Gabay sa Gawaing-Bahay

46 Smart Uses for Salt

2010-08-17T00:24:00.000-07:00

How many ways can you use salt? According to the Salt Institute, about 14,000! The salt website has tons of handy tips for using salt around the house, and the best of the bunch -- plus my additions -- are listed below.

I can't think of another more versatile mineral. Salt is the most common and readily available nonmetallic mineral in the world. In fact, the supply of salt is inexhaustible.

For thousands of years, salt (sodium chloride) has been used to preserve food and for cleaning, and people have continued to rely on it for all kinds of nifty tricks.

So with its nontoxic friendliness and status as an endlessly abundant resource, let's swap out some toxic solutions for ample, innocuous, and inexpensive salt.

There are a number of forms of salt produced for consumption (and by default, housekeeping!): unrefined salt (such as sea salt), refined salt (table salt), and iodized salt. Kosher salt is sodium chloride processed to have flat crystals. And in case you're wondering, Epsom salt is an entirely different stuff: magnesium sulfate to be exact (which is a salt that I consider to be, essentially, miraculous).

Here are just a few of the many ways you can put salt to good use in your home:

In the Kitchen

Aside from all of the alchemy that salt performs in terms of baking chemistry and food flavor, salt has a number of other great applications in the kitchen.

Test egg freshness.
Put two teaspoons of salt in a cup of water and place an egg in it -- a fresh egg will sink, an older egg will float. Because the air cell in an egg increases as it ages, an older egg is more buoyant. This doesn't mean a floating egg is rotten, just more mature. Crack the egg into a bowl and examine it for any funky odor or appearance -- if it's rotten, your nose will tell you. (Bonus fact: if you have hard-boiled eggs that are difficult to peel, that means they are fresh!)

Set poached eggs.
Because salt increases the temperature of boiling water, it helps to set the whites more quickly when eggs are dropped into the water for poaching.

Prevent fruits from browning.
Most of us use lemon or vinegar to stop peeled apples and pears from browning, but you can also drop them in lightly salted water to help them keep their color.

Shell nuts more easily.
Soak pecans and walnuts in salt water for several hours before shelling to make it easier to remove the meat.

Prevent cake icing crystals.
A little salt added to cake icings prevents them from sugaring.

Remove odors from hands.
Oniony-garlicy fingers? I like soap and water, then rubbing them on anything made of stainless steel (it really works), but you can also rub your fingers with a salt and vinegar combo.

Reach high peaks.
Add a tiny pinch of salt when beating egg whites or whipping cream for quicker, higher peaks.

Extend cheese life.
Prevent mold on cheese by wrapping it in a cloth moistened with saltwater before refrigerating.

Save the bottom of your oven.
If a pie or casserole bubbles over in the oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spill. It won't smoke and smell, and it will bake into a crust that makes the baked-on mess much easier to clean when it has cooled.

Personal Care

Extend toothbrush life.
Soak toothbrushes in salt water before your first use; they'll last longer.

Clean teeth.
Use one part fine salt to two parts baking soda -- dip your toothbrush in the mix and brush as usual. You can also use the same mix dissolved in water for orthodontic appliances.

Rinse your mouth.
Mix equal parts salt and baking soda in water for a fresh and deodorizing mouth rinse.

Ease mouth problems.
For cankers, abscesses, and other mouth sores, rinse your mouth with a weak solution of warm saltwater several times a day.

Relieve bee-sting pain.
Ouch? Immediately dampen area and pack on a small pile of salt to reduce pain and swelling. More bee-sting tips here.

Treat mosquito bites.
A saltwater soak can do wonders for that special mosquito-bite itch -- a poultice of salt mixed with olive oil can help too.

Treat poison ivy.
Same method as for treating mosquito bites. (Salt doesn't seem to distinguish between itches.)

Have an exfoliating massage.
After bathing and while still wet give yourself a massage with dry salt. It freshens skin and boosts circulation.

Ease throat pain.
Mix salt and warm water, gargle to relieve a sore throat.

Around the House

Deter ants.
Sprinkle salt at doorways, window sills, and anywhere else ants sneak into your house. Ants don't like to walk on salt.

Extinguish grease fires.
Keep a box of salt near your stove and oven, and if a grease fire flares up, douse the flames with salt. (Never use water on grease fires; it will splatter the burning grease.) When salt is applied to fire, it acts like a heat sink and dissipates the heat from the fire -- it also forms an oxygen-excluding crust to smother the fire.

Drip-proof candles.
If you soak new candles in a strong salt solution for a few hours, then dry them well, they will not drip as much when you burn them.

Keep cut flowers fresh.
A dash of salt added to the water in a flower vase will keep cut flowers fresh longer. (You can also try an aspirin or a dash of sugar for the same effect.)

Arrange artificial flowers.
Artificial flowers can be held in place by pouring salt into the vase, adding a little cold water and then arranging the flowers. The salt become solid as it dries and holds the flowers in place.

Make play dough.
Use 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons oil, and 2 tablespoons cream of tartar. Stir together flour, cream of tartar, salt, and oil, and slowly add water. Cook over medium heat stirring frequently until dough becomes stiff. Spread onto wax paper and let cool. Knead the dough with your hands until it reaches a good dough consistency. (Read about juice dyes here.)

Repair walls.
To fill nail holes, fix chips or other small dings in white sheet-rock or plaster walls, mix 2 tablespoons salt and 2 tablespoons cornstarch, then add enough water (about 5 teaspoons) to make a thick paste. Use the paste to fill the holes.

Deter patio weeds.
If weeds or grass grow between bricks or blocks in your patio, sidewalk, or driveway, carefully spread salt between the cracks, then sprinkle with water or wait for rain to wet it down.

Kill poison ivy.
Mix three pounds of salt with a gallon of soapy water (use a gentle dish soap) and apply to leaves and stems with a sprayer, avoiding any plant life that you want to keep.

De-ice sidewalks and driveways.
One of the oldest tricks in the book! Lightly sprinkle rock salt on walks and driveways to keep snow and ice from bonding to the pavement and allow for easier shoveling/scraping. But don't overdo it; use the salt sensibly to avoid damage to plants and paws.

Tame a wild barbecue.
Toss a bit of salt on flames from food dripping in barbecue grills to reduce the flames and calm the smoke without cooling the coals (like water does).

Cleaning

Salt works as an effective yet gentle scouring agent. Salt also serves as a catalyst for other ingredients, such as vinegar, to boost cleaning and deodorizing action. For a basic soft scrub, make a paste with lots of salt, baking soda and dish soap and use on appliances, enamel, porcelain, etc.

Clean sink drains.
Pour salt mixed with hot water down the kitchen sink regularly to deodorize and keep grease from building up.

Remove water rings.
Gently rub a thin paste of salt and vegetable oil on the white marks caused by beverage glasses and hot dishes on wooden tables.

Clean greasy pans.
Cast-iron skillets can be cleaned with a good sprinkling of salt and paper towels.

Clean stained cups.
Mix salt with a dab of dish soap to make a soft scrub for stubborn coffee and tea stains.

Clean refrigerators.
A mix of salt and soda water can be used to wipe out and deodorize the inside of your refrigerator, a nice way to keep chemical-y cleaners away from your food.

Clean brass or copper.
Mix equal parts of salt, flour, and vinegar to make a paste, and rub the paste on the metal. After letting it sit for an hour, clean with a soft cloth or brush and buff with a dry cloth.

Clean rust.
Mix salt and cream of tartar with just enough water to make a paste. Rub on rust, let dry, brush off and buff with a dry, soft cloth. You can also use the same method with a mix of salt and lemon.

Clean a glass coffee pot.
Every diner waitress' favorite tip: add salt and ice cubes to a coffee pot, swirl around vigorously, and rinse. The salt scours the bottom, and the ice helps to agitate it more for a better scrub.

Laundry

Attack wine spills.
If a tipsy guest tips wine on your cotton or linen tablecloth, blot up as much as possible and immediately cover the wine with a pile of salt, which will help pull the remaining wine away form the fiber. After dinner, soak the tablecloth in cold water for 30 minutes before laundering. (Also works on clothing.)

Quell oversudsing.
Since, of course, we are all very careful in how much detergent we use in our laundry, we never have too many suds. But if someone overfills ... you can eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.

