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Firework Safety

6/29/2015

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PROMOTING SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF CONSUMER FIREWORKS

Recommended Safety Tips

Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.
Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
A responsible adult SHOULD supervise all firework activities. Never give fireworks to children.
Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.
Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.
Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
Never carry fireworks in your POCKET or shoot them into METAL or GLASS containers.
Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.
FAA regulations PROHIBIT the possession and transportation of fireworks in your checked baggage or carry-on luggage.
Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or police department.

http://www.fireworkssafety.org/

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Lightning Saftey

6/26/2015

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Florida is the lightning capital of the United States. Here are some ways to stay safe during a lightning storm.

Lightning: What You Need to Know

NO PLACE outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area!!
If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up.
Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.

Indoor Lightning Safety

Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity.
Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets.
Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
Do not lie on concrete floors, and do not lean against concrete walls.

Last Resort Outdoor Risk Reduction Tips
If you are caught outside with no safe shelter anywhere nearby the following actions may reduce your risk:

Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks
Never lie flat on the ground
Never shelter under an isolated tree
Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter
Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes and other bodies of water
Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.)

NOAA Lightning Safety Website

NOAA Lightning Safety Brochure

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Elder Abuse – A Harsh Reality

6/15/2015

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National Center on Elder Abuse

1 in 10 Americans age 60 and older experienced abuse over one year, and many experienced it in multiple forms[1].
Nearly 1 in 2 people who suffer from dementia experience some form of abuse by others.
Elder Abuse is under-reported. Nearly 1 in 14 cases ever comes to the attention of authorities.
Elder Abuse costs victims BILLIONS of dollars each year.
Elder Abuse is associated with increased rates of hospitalization.
Elders who experience mistreatment and self-neglect face a greater risk of dying sooner.
Survivors of Elder mistreatment suffer significantly higher levels of psychological distress than non-victims.

What is Elder abuse?

Elder abuse is intentional or neglectful acts that lead to harm of a vulnerable older adult. Physical abuse, neglect, emotional or psychological abuse, financial abuse and exploitation, sexual abuse, and abandonment are considered forms of elder abuse. In many states, self-neglect is also considered mistreatment[2].

Who is at Risk?

Elder abuse can occur anywhere and to anyone. Elder abuse can occur in private residences and residential care facilities such as a nursing home or assisted living facility. Elder abuse affects seniors of all races and cultures, as wells as across all socioeconomic groups. Recent statistics has shown the greatest risk factors to be: older woman, those with dementia and those with mental health or substance abuse issues. Additionally, isolation can also contribute to risk.

What should you do if you suspect abuse?

REPORT your concerns immediately. You do not need to prove the abuse is occurring; that is up to the professionals to investigate. To report suspected elder abuse call 9-1-1.

[1]http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/Resources/Publication/docs/NCEA_WhatYouMustKnow2013_508.pdf
[2] http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/Resources/Publication/docs/NCEA_RedFlags_web508.pdf

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15.

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National Ice Tea Month ~

6/3/2015

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A summertime treat, ice tea was made famous at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Ice tea is a great way to stay cool and hydrated during these warm summer days. Below are a few recipes to help you feel refreshed. Enjoy ~

Peach Ice Tea
3 cups boiling water
2 family size tea bags
1/3 cup sugar
1 (33 7/8) bottle peach nectar

Pour the boiling water over the 2 tea bags, then cover & let steep for 5 minutes.

Stir in the sugar, then pour into a pitcher & stir in the peach nectar. Serve in tall glasses over ice.

Lemon-Blueberry Sweet Tea
1 (12-oz.) package frozen blueberries
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
3 family-size tea bags
3/4 cup sugar

Garnishes: fresh blueberries, lemon rind strips

Bring blueberries and lemon juice to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Remove from heat; pour through a wire-mesh strainer into a bowl, using back of a spoon to squeeze out juice. Discard solids. Rinse saucepan clean.

Bring 4 cups water to a boil in same saucepan; add 3 tea bags; let stand 5 minutes. Discard tea bags. Stir in sugar and blueberry juice mixture. Pour into a pitcher; cover and chill 1 hour. Serve over ice. Garnish, if desired.

Ginger & Honey Sweet Tea
3 cups water
2 family-size tea bags
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
7 cups cold water

Garnish: lemon slices

Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a saucepan; add tea bags. Boil 1 minute; remove from heat. Cover and steep 10 minutes.

Discard tea bags. Stir in honey and ginger. Pour into a 1-gal. container, and add 7 cups cold water. Serve over ice. Garnish, if desired.

Lipton Tea

The Tea Association of the USA

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Are you at risk for a Stroke?

6/1/2015

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Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. When a stroke occurs, blood flow to the brain is cut off for a period of time. Depending on how long the blood flow is obstructed and which part of the brain is affected, a person may experience paralysis, speech impairment, swallowing difficulty, vision changes or other effects.

Who is at risk?
Experts have identified many risk factors for stroke. Risk factors that cannot be reduced include, age 55 or older, black race and a family history of stroke. Other risk factors, many which can be minimized, include the following:

High blood pressure (the leading cause of stroke)
Irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)
Cigarette smoking
Excess alcohol use
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Lack of physical activity
Excess dietary salt and fat
Circulation problems
Obesity or overweight
Sleep disorders (such as sleep apnea)

Know the warning signs
Rapid treatment of stroke is essential to preventing death and disability, so it is important to know the warning signs of this event. The American Stroke Association works to make the public aware of the signs of stroke, so that they can seek and receive help quickly. The association states that the signs of stroke are as follows:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Know how to respond
If you experience any of the warnings signs of stroke, immediately call 911. Be sure to check a clock so you’ll know what time the first symptoms appeared. The American Stroke Association states that when treatment with a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is started within 3 hours of symptom onset, the long-term disability associated with the most common type of stroke may be reduced.

FAST
Another public health and awareness group, the National Stroke Association, recommends using the acronym FAST to evaluate anyone who might be experiencing a stroke.

F (face): Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A (arms): Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S (speech): Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is his/her speech slurred or strange?

T (time): If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately. Don’t spend time waiting to determine whether the symptoms are serious.

American Stroke Association www.strokeassociation.org
National Stroke Association www.stroke.org

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Firework Safety

Lightning Saftey

Elder Abuse – A Harsh Reality

National Ice Tea Month ~

Are you at risk for a Stroke?

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