checked out and cleaned thoroughly before they can be used again. Basically every surface in your house is going to have to be cleaned spotless.
Towels, curtains, bed linens, and all other fabric items in your home will need to be washed and dried. When you dry them, try to dry them outside, if possible, since using an electric dryer to do this can set the smell of smoke further into the fabric and make it harder to get out.
No matter what, you should hold your ground against your insurance company, because if they can convince you that they do not have to pay for something (even though your contract says that they do), they will not pay for it. Make sure you know exactly what your contract covers and you should make sure that you prepare for an event like this by having at least a few months’ worth of salary saved up, since most insurance companies expect you to pay for things and then, they will reimburse yo
Being Safe Around The Water
No matter where you choose to take your family swimming during the summer, there are a few basic water safety rules that you need to follow. The last thing that you should do, though, is become so comfortable with your surroundings that you allow members of your family to break these rules.
If you are fortunate enough to have a pool in your own backyard, you should make sure that none of your family runs around the pool for any reason, since this can lead to serious injury or even death in some cases. The worst case scenario is a child falling, hitting their head on the side, and drowning at the bottom of the pool.
You can avoid accidents involving small children around the pool if you enclose it with a fence and keep the gate locked at all times. You should do this not only to keep your own children safe from getting in the pool without your knowledge, but also because other children in your neighborhood can wander into your yard and possibly drown, leaving you responsible. This is a horrible thing that could happen, but it does.
Set rules for your children according to their level of swimming experience. They should be let to swim only in depths of water that you are completely comfortable with and those who have just recently started swimming should not be allowed into water that is higher than chest level.
You should also never dive into water that you do not know the depth of. Test the depth of the water physically. No one can tell the depth of a body of water just by looking at it, especially if it is clouded by mud and silt.
If you are swimming in an area such as a river, ocean, or creek, then there is local wildlife that you will have to contend with. Know the wildlife of the area that you may encounter and be prepared to deal with the situation should someone in your group come into contact with it.
Going boating requires that you have on life jackets at all times in most, if not all states in the United States, so make sure that you have them and some extra floatation devices, just in case.
The most important thing that you can learn to help protect your family is CPR and first aid. Lifeguards at city pools are trained in these things, but if you are going swimming in an area that does not have one, this is something that can save someone’s life. Consider taking a class on both subjects.
If you are fortunate enough to have a pool in your own backyard, you should make sure that none of your family runs around the pool for any reason, since this can lead to serious injury or even death in some cases. The worst case scenario is a child falling, hitting their head on the side, and drowning at the bottom of the pool.
You can avoid accidents involving small children around the pool if you enclose it with a fence and keep the gate locked at all times. You should do this not only to keep your own children safe from getting in the pool without your knowledge, but also because other children in your neighborhood can wander into your yard and possibly drown, leaving you responsible. This is a horrible thing that could happen, but it does.
Set rules for your children according to their level of swimming experience. They should be let to swim only in depths of water that you are completely comfortable with and those who have just recently started swimming should not be allowed into water that is higher than chest level.
You should also never dive into water that you do not know the depth of. Test the depth of the water physically. No one can tell the depth of a body of water just by looking at it, especially if it is clouded by mud and silt.
If you are swimming in an area such as a river, ocean, or creek, then there is local wildlife that you will have to contend with. Know the wildlife of the area that you may encounter and be prepared to deal with the situation should someone in your group come into contact with it.
Going boating requires that you have on life jackets at all times in most, if not all states in the United States, so make sure that you have them and some extra floatation devices, just in case.
The most important thing that you can learn to help protect your family is CPR and first aid. Lifeguards at city pools are trained in these things, but if you are going swimming in an area that does not have one, this is something that can save someone’s life. Consider taking a class on both subjects.
A Few Sources Of Smoke Damage
Smoke damage to your home can come from a few different sources, but the main one is just an outright house fire. Having a good knowledge of fire safety and what should be considered fire hazards around your house is the best way to avoid this, so while we are going to give you a few fire safety tips, we will also tell you a couple of other sources of smoke damage to your home.
The most important place of the house to practice fire safety is the kitchen. Most fires start here and are usually due to clumsiness or simple carelessness that is almost completely avoidable. The first thing that you need to know is that you should never leave things in your kitchen unattended on the stove. Always try to leave someone to watch the cooking for you if you have to leave and if you do not have anyone that can stay, turn it off.