Dry clothes in the winter.
Use salt in the final laundry rinse to prevent clothes from freezing if you use an outdoor clothes line in the winter.

Brighten colors.
Wash colored curtains or washable fiber rugs in a saltwater solution to brighten the colors. Brighten faded rugs and carpets by rubbing them briskly with a cloth that has been dipped in a strong saltwater solution and wrung out.

Remove perspiration stains.
Add four tablespoons of salt to one quart of hot water and sponge the fabric with the solution until stains fade.

Remove blood stains.
Soak the stained cloth in cold saltwater, then launder in warm, soapy water and boil after the wash. (Use only on cotton, linen, or other natural fibers that can take high heat.)

Tackle mildew or rust stains.
Moisten stained spots with a mixture of lemon juice and salt, then spread the item in the sun for bleaching -- then rinse and dry.

Clean a gunky iron bottom.
Sprinkle a little salt on a piece of paper and run the hot iron over it to remove rough, sticky spots.

Set color.
Salt is used commonly in the textile industry, but works at home too. If a dye isn't colorfast, soak the garment for an hour in 1/2 gallon of water to which you've added 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup salt, then rinse. If rinse water has any color in it, repeat. Use only on single-colored fabric or madras. If the item is multicolored, dry-clean it to avoid running all of the colors together.

Sore Eyes: Symptoms, Remedies and Preventions.

2010-08-08T18:36:00.000-07:00

What is Sore Eyes?

Sore eyes, like Pink eye is a common term used for Conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the thin covering of the eyeball and inner eyelid. The inflammation is brought on by a viral, bacterial or allergy infection, however, sore eyes is generally due to a viral infection.

Extremely contagious, it spreads easily by eye to hand to eye contact, a runny nose or cough, or when people come into contact with a contaminated surface or object. If severe enough or long lasting, it can eventually lead to corneal scarring that can lead to glare and decreased vision. Experts say if you have sore eyes or symptoms of sore eyes, not to go to work or school until symptoms are relieved and treatment is successful.

Sore Eye Symptoms

There are many different symptoms you will encounter if you are suffering from sore eyes. Signs and symptoms generally peak within 3-4 days and last up to 14 days. These symptoms include:

* Redness of the eyes
* Discomfort
* Burning
* Gritty sensation
* Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
* Pain
* Difficulty opening eyes after sleeping
* Eyelids stuck together after sleeping
* Water-like discharge
* Soreness

Other signs and symptoms that are accompanied by the sore eyes include:

* Runny nose
* Sore throat
* Lymph glands are sore (lymph glands are your body’s defensive filter, they are located behind the ears)

How does sore eyes spread?

Sore eyes can spread by contact of contaminated hands with the eyes (hand-to-eye contact) or through touching of eyes with hands, which got into contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. It can also spread through droplets from a person with sore eyes, who also has a runny nose or cough.

How long does sore eyes last?

Signs and symptoms of sore eyes will peak in three to four days, and patient will be relieved and recover in about 10 to 14 days.

What are the complications of sore eyes?

After a severe and prolonged infection there can be corneal scarring that can result in glare and decreased vision.

Is there a treatment for sore eyes?

Sore eyes, which is of viral origin, is self-limiting. Anti-inflammatory and antibiotic eye drops or ointment may be used upon the advice of a health professional. To relieve the discomfort, warm compress may be applied to the eye 5 to 10 minutes three times a day.

How do you prevent sore eyes?

* Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water.

* Do not touch your eyes and face without washing your hands.

* Do not share towels, eyeglasses/ shades and make up.

* Do not reuse handkerchiefs (using a tissue is best).

* Used make-up must be thrown away if the patient has been diagnosed with infectious conjunctivitis.

* Be careful that tips of eye drops or ointments do not touch the eyes or eyelashes.

* Don’t swim (some bacteria and viruses can be spread in the water).

* Avoid shaking hands.

* Disinfect surfaces, doorknobs, counters, elevator buttons, hand rails with dilute bleach solution.

Clothes, towels, pillow cases and anything else which may have come in contact with an infected person should be washed.

What should patients with sore eyes do?

* Frequently wash hands with soap and water.

* Use clean tissue to remove discharge from eyes and wash hands afterwards.

* Dispose used tissue in garbage bins. If the latter is not available, keep tissue in a small plastic bag then discard it as soon as you find a garbage bin.

* To prevent irritation of the eye and possible scarring, do not use contact lens while one has sore eyes.

* Do not wear eye make-up until the problem has been resolved.

* Warm compress may be helpful to relieve discomfort and remove "crust."

* Use antibiotic or antiviral medication only upon prescription by the doctor.

* If drops or an ointment is prescribed, the applicator tip and infected eye must never come in contact with each other.

* Especially for persons with sore eyes with runny nose or cough, stay in a separate room or away from other family members or co-workers.

Should I report for work if I have sore eyes?

As much as possible, do not report for work. If circumstances require you to report for work, especially if you have sore eyes accompanied by runny nose and/or cough, stay in a separate room or away from other employees. In workplaces where you mingle or work closely with other employees, it is best to stay at home.

Should I go to school and attend classes if I have sore eyes?

Spread of sore eyes can be hastened by crowding and close contact with other persons thus, those with sore eyes are advised not report to school.

Until when should one be absent from work or school?

Until the symptoms have resolved and until there is no discharge from the eyes.

Pinoy Spaghetti

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Tsinilas at Sandals

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Diaper Home Business

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Indigo Babies

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Buchi

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Yema Balls

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Coconut Macaroons

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Chocolate Cupcake

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Chocolate Crinkles

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Custard Cake

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Brazo De Mercedes

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Lasagna

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Baked Macaroni

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Maja Blanca

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Espasol

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Chicharon Bituka

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Laing

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Electricity Energy Savings Tips

2010-07-25T02:13:00.000-07:00

ELECTRICITY ENERGY TIPS FROM MERALCO

General Appliances

• Keep your appliances well maintained. They operate more efficiently and use less energy when in good working order.

• When shopping for appliances, you can think of two price tags. The first one covers the purchase price. Think of it as a down payment. The second price tag is the cost of operating the appliance during its lifetime. You'll be paying on that second price tag every month with your utility bill for the next 10 to 20 years, depending on the appliance. Refrigerators last an average of 20 years; room air conditioners and dishwashers, about 10 years each; clothes washers, about 14 years.

• Unplug all electronic equipment when not in use. Make sure you unplug a transformer or voltage regulator when not in use so it does not heat up and consume more electricity.

Lighting

Lighting energy costs can account for about 20% to 30% of your electrical bill so it would be good to practice ways on how to save on it.

• Use natural light whenever possible. It is the best source of light and will help you save kilowatt hours. Strategically arrange your household in such a way that you can use natural light. Place reading tables near windows and put skylights in other working areas.

• Use lamps that provide direct lighting over desks, beds, and other work areas. Using them saves energy instead of the higher wattage lighting used to illuminate the whole room.

• Use low wattage light bulbs in areas that do not need strong lighting such as hallways, foyers and doorways.

• Turn off lights when not needed.

• Clean lighting fixtures regularly. Dirt lessens illumination by as much as 50%. One can work more effectively under good lighting which lessens the hours of operation of the lamps. In contrast, poor lighting will make someone work longer thus increasing electrical consumption. Regular cleaning of lamps will help provide proper lighting in your workplace.

• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Although CFLs cost higher than incandescent bulbs, they use up only 25% of the energy being used up by incandescent bulbs. A 16-watt CFL produces the same light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb at a quarter of the energy cost. CFLs also last eight times longer thank incandescent bulbs.

Washing Machines

Washing machine makes laundry work a lot easier compared to manually washing clothes. It saves us a lot of time, which we can spend doing other work. Although a washing machine comes with additional costs because it uses electricity, there are many ways to get the most out of this appliance while still being energy efficient.

• Maximize the operation of your washing machine. Fill water level appropriate for the size of the load. If your washing machine doesn’t have different water level selections for different loads, observe washing in full loads. This is more energy efficient than washing two small loads. However, do not overload your unit. Overloading makes your machine work harder and inefficiently.

• Use proper amount of detergent. Too many suds may require extra rinsing which makes your machine use more energy.

• Do not over-wash clothes. Different types of clothes require different wash cycles. Delicate clothes do not take as long as dirty work clothes.

• Presoak soiled garments to avoid using additional wash cycles.

• When using your spinner, make sure that water is drained from the cylinder and clothes are squeezed to effectively spin-dry clothes.

• Properly place your clothes inside the spinner to avoid unnecessary vibrations which would prevent the spinner from functioning efficiently.

Clothes Dryer

A clothes dryer is usually the second or third largest electricity-consuming appliance in your home. With its heating nature similar to water heaters and flat iron, the cost of operating a dryer is very significant. Knowing how to operate the machine efficiently will significantly help bring down your electric bill.

• Sort clothes when drying. The dryer operates most efficiently when drying clothes of the same thickness. Dry heavy clothes such as cotton towels, jeans, or jackets separately from light clothing such as underwear and summer clothes. Light-weight clothes take less drying time than a mixture of items.

• Make sure that clothes are effectively squeezed before putting them inside the dryer.

• Run only on full loads, as small loads are less economical. However, don’t overload the machine. Air needs to be able to circulate around the clothes to properly dry them.

• Don’t over-dry clothes. If your machine has a moisture sensor, use it. If it has a timer, consider shortening the drying time.

• Dry two or more loads in a row and make use of the hot air that’s already in the dryer from the first load.

• Locate your dryer in a warm and dry space. A clothes dryer in a cold or damp basement will have to work harder to get your clothes dry.

• Clean the fluff out of the filter before every load to allow better air circulation. Regularly clean the lint from vent hoods and lint kits.

• Regularly inspect the outside dryer vent. If it doesn’t close tightly, replace it. You’ll keep outside air from leaking in, reducing heating and/or cooling bills.

• Hang clothes to dry on sunny days to lessen use of dryer.

Clothes Iron

Ironing typically takes several hours to accomplish and uses up as much energy as ten 100-watt light bulbs. Aside from the appliance’s wattage rating, the number of hours it is being used also affects electricity cost. There are simple ways on how you can shorten ironing time, hence, electricity consumption.

• Iron large batches of clothing at one time to avoid wasting energy and reheating the iron several times.

• Dampen clothes moderately. Excessively moistened clothes take longer to iron.

• Do not overheat the iron. Set the temperature appropriately for the type of clothes to avoid scorching and wasting energy.

• Iron first those fabrics that require lower temperature to reduce warm up time, and then work up to those requiring higher heat.

• Switch the iron off in the last few minutes of ironing. The remaining heat will be enough to press lighter materials.

• Lessen your ironing hours by not ironing everything. By removing clothing promptly from the dryer/clothesline and folding them carefully, many items will require no ironing, or just a quick press. It is also unnecessary to iron towels, drip-dry shirts, etc.

Rice Cooker

Kitchen appliances, like rice cooker, stove, oven and refrigerator, account for approximately 26% of an average household’s electricity use. But this does not necessarily mean that you have to deprive yourself of the convenience these appliances provide. Having the right cooking habits and practicing simple energy conservation techniques can help reduce the electricity used to operate your kitchen appliances.

• Rice cookers have a keep warm function which is for maintaining the appropriate amount of heat needed to keep the rice warm after it is cooked. You may prevent the unnecessary operation of the keep warm function by properly scheduling the cooking of rice in accordance to the eating time.

• After using your rice cooker and every time it is not in use, unplug the power cord.

• Observe proper cleaning of the rice cooker. Make sure that the inner pot and hot plate are free from any form of impurities such as burnt grains of rice or hardened food. The surface of the plate should be well cleaned and smooth to allow complete contact with the inner pot to ensure efficient and even heating.

• Choose the appropriate size of rice cooker according to your household needs. An oversized rice cooker would consume more energy than a properly sized rice cooker.

Oven/Microwave

• Use glass pans. Glass retains heat, so you can set the oven to a lower temperature.

• Cook several dishes that require about the same temperature in the oven simultaneously. This will shorten your oven’s operating time.
• Keep preheating to a minimum.

• Refrain from looking inside a working oven too often and instead use the oven light to check on the food. Twenty percent (20%) of the heat can be lost each time you open the oven door.

• Turn the oven off before cooking is complete (up to 15 minutes, depending on the dish). The heat in the oven will continue to cook the dish until finished.

• If you need to self-clean the oven, plan to do it after cooking a meal while the oven is already hot, requiring less energy to raise the temperature.

• If available, use microwave or toaster ovens for cooking or warming leftovers. They can save up to 30% of the energy required to cook or reheat food in a regular oven.

• A microwave oven is an energy efficient alternative to a conventional oven. It cooks food faster because the energy heats only the food and not the oven compartment.

Stove

• Plan ahead. Prepare all ingredients before cooking to avoid frequent switching of the electric stove.

• Thaw frozen food thoroughly before cooking.

• Use flat-bottomed pots and pans as they allow faster heat transfer. They consume up to 50% less energy.

• Match pots and pans with stove element. Avoid using a big burner for a small pan to lessen heat transfer loss. This can save up to 25% of the electricity you use while cooking.

• Use the least amount of water and the smallest size of pan possible. Otherwise, you’re wasting energy to heat up excess water or excess metal.

• Cover pots and pans with lids while cooking to prevent heat from escaping.

• Turn off the electric stove during the last minutes of cooking. The remaining heat will be enough to keep the food simmering.

Dishwasher

• Run the dishwasher when full. It requires the same amount of energy for a full load as it does for a half load.

• Use the no heat drying option.

• Don’t wash dishes twice. Although it depends upon the age of your dishwasher, most dishwashers can get your dishes clean even without rinsing them first by hand.

Refrigerator

• When shopping for a new refrigerator, choose energy efficient refrigerators. Check the yellow label attached to the refrigerator. Units that have a higher Energy Efficiency Factor are more energy efficient and cost less to operate. New refrigerator models use 30% less electricity than those built 10 years ago (before 1999).

EEF Energy Guide

• Choose the refrigerator size appropriate for your household’s needs. An 8- to 10-cubic foot ref generally holds a food capacity for two people, while an extra cubic foot should be added for each additional person in the household. If the ref is too big and you don’t keep it filled, it wastes energy and costs more to operate; if too small, you waste energy by keeping the door open while constantly rearranging and making the contents fit.

• Place refrigerators at least 4 inches away from the wall so as not to overwork the motor and to allow efficient heat release from the condenser coils.

• Don’t position your refrigerator in direct sunlight or near heat-producing appliances like the stove.

• Avoid putting in too many items in the refrigerator. Overcrowding obstructs the air circulation inside your refrigerator and reduces cooling capabilities.

• On the other hand, it is better to keep the freezer full. The more air you displace with food and beverage, the less cold air you lose when you open the freezer door.

• Allow hot food to cool to room temperature before putting them in the refrigerator. Otherwise, the refrigerator works even harder to bring the temperature down.
• Cover liquids, wrap food, and wipe off moisture from containers before putting them in the refrigerator. Uncovered food release moisture and moisture makes the compressor work harder. It may also cause excessive build up of ice in your freezer.

• Defrost regularly. When there is already ¼ inch frost build up, defrost your refrigerator. Too much frost makes your unit operate inefficiently.

• To optimize the temperature setting of your refrigerator, store the most perishable items in the coldest part of your refrigerator which is usually the back or top shelf.

• Open the refrigerator doors only when necessary.

• Don’t store paper bags or any material behind the refrigerator. They can cut airflow, making the unit work harder.

• Clean the condenser coils at least twice a year using a vacuum cleaner or broom. The coils at the back of the unit remove heat.

• Check door gaskets. Make sure refrigerator doors are sealed tightly to prevent cold air from escaping. Place a sheet of paper between the door. If you could pull it easily, it is a sign that it is not airtight and makes cold air leak.

Electric Fan

• Choose the right type of fan to cool down a particular place. Desk fans are the most effective fans for small rooms. Stand fans, on the other hand, are best for medium-sized rooms. They offer great flexibility in providing the cool breeze you want because of their adjustable height levels. For large or spacious rooms, consider using ceiling fans. Ceiling fans have larger blades compared with other types of fans. The longer the blades, the more air they can push around. Ceiling fans are very efficient in stirring the cooler air along the floor to provide the necessary cooling in a room.