Grease fires are common occurrences in the kitchen, as well, and there are a few things to know about this. Heat any oil or grease that you are using slowly, since heating it too quickly can allow it to reach its smoke point before you can stop it, making it unsuitable for cooking. It gives the food a bad taste, so throwing it out is best. If it manages to catch on fire, you can use a pot lid to smother it with and this should work fairly well at putting it out. Grease fires also start under the burners sometimes if they have not been cleaned out as they should have been. You can use baking soda to put these small fires out with, but if it even remotely starts to get out of control, use your fire extinguisher. Every kitchen and household needs to have one.
Another source of smoke damage to your home is candles. If you burn a lot of candles or incense, the smoke has to cool and settle to the floor eventually and will become rubbed into the carpet as you walk across it. You can tell if you have this kind of damage if you move a piece of furniture that has been in the same spot for a while and the carpet is lighter.
Cigarettes and cigars are another source of this damage and the same principle that applies to the candles applies here. The best thing to do to prevent this is to just stop smoking, since it will affect your health.
The most important place of the house to practice fire safety is the kitchen. Most fires start here and are usually due to clumsiness or simple carelessness that is almost completely avoidable. The first thing that you need to know is that you should never leave things in your kitchen unattended on the stove. Always try to leave someone to watch the cooking for you if you have to leave and if you do not have anyone that can stay, turn it off.
Grease fires are common occurrences in the kitchen, as well, and there are a few things to know about this. Heat any oil or grease that you are using slowly, since heating it too quickly can allow it to reach its smoke point before you can stop it, making it unsuitable for cooking. It gives the food a bad taste, so throwing it out is best. If it manages to catch on fire, you can use a pot lid to smother it with and this should work fairly well at putting it out. Grease fires also start under the burners sometimes if they have not been cleaned out as they should have been. You can use baking soda to put these small fires out with, but if it even remotely starts to get out of control, use your fire extinguisher. Every kitchen and household needs to have one.
Another source of smoke damage to your home is candles. If you burn a lot of candles or incense, the smoke has to cool and settle to the floor eventually and will become rubbed into the carpet as you walk across it. You can tell if you have this kind of damage if you move a piece of furniture that has been in the same spot for a while and the carpet is lighter.
Cigarettes and cigars are another source of this damage and the same principle that applies to the candles applies here. The best thing to do to prevent this is to just stop smoking, since it will affect your health.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Causes of Fires in the Kitchen
You may not know this information, but a large part of the home fires that take place are due to bad cooking preferences. Studies suggests that about four hundred thousand fires each year are due to this and there exist a lot of actions you can perform to stop this from occurring while you are cooking in the kitchen.
The first thing you need to consider is what to put on while you are cooking. Making sure you have sweaters that do not fit tightly could be caught on fire quicker than you can blink. You should try to avoid putting necessary things over the oven such as flour and other things one could require while making food. The last thing you want to do is reach across a stove burner or other hot appliance for anything.
All grease or oil that you need to heat up before you begin should be worked at gradually and you need never allow it to be unattended. You really do not need to permit oneself to get distracted with other household chores or with the telephone, due to the fact that that may distract you from the most pertinent task which ought to be on your mind: the food.
If you do have a grease fire in your kitchen, there are a few ways to extinguish it. You can smother it with a pot top if it is still in the pan. You can use baking soda to extinguish small fires that can begin beneath stove eye because of grease.
Children should never be permitted to mess around in the kitchen oven or other hot appliances.
One of the most important things that you ought to consider is that if you do not know whether you could combat the fire that has begun, call the fire department!
The first thing you need to consider is what to put on while you are cooking. Making sure you have sweaters that do not fit tightly could be caught on fire quicker than you can blink. You should try to avoid putting necessary things over the oven such as flour and other things one could require while making food. The last thing you want to do is reach across a stove burner or other hot appliance for anything.
All grease or oil that you need to heat up before you begin should be worked at gradually and you need never allow it to be unattended. You really do not need to permit oneself to get distracted with other household chores or with the telephone, due to the fact that that may distract you from the most pertinent task which ought to be on your mind: the food.
If you do have a grease fire in your kitchen, there are a few ways to extinguish it. You can smother it with a pot top if it is still in the pan. You can use baking soda to extinguish small fires that can begin beneath stove eye because of grease.
Children should never be permitted to mess around in the kitchen oven or other hot appliances.
One of the most important things that you ought to consider is that if you do not know whether you could combat the fire that has begun, call the fire department!
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