• Get the right size of ceiling fan for your room. The sizes of a ceiling fan commonly range from 34” to 56” in diameter. Generally, a 36” fan is suitable for rooms that measure up to 9’x12’. A 48” fan is practical for rooms up to 12’x15’, and a 56” fan suits rooms larger than 12’x15’. A long and narrow room may require two fans for effective air circulation. Undersized fans are not effective to use because these would not provide you the cooling requirements and comfort that you need.

• Properly set your fan speed according to your cooling needs. The speed level setting of a fan is directly proportional to its energy consumption. The faster your fan blades rotate the more energy your electric fan consumes.

• Use the oscillating feature of your desk fan to efficiently provide the cooling effect you need. Lock the oscillator when fan is needed in one direction only.

• Turn off your electric fans when no one is using it.

• Perform regular maintenance to keep your electric fan running more efficiently. Maintenance activities can save up to 30% of fan energy.

• Clean your electric fans regularly, to keep them running efficiently. Remove the dust accumulated at the fan blades, motor housings, and grills as it reduces the air current generated by the fan. Cobwebs, dust and other forms of impurities piling up at the motor’s cover prevent air to naturally provide the cooling needed by the motor or heat produced by the motor to be released. This causes additional heating of the motor’s windings, which leads to more consumption of energy.

Airconditioner

• When buying a new air conditioner, look for the Energy Guide (yellow label) attached to the unit and check the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). As a general rule for units with the same cooling capacity, a higher EER means a more efficient unit and a lower operating cost.

EER Energy Guide

• Choosing the right size of air conditioning unit for your room size can help you save on electricity. Oversized air conditioners are not energy efficient. With the right unit size, your air conditioner will operate properly for peak efficiency and would require low maintenance only. Follow the steps below and know the right size of air conditioner for your room.

1. Determine the floor area (in square meters) of the room or space you want to install an air conditioner in. For example, the floor area of a room with a length of 5 meters and a width of 4 meters is 20 square meters.

2. Use the formula below to estimate the required cooling capacity.
Cooling capacity = size of the room (m2) x 500 kJ/hr – m2
Substitute the computed floor area as the size of the room and then multiply this value by the constant 500kJ/hr – m2. The resulting value is the estimated cooling capacity of the air conditioner that you need to install.

3. Look for a unit with matching cooling capacity as shown on the Energy Guide. If the matching cooling capacity is not available, choose the one with the next higher value.

4. Get the highest Energy Efficiency Ration (EER) rating that your budget can afford. Remember that the higher the EER, the more savings you get from operating the unit.

• Install the aircon in a cool area. A unit operating in the shade uses 10 percent less electricity than the same unit operating in direct sunlight. Plant trees or construct coverings to provide shade for your aircon but be sure not to block the airflow.

• Check the insulation of your room. Spaces from the windows, doors and the airconditioner installation point may cause cold air to leak or heat to enter the room, making the unit work harder to provide the needed cooling.

• Don’t place lamps, television and other items, which can be a source of heat near your unit. The thermostat senses the heat given off by these items, causing your unit to run longer than necessary.

• Support your aircon’s cooling performance by draping windows with curtains, blinds and other similar accessories to block the sun’s rays. Consider also using an interior fan in conjunction with your airconditioner to help spread cool air more effectively without greatly increasing electricity consumption.

• Make sure that the thermostat is functioning correctly. Set your thermostat at the highest comfortable temperature as possible. A comfortable room temperature setting is about 24 degrees Celsius. Setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when turning your unit on will not help cool your room any faster. Rather, it could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.

• Set the fan speed on high, except on very humid days. When humidity is high, set the fan speed on low for more comfort. The low speed on humid days will cool your room better and will help remove moisture from the air because of slower air movement through the cooling equipment.

• Check the filter once a month by holding it up against the light. If you can’t see through it, it’s time to clean or replace the filter.

• Straighten any bent fins. Straightening the fins increases the efficiency of the air flow through the coils and adds to the overall cooling effect produced by the air conditioner.

• Regularly clean the condenser for your unit to efficiently expel the heat load of your airconditioned room.

Television

Normally, television operation takes long hours, which contributes to high electricity consumption and translates to a high electric bill. However, there are many ways on how you can manage your TV set’s electricity consumption and cut on electricity costs.

• Avoid running several sets at the same time because this multiplies your entertainment costs. It would be wise to agree on what program to watch and use one TV set only.

• Switch off your TV set when no one is watching. If you are using a transformer, unplug it because it consumes electricity.

• Don’t use the standby mode because this uses 10% to as much as 60% of the electricity that would be used by your TV set if it were switched on.

• Too much television viewing and playing of video games of kids can be substituted by educational board games and teaching them light sports to lessen television electricity consumption.

• Replace old TV tube sets with solid-state TV sets because these types use significantly less energy.

• Choose the appropriate television size suitable for your entertainment needs, taking into consideration units with lower wattage ratings. Bigger television sets would most likely have higher wattage ratings, thus, consume more energy. The screen size of your TV should be based on your viewing distance from the unit.

Computer

• When your computer or monitor is not in use, turn it off to reduce energy consumption. The monitor uses as much as 60% of the power used by your computer. The other 40% is used to keep the hard drive spinning and to power the electronics. Less energy is consumed when computers or monitors are turned on and off as often as required than when left on over time.

• If your computer makes use of a transformer or kept at standby mode, unplug it because these situations still consume electricity.

• Invest in energy-efficient computers and printers which save up to 90% electricity than standard models.

• Choose the right monitor size for your needs. Bigger monitors consume more electricity than smaller ones. For example, a 17-inch monitor consumes 35% more electricity than a 14-inch monitor.

• Replace your old computer monitor with a LCD monitor since it consumes less energy.

• Study and use your computer’s power saving features. The sleep mode automatically converts the computer to a low-energy mode when not in use, cutting energy usage to less than half. The energy saving mode turns the monitor and hard disk off after a few minutes of being idle.

HOME SAFETY

In preventing electrical accidents, a little care and vigilance goes a long way to help you avoid a good deal of damage. Here are a few reminders to keep in mind at home.

General Safety

• When not in use, unplug all small appliances.

• Use the correct size of fuse. Over or under-sized fuses could start a fire.

• Never replace a busted fuse with other materials. Wires and other conductors used in place of the fuses may not be able to isolate the electric circuit in case of a short circuit.

• Avoid octopus connections. Overloading might occur if multiple cords are connected to outlets designed only for one or two plugs.

• Secure loose electrical cords. Family members might trip over wires that are hanging loose along pathways.

• If light switches or outlets feel warm when turned on or in use, turn them off. Call a qualified electrician to immediately check the wiring.

• If plugs seem to fit loosely in a wall outlet, check the plugs or the outlet. A loose or poor electrical connection between plug and the outlet may cause overheating.

• Pull the plug, not the wire. Pulling the wire itself might make the insulation and wires snap or twist.

• Use outlet covers and outlet plates to help prevent electrocution. These can help prevent electric shock and possible electrocution.

• Never try to repair electrical products yourself unless you are a qualified electrician.

Living Room Safety

• Keep TV sets away from windows. Rain that enters the TV housing may damage the set and cause electric shock. Don't put vases or drinking glasses on top of TV sets as water may spill into the TV set.

• Keep small metal objects away from TV sets. Paper clips, nails and other small metal objects are conductors of electricity. They will cause electric shock.
• If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker or causes an electric shock, unplug it and have it replaced immediately.

• Don't run electrical cords under rugs, carpets or furniture. Walking on cords can break wiring and possibly cause a fire.

• Check all entertainment and computer equipment. Make sure all equipment and electrical appliances are in good condition and working properly. Look for cracks in or damage to wiring, plugs and connectors.

Bedroom Safety

• Use light bulbs of specified wattage for your lamp or lighting fixture. A bulb of improper wattage or rating or of the wrong type may lead to overloading and cause fire.

• Make sure light bulbs are screwed in securely. Loose bulbs may overheat.

• Don't place any electrical appliances near water, like in your sink or bathtub. Appliances that are used near water should be unplugged when not in use.

• Keep combustible materials away from lamps and other sources of heat. Clothing, curtains, newspapers, etc. can burn or catch fire easily.

Kitchen Safety

• Unplug the toaster or toaster oven before removing any stuck food.

• Use the proper type of plug for the outlet. If your appliances have three prong plugs and your kitchen has only two-conductor outlets, do not cut off the ground prong (the third/bottom prong) from the plugs; instead, convert your outlet into a 3-wire outlet especially for appliances with motors like refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and the like. Consult a qualified electrician.

• Never force a plug into an outlet if it doesn't fit. This could lead to fire or shock. Plugs should fit securely in outlets.

• Circuit breakers and fuses should be of the correct size for the circuits. If you do not know the correct size, have an electrician identify and label the size to be used.

When working with electricity, safety should be top-of-mind. This involves, planning, training and preparation. Here are some safety rules for the workplace, as well as some first aid procedures.

Simple Safety Rules

Emergency Procedure: ELECTRIC SHOCK
Emergency Procedure:
BURN

Simple Safety Rules

When planning and performing work on electrical systems and equipment, keep these principles in mind:

1. Plan every job.

2. Think about what could go wrong.

3. Use the right tools for the job.

4. Use procedures, drawings and other documents as tools to do the job.

5. Isolate the equipment from energy sources.

6. Identify the electrical shod and arc flash, as well as other hazards that may be present.

7. Minimize the hazard by guarding or establishing approach limitations.

8. Test every circuit and every conductor, every time before you touch.

9. Use personal protective equipment (PPE) as a last line of defense in case something goes wrong.

10. Be sure you are properly trained and qualified for the job.

The National Electrical Safety Foundation (NESF)-Workplace Safety Reminders

Simple Safety Rules

1. Do not guess about whether a circuit is live (energized) or not. Consider every equipment/line energized until proven otherwise.

2. Use proper instrument for testing circuits.

3. Never touch any wire of a circuit unless you are certain that it is de-energized.

4. Always use personal protective equipment (PPE) when dealing with electricity. These PPEs include rubber gloves, rubber mats, rubber blankets, fuse tongs, insulated tools and the like.

5. Lock open main switches and place tags before working on power circuits so that no one else may close them while you are working. Before closing a switch, make certain other workmen are clear of circuits.

6. Never work alone on any electrical equipment/circuits with more than 50 volts. The buddy system of working on electrical lines, installations is the best and safest way.

7. Use warning or safety signs and rope off or barricade dangerous areas.

8. In installing temporary electrical wiring or equipment, make every job safe for everyone.

9. Always observe strictly the applicable rules of the Philippine Electrical Code, National Electrical Safety Code and other applicable electrical standards.

10. Allow only qualified and properly trained men to work on electrical equipment.

11. Always arrange for proper maintenance of equipment, loads and wires with careful follow-up to see to it that insulation is in proper condition. Loose conductors can cause serious electrical accidents.

12. Never bridge a fuse with wire or other metal.

13. Don't test power lines with lamps to determine whether they are energized. A 110-volt test lamp place across a 220-volt line will blow-up. Use reliable circuit or voltage testers for testing or identifying circuits.

14. Always have periodic electrical inspections made by men qualified by experience and training to do such work.

15. The frames or cases of all electrical equipment or structures should be substantially grounded. The ground wire should be of low resistance and large enough to resist mechanical breakage and to carry off the heaviest current flow that might result from any insulation breakdown or other accidents.

16. Always protect electrical cords and cables from physical damage.

Types of Work at Home Scams

2010-07-25T02:09:00.000-07:00

Types of Work at Home Scams

Work at home scams typically fall under several variations on a few themes. Some work at home scams are pure cons while others are simply poor money making opportunities. But if time is money, then an "opportunity" that robs you of time with very little in return is, in my book, a scam. This list of possible work-at-home scams outlines both types.

To determine which are legitimate work-at-home opportunities, it is important to learn the telltale signs of work-at-home scams because the details of individual schemes are always changing.

Process Rebates Scam

The pitch in these work at home scams is that you make money just by filling out online forms; everything you need is provided. This is your classic bait-and-switch scam. You send $150-$200 or more for a program that will allow you to "process rebates at home." At best, what you get is information, which could be had for free elsewhere, about setting up an Internet business. At worst you are hooked into a work at home scam where you use your money to process rebates but are never reimbursed.

Google Work at Home Scams

Google work at home job ads that purported to charge $2 as a nominal fee to help Google find the serious applicants, really ended up charging a monthly sum (perhaps as much as $80) to the scam victims' credit cards. In addition to these work at home scams that promote non-existent jobs at Google, there are also home business kits promising big money with little effort by using Google Adsense. Don't fall for these either. Building a business using Adsense takes a lot of time and effort. More on Google job scams
.
Home Assembly/Envelope Stuffing

These are not legitimate. They are work at home scams. Think about the logic of it. Machines can stuff envelopes, and the cost and time involved in mailing work to be assembled simply isn't efficient.

Here's how it works: Answer an ad for home assembly or envelope stuffing by paying a fee or for the inventory. Assuming you do receive anything, you then assemble or stuff as instructed. You send your work back, expecting payment. Yet the company deems your work--no matter how perfect--not up to its "standards." The clause saying work must meet company standards is in the information packet, but the standards are never spelled out.

Directories of Business Opportunities/Business Software

Of course, there are legitimate books, directories and software about starting an online business, but look for them at reputable software dealers, booksellers or libraries. The ones sold only through websites or mail are very likely work at home scams. Often you see them advertised on Google Ads on websites and in search results. Typically they make big promises without really saying what they have to offer. Also falling under this category are "guaranteed money-making systems," business start-up kits and stock-picking software.

This is assuming that you ever get what you paid for. If the website promoting the product has no usable contact (i.e. a working phone or physical address), how will you contact it if your product doesn't arrive?

Anything Involving Wiring Money or Cashing Checks

The way these work at home scams operate is that the company sends you a check and asks for most of the money to be wired back under some pretense. Usually you are allowed to keep some portion of it as your payment. Problem is these checks are phony, and they bounce in your account. But only after you've wired the money out, and you're now on the hook for it with your bank.

The pretense for the scam is often different. It might be that you're supposed to be checking the quality of customer service at the bank or the wire transfer agent. But the simple rule for not falling into this scam is to never cash checks or wire money for anyone you don't know!!

Direct Selling/ Multilevel Marketing (MLM)

The legitimacy of MLMs vary greatly. Reputable companies, like Avon and Mary Kay, use multilevel marketing to sell quality products. But others use MLMs to sell questionable products or focus so much on recruitment, making them essentially pyramid schemes or work at home scams.

Anyone considering direct sales should understand the risks. Reps in MLM not only sell product but recruit sales reps or a "downline." You get a commission on your downline's sales, and often you sell your product to them. But remember there is an "upline" taking a commission on your sales. So that's a lot of fingers in everyone's pie (or profits). Plus, with so many reps recruited, the market can become saturated, making it hard for new reps to recoup initial costs.

Pyramid Schemes

A pyramid scheme is basically a business model where enrolling more people into the scheme is the basis on which you are paid. While some deem direct sales as product pyramid schemes, those with sales associates who have strong retail sales outside their downline and products with a wide appeal are less risky. Direct selling operations that focus more on the recruitment of new sales people and less on selling the product are the most dangerous.

Many pyramid schemes with no product sales operate under the guise of work-at-home business opportunities. Posting ads online and distributing flyers are examples.

Online Surveys

Online surveys usually are more an inefficient money-maker than out-and-out work at home scams. The pitch is that companies will pay you to participate in consumer research. But the amount paid per survey versus the time to find and complete surveys means you could make less than minimum wage. Check how much you must earn before a company will pay. A threshold of $50 may not seem too high when it promises hundreds of dollars, but in reality you may give up before you earn $50.
These companies make money by relentlessly pitching a range of products to their survey takers, who may feel the expected income justifies the expenditure. Also you must give out your phone, email and other information ensuring that you will be bombarded with spam.

Medical Billing

Ads offering turnkey medical billing businesses are usually misleading, if not downright false. The claim is that doctors will buy your services as a medical biller (even if you have no experience), and the company selling you the medical billing business will help you find clients. You must pay for the software, training and technical support.

However, according to the Federal Trade Commission, the reality is:

"Few consumers who purchase a medical billing business opportunity are able to find clients, start a business and generate revenues - let alone recover their investment and earn a substantial income. Competition in the medical billing market is fierce and revolves around a number of large and well-established firms."

Mystery Shopping

While there really are mystery shopper jobs, there are also work at home scams trying to dupe those looking for mystery shopper jobs. Judy Hedding About.com's Guide to Phoenix, describes a fairly elaborate and costly mystery shopper scam, involving cashing a check and wiring the money. (Something you never should do!)
But some scams are simpler. They ask you to pay to be included on a list of mystery shoppers in your area. Turns out, though, there is no list. Or if there is, very few companies actually hire from it. You should not have to pay to be a mystery shopper. Keep in mind that real employers pay you--not the other way around.

Data Entry/Call Centers

Legitimate companies do hire work-at-home agents for call centers and data entry. However, like mystery shopping, work-at-home data entry and call center jobs can be a ploy for other work at home scams. Con artists use them as bait to find victims. Beware of "recruiters" you must pay to find one of these jobs. Also "business start-up kits" are often sold to those wanting to get into this line of work.

Do not pay anyone to get started as a work-at-home call center or data entry agent. For real jobs, see this list of companies that hire home-based workers.

Is It Multi Level Marketing (MLM) Or A Pyramid Scheme?

2010-07-25T02:02:00.000-07:00

What Is a Pyramid Scheme?

Definition: A pyramid scheme is an illegal business structure in which recruitment of new members into the pyramid scheme is main avenue for compensation for participants. In a pyramid scheme, people recruit others to join an organization or business opportunity for a initial fee. They are then compensated--either solely or substantially--with a portion of these recruitment fees and the future earnings of their recruits.

There is often a cover for a pyramid scheme that makes it appear the compensation will come from something other than recruitment. Some might offer a work-at-home job opportunity for the the fee. But the work is simple and and entirely secondary to earning compensation. Sometimes they are dressed up as multilevel marketing (MLM) organizations, selling a product through direct sales. But in a true MLM, reps earn more through their own product sales than by recruiting others.

Pyramid schemes are illegal in the U.S. and many other countries including Canada, Philippines, China and the U. K. As the name implies, a small number of people at the very top can make large amounts of money in a pyramid scheme, while the last ones in at the bottom will lose money. This type of business model is not sustainable because there is no product of value powering the earnings. And when the market is saturated and people begin exiting the organization, it will collapse. This can happen very quickly.

Some covers for pyramid schemes include:
• Work at home jobs with initial fees and bonuses for recruitment
• Multilevel marketing business opportunities
• Chain letters
• Gift circles
• Investment clubs

Is It MLM Or A Pyramid Scheme?
Considering an MLM opportunity? Be careful. It may well be a legitimate MLM business. Or it may be a pyramid scheme.

MLM (multilevel marketing) is an attractive business proposition to many people. MLM offers the opportunity to become involved in a system for distributing products to consumers. Unlike the person starting a business from scratch, the MLM participant has the support of a MLM company that supplies the products and sometimes offers training as well.

As an MLM participant, you make your money by selling the MLM products to other MLM participants. If they're not already a member of your MLM company, you sign them up. Besides earning money off your own sales, you also earn a percentage of the income generated by the distributors that you've brought into the MLM plan (your downline). Often there are bonuses for selling particular amounts of MLM product or signing up a certain number of new members.

Sounds good, doesn't it? And being part of a well-run MLM business can be a lot like being a member of a large extended family.

Unfortunately,not every MLM opportunity is a legitimate business opportunity. Many pyramid schemes, frauds designed to part the unwary from their money, are disguised as MLM opportunities.

Like MLM, pyramid schemes depend on recruiting people to become distributors of a product or service. Like MLM, the pyramid scheme offers the opportunity to make money by signing up more recruits and by accomplishing certain levels of achievement.
The big difference between MLM and pyramid schemes is that MLM is legal in Canada and pyramid schemes aren't. (Participating in a pyramid scheme is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment.) But it can be very difficult for the person looking for a business opportunity to tell the difference between a legitimate MLM opportunity and a pyramid scheme at a glance. How do you tell whether it's a legitimate business opportunity or a scam?

The big difference between MLM and a pyramid scheme is in the business' operations. The entire purpose of a pyramid scheme is to get your money and then use you to recruit other suckers (ahem - distributors). The entire purpose of MLM is to move product. The theory behind MLM is that the larger the network of distributors, the more product the business will be able to sell.

Use these questions as an acid test if you're in the least doubt as to whether the opportunity you're considering is MLM or a pyramid scheme:

1) Are you required to "invest" a large amount of money up front to become a distributor? This investment request may be disguised as an inventory charge. Legitimate MLM businesses do NOT require large start up costs.

2) If you do have to pay for inventory, will the company buy back unsold inventory? Legitimate MLM companies will offer and stick to inventory buy-backs for at least 80% of what you paid.

3) Is there any mention of or attention paid to a market for the product or service? MLM depends on establishing a market for the company's products. If the company doesn't seem to have any interest in the consumer demand for its products, don't sign up.

4) Is there more emphasis on recruitment than on selling the product or service? Remember, the difference between MLM and a pyramid scheme is in the focus. The pyramid scheme focuses on fast profits from signing people up and getting their money. If recruitment seems to be the focus of the plan, run.

These next two questions will help you determine what the focus of the company is:

5) Is the plan designed so that you make more money by recruiting new members rather than through sales that you make yourself?

6) Are you offered commissions for recruiting new members?

As always, when you're investigating a potential business opportunity, you'll want to gather all the information you can about the MLM company's products and operations.

Get (and read) written copies of the company's sales literature, business plan and/or marketing plan. Talk to other people who have experience with the MLM company and the products, to determine whether the products are actually being sold and if they are of high quality. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints about the company. And listen carefully when you're at that MLM recruitment meeting. Inflated claims for the amazing amounts of money you're going to make should set your alarm bells ringing.

Being part of a successful MLM company can be both profitable and fun, but unfortunately, some purported MLM opportunities are actually pyramid schemes designed to flatten both your wallet and your dream of running a business.

Internet Business Opportunity Scams

2010-07-25T01:54:00.000-07:00

Dot-Com or Dot-Con?
About Internet Business Opportunity Scams

There are many Internet business opportunities that exploit the novelty of the Web as a lure. If you nibble, they'll further bait you with promises of freedom, esteem, high income and the good life. For a fee, they'll set you up with a company-sponsored, duplicate Website, along with products or services to sell. But many will also offer you incentives to recruit others to pay the fee, which is really what these so-called opportunities are all about. They are among what the U.S. Federal Trade Commission cleverly calls Dot Cons.

The real business of these types of dot-cons is not wholesaling products or services. It's selling the concept of the scheme itself, and duping you into reselling it for them. But by law in most U.S. states, one can't profit from recruiting, with nothing changing hands but fees and commissions for the scheme itself. That's illegal pyramiding. To get around it, these dot-cons sell tangible, "distributorship" Websites on which to seemingly resell their products or services. But a closer look reveals that, what's really for resale, is the distributorship itself over and over again.

It's all just a guise for a relatively new twist on an old scheme called multilevel marketing (MLM) or network marketing. One of the latest twists is exact method marketing (EMM). It's touted as a revolutionary idea that eliminates the flaws in MLM. But it's little more than refurbished hype for the same ol' scheme. They all use some form of pyramiding to resell the scheme itself, some by exploiting loopholes in the law to recruit through a backdoor, others by breaking the law until they're busted. Regardless, they are often formulas for failure, except for the people who created them. They're at the very top of the pyramid, the only place to be―if you're going to run a scheme, that is.

Even if products and services are more than just a hook to resell the scheme, often the dot-cons are not really wholesalers as they might claim. They are extra middlemen between wholesale distributors and you, and you can bet they're taking an extra cut too. Another dot-con trick of the trade, is to "borrow" the reputations of well-known merchants, financial institutions and such, by offering referral (affiliate) deals with them. But affiliate deals are all over the Web, and just about anybody with a Web site can sign up for free. Again, the dot-cons are often unnecessary middlemen taking an extra cut. As a result of these tricks, you'll likely have to gouge absurd retail prices from your customers to earn any margin at all, share your meager referral commissions with unnecessary middlemen, or both.

Web-savvy shoppers would likely be hesitant to submit their credit card numbers to reputation-unknown shopping sites, especially those that also hype get-rich-quick schemes. Additionally, you'll be competing with hundreds to thousands of others who paid the fee too, and are attempting to sell the exact same products or services and the scheme itself, on identical, company-sponsored Websites. It sounds good on the surface when dot-con hype promises "free training" in marketing and sales techniques. But the fact of the matter is, those with duplicate Websites are your direct competitors, and they too are learning the same techniques.

Internet business opportunities also tend to hype the ease of online marketing and popularity of shopping on the Web (e-commerce). Granted, online marketing has a broader reach than most traditional methods. It's also true that e-commerce is a growing, multi-billion dollar industry. But that very reach and popularity makes the Web a highly-competitive place to do business, and it gets more so everyday. Many failed dot-coms will attest to that. Despite that some had millions in venture capital to finance far more marketing resources than home-based Internet businesses typically can, they failed.

Among the biggest dot-con hypes is getting "free advertising" in "hundreds" of search engines. When starting up a small businesses, you likely won't have much of an advertising budget. So, free advertising might sound good, and you can bet the dot-cons know it does. Because search engines are the "Yellow Pages" of the Web, it's true that they are the main source of Website traffic. But the reality is, there are only a handful that deliver significant traffic, such as Yahoo, Excite and Google. The rest of the "hundreds" are relatively inconsequential for marketing.To get a free listing of significance in the popular handful takes search-engine
savvy―a whole 'nother ballgame―and lots of hard work, such as keyword and meta tag optimization. If you don't know what a keyword or meta tag is when you pay the fee for an Internet business opportunity, you're already in trouble.

Again, if the dot-cons promise to teach you the techniques, remember that they're also teaching your direct competitors. Besides, no matter how much training a seller of duplicate Websites promises, many of the popular search engines won't list identical sites or those that are even close. Search engines call them mirror sites, and consider multiple submissions of same to be redundant. Some won't list get-rich-quick schemes either, for obvious reasons.

"Build it and they will come" doesn't work nearly as well as the dot-cons would love for you to believe, so they conveniently fail to mention these and other inherent flaws. Natch, it's to their advantage to make it sound far easier than it is. They'll say anything to get your fee, their main source of income.

The Bottom Line of Internet Business Opportunity

Often, after the people who buy into these dot-cons have tapped out their friends, relatives, neighbors, church comembers and everybody else they know, they soon realize that the so-called Internet business opportunity was not the piece of cake the hype made it out to be. According to an article about MLMs by Small Business Advisor, Dr. Judith Kautz, "There are countless stories of folks who have destroyed their social foundation through pressuring friends and family to buy their products."

After the product or service phase fails, the only way left for them to recoup their investments or make what little money they can, is to dupe others into paying the fee, the same as they were duped. But they soon realize that's not easy either, as it'll take a lot of dishonest, "network marketing" legwork. Those with a conscience usually just give up at this point, eat their losses and learn a lesson the hard way.

But there are some who still don't get it, even after they've ticked off everybody they know. Sadly, scam artists turn otherwise ethical people into scam artists too, whether or not the otherwise-ethical realize it. Dr. Kautz indicates that they are so brainwashed by the hype, it becomes a cultlike obsession. She says, "Members mouth company mottos with no conscious awareness of how ludicrous the claims may be."
You've probably seen their "Wonderful Opportunity" and similarly-titled posts in forums that allow it. (The Job Searching: Technical Forum doesn't.) Besides their typical ambiguous hype about all the "wonderfulness" with no mention of the inherent flaws and risks, the URLs they provide are one of the clues that they're duped "cultists" attempting to dupe others into an Internet business opportunity scam. The URLs terminate in tags that credit them with a chunk of your fee, should you bite the bait. For example,

http://www.getduped.com/?id=maryq123
Where ?id=maryq123 is the tag. They likely also get a cut of your future sales, as your "sponsors." In other words, you'll help them move up the "pyramid" at your expense.

Others are just unoriginal and lazy con artists, looking for an easy ride at your expense. They could care less about selling products or services and have joined several, dupe-others-in Internet business opportunities. They'll say just about anything to get their cut of your fee. Some will even act hurt or angry if you question their motives. But con artists really don't give a hoot what you think about them. It's all just part of their bait-and-hook campaign.

How to Avoid Internet Business Opportunity Scams

This is not intended to discourage you from starting up a home-based Internet business, but rather just to give you a heads up about the too-good-to-be-true, Internet business opportunity scams. There are legit small businesses that have successfully carved out or exploited Internet niches that are not yet saturated, one of the real "secrets" to success. But, as does just about any other entrepreneurial endeavor, it takes hard work, knowledge, dedication, cash flow and resources. (An understanding significant other helps, too.) There are few quick and easy ways to make money on the Internet, at least not honestly.

Granted, there are people who've had success with Internet business opportunity scams, if duping others in defines success. But for every so-called success, there are hundreds of people who aren't, because the hype misled them into believing that it was far easier than it really is. Don't be fooled by
• Testimonials
• Guarantees
• Documented "proof"
• Huge income potentials
And more hype, like "Get out of bed when you want to!!!" and "Work when you want!!!" Who among your customers will understand that you didn't ship their orders on time, because you chose to sleep in? How many people earn huge incomes by being lazy? To succeed at a dot-con, you must be selling, scheming and conniving all of the time. In fact, dot-con or not, Internet businesses take orders 24/7, which is pretty much the whole idea. So, you likely won't be sleeping in much or taking many days off, until you can afford a staff to take over. But how many years will that take, even for a legit Internet business?

It's all just bait conceived by con artists, who care only about parting you from your money. Ethics don't come into it. (For more about con-artist tricks, click Work-at-Home Job Scams in the sidebar.) The predators who run Internet business opportunity scams count on a new sucker being born every minute, and thrive on the naive, wishful and desperate. Stay-at-home moms, the elderly, and physically-challenged people who need money most are among their prime prey.

Lumpiang Sariwa

2010-07-25T00:22:00.000-07:00

Pork Siomai

2010-07-25T00:21:00.000-07:00

Siopao Asado

2010-07-25T00:20:00.000-07:00

Buttered Puto

2010-07-25T00:18:00.000-07:00

Chicken Empanada

2010-07-25T00:16:00.000-07:00

Espasol

2010-07-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

Kutsinta

2010-07-25T00:13:00.000-07:00

Pichi-Pichi

2010-07-25T00:10:00.000-07:00

Biko

2010-07-25T00:09:00.000-07:00

Casava Cake

2010-07-25T00:07:00.000-07:00

Leche Plan

2010-07-25T00:05:00.000-07:00

Pancit Palabok

2010-07-25T00:04:00.000-07:00

Pancit Canton

2010-07-25T00:03:00.000-07:00

Pancit Guisado

2010-07-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Chicken Curry (Pinoy Style)

2010-07-24T23:59:00.000-07:00

Pininyahang Manok

2010-07-24T23:57:00.000-07:00

Pork Afritada

2010-07-24T23:56:00.000-07:00

Beef Mechado

2010-07-24T23:54:00.000-07:00

Stir Fried Beef

2010-07-24T23:53:00.000-07:00

Beef with Broccoli

2010-07-24T23:51:00.000-07:00

Chicken Cordon Bleu

2010-07-24T23:50:00.000-07:00

Morcon

2010-07-24T23:48:00.000-07:00

Lumpiang Shanghai

2010-07-24T23:47:00.000-07:00

Embutido

2010-07-24T23:46:00.001-07:00

Paksiw na Pata

2010-07-24T23:44:00.000-07:00

Bistek Tagalog

2010-07-24T23:41:00.001-07:00

Sisig

2010-07-24T23:40:00.000-07:00

Max's Style Fried Chicken

2010-07-24T23:38:00.000-07:00

Nilasing na Hipon

2010-07-24T23:36:00.000-07:00

Buttered Garlic Shrimp

2010-07-24T23:32:00.000-07:00

Sweet and Sour Tilapia

2010-07-24T23:28:00.000-07:00

Fish Escabeche

2010-07-24T23:23:00.000-07:00

Internet Business Opportunity Scams

2010-07-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

Dot-Com or Dot-Con?
About Internet Business Opportunity Scams

There are many Internet business opportunities that exploit the novelty of the Web as a lure. If you nibble, they'll further bait you with promises of freedom, esteem, high income and the good life. For a fee, they'll set you up with a company-sponsored, duplicate Website, along with products or services to sell. But many will also offer you incentives to recruit others to pay the fee, which is really what these so-called opportunities are all about. They are among what the U.S. Federal Trade Commission cleverly calls Dot Cons.

The real business of these types of dot-cons is not wholesaling products or services. It's selling the concept of the scheme itself, and duping you into reselling it for them. But by law in most U.S. states, one can't profit from recruiting, with nothing changing hands but fees and commissions for the scheme itself. That's illegal pyramiding. To get around it, these dot-cons sell tangible, "distributorship" Websites on which to seemingly resell their products or services. But a closer look reveals that, what's really for resale, is the distributorship itself over and over again.

It's all just a guise for a relatively new twist on an old scheme called multilevel marketing (MLM) or network marketing. One of the latest twists is exact method marketing (EMM). It's touted as a revolutionary idea that eliminates the flaws in MLM. But it's little more than refurbished hype for the same ol' scheme. They all use some form of pyramiding to resell the scheme itself, some by exploiting loopholes in the law to recruit through a backdoor, others by breaking the law until they're busted. Regardless, they are often formulas for failure, except for the people who created them. They're at the very top of the pyramid, the only place to be―if you're going to run a scheme, that is.

Even if products and services are more than just a hook to resell the scheme, often the dot-cons are not really wholesalers as they might claim. They are extra middlemen between wholesale distributors and you, and you can bet they're taking an extra cut too. Another dot-con trick of the trade, is to "borrow" the reputations of well-known merchants, financial institutions and such, by offering referral (affiliate) deals with them. But affiliate deals are all over the Web, and just about anybody with a Web site can sign up for free. Again, the dot-cons are often unnecessary middlemen taking an extra cut. As a result of these tricks, you'll likely have to gouge absurd retail prices from your customers to earn any margin at all, share your meager referral commissions with unnecessary middlemen, or both.

Web-savvy shoppers would likely be hesitant to submit their credit card numbers to reputation-unknown shopping sites, especially those that also hype get-rich-quick schemes. Additionally, you'll be competing with hundreds to thousands of others who paid the fee too, and are attempting to sell the exact same products or services and the scheme itself, on identical, company-sponsored Websites. It sounds good on the surface when dot-con hype promises "free training" in marketing and sales techniques. But the fact of the matter is, those with duplicate Websites are your direct competitors, and they too are learning the same techniques.

Internet business opportunities also tend to hype the ease of online marketing and popularity of shopping on the Web (e-commerce). Granted, online marketing has a broader reach than most traditional methods. It's also true that e-commerce is a growing, multi-billion dollar industry. But that very reach and popularity makes the Web a highly-competitive place to do business, and it gets more so everyday. Many failed dot-coms will attest to that. Despite that some had millions in venture capital to finance far more marketing resources than home-based Internet businesses typically can, they failed.

Among the biggest dot-con hypes is getting "free advertising" in "hundreds" of search engines. When starting up a small businesses, you likely won't have much of an advertising budget. So, free advertising might sound good, and you can bet the dot-cons know it does. Because search engines are the "Yellow Pages" of the Web, it's true that they are the main source of Website traffic. But the reality is, there are only a handful that deliver significant traffic, such as Yahoo, Excite and Google. The rest of the "hundreds" are relatively inconsequential for marketing.

To get a free listing of significance in the popular handful takes search-engine savvy―a whole 'nother ballgame―and lots of hard work, such as keyword and meta tag optimization. If you don't know what a keyword or meta tag is when you pay the fee for an Internet business opportunity, you're already in trouble. Again, if the dot-cons promise to teach you the techniques, remember that they're also teaching your direct competitors. Besides, no matter how much training a seller of duplicate Websites promises, many of the popular search engines won't list identical sites or those that are even close. Search engines call them mirror sites, and consider multiple submissions of same to be redundant. Some won't list get-rich-quick schemes either, for obvious reasons.

"Build it and they will come" doesn't work nearly as well as the dot-cons would love for you to believe, so they conveniently fail to mention these and other inherent flaws. Natch, it's to their advantage to make it sound far easier than it is. They'll say anything to get your fee, their main source of income.

The Bottom Line of Internet Business Opportunity

Often, after the people who buy into these dot-cons have tapped out their friends, relatives, neighbors, church comembers and everybody else they know, they soon realize that the so-called Internet business opportunity was not the piece of cake the hype made it out to be. According to an article about MLMs by Small Business Advisor, Dr. Judith Kautz, "There are countless stories of folks who have destroyed their social foundation through pressuring friends and family to buy their products."

After the product or service phase fails, the only way left for them to recoup their investments or make what little money they can, is to dupe others into paying the fee, the same as they were duped. But they soon realize that's not easy either, as it'll take a lot of dishonest, "network marketing" legwork. Those with a conscience usually just give up at this point, eat their losses and learn a lesson the hard way.

But there are some who still don't get it, even after they've ticked off everybody they know. Sadly, scam artists turn otherwise ethical people into scam artists too, whether or not the otherwise-ethical realize it. Dr. Kautz indicates that they are so brainwashed by the hype, it becomes a cultlike obsession. She says, "Members mouth company mottos with no conscious awareness of how ludicrous the claims may be."

You've probably seen their "Wonderful Opportunity" and similarly-titled posts in forums that allow it. (The Job Searching: Technical Forum doesn't.) Besides their typical ambiguous hype about all the "wonderfulness" with no mention of the inherent flaws and risks, the URLs they provide are one of the clues that they're duped "cultists" attempting to dupe others into an Internet business opportunity scam. The URLs terminate in tags that credit them with a chunk of your fee, should you bite the bait. For example,

http://www.getduped.com/?id=maryq123

Where ?id=maryq123 is the tag. They likely also get a cut of your future sales, as your "sponsors." In other words, you'll help them move up the "pyramid" at your expense.

Others are just unoriginal and lazy con artists, looking for an easy ride at your expense. They could care less about selling products or services and have joined several, dupe-others-in Internet business opportunities. They'll say just about anything to get their cut of your fee. Some will even act hurt or angry if you question their motives. But con artists really don't give a hoot what you think about them. It's all just part of their bait-and-hook campaign.

How to Avoid Internet Business Opportunity Scams

This is not intended to discourage you from starting up a home-based Internet business, but rather just to give you a heads up about the too-good-to-be-true, Internet business opportunity scams. There are legit small businesses that have successfully carved out or exploited Internet niches that are not yet saturated, one of the real "secrets" to success. But, as does just about any other entrepreneurial endeavor, it takes hard work, knowledge, dedication, cash flow and resources. (An understanding significant other helps, too.) There are few quick and easy ways to make money on the Internet, at least not honestly.

Granted, there are people who've had success with Internet business opportunity scams, if duping others in defines success. But for every so-called success, there are hundreds of people who aren't, because the hype misled them into believing that it was far easier than it really is. Don't be fooled by
• Testimonials
• Guarantees
• Documented "proof"
• Huge income potentials

And more hype, like "Get out of bed when you want to!!!" and "Work when you want!!!" Who among your customers will understand that you didn't ship their orders on time, because you chose to sleep in? How many people earn huge incomes by being lazy? To succeed at a dot-con, you must be selling, scheming and conniving all of the time. In fact, dot-con or not, Internet businesses take orders 24/7, which is pretty much the whole idea. So, you likely won't be sleeping in much or taking many days off, until you can afford a staff to take over. But how many years will that take, even for a legit Internet business?

It's all just bait conceived by con artists, who care only about parting you from your money. Ethics don't come into it. (For more about con-artist tricks, click Work-at-Home Job Scams in the sidebar.) The predators who run Internet business opportunity scams count on a new sucker being born every minute, and thrive on the naive, wishful and desperate. Stay-at-home moms, the elderly, and physically-challenged people who need money most are among their prime prey.

The 5 Most Common Business Scams And How To Avoid Them

2010-07-24T20:38:00.000-07:00

The 5 Most Common Business Scams And How To Avoid Them

Scam artists are getting more and more adept at exploiting the weaknesses of small businesses. While some of these business scams are golden oldies, they’re still putting money into scammer’s pockets – and out of the pockets of many small business owners. The best defense against scams is awareness and vigilance. Here are five of the most common small business scams and how to avoid them.

1. Advance Fee Loan Scams.

Whether it’s offered in a newspaper ad, on the Internet, or by email, this scam offers money at reasonable rates – if you send them money. They may say they need the money for insurance purposes or to get the money across the border. Whatever the reason, you’ll never see that money again – or the money they were supposedly going to loan your business.

How to Avoid This Scam: Be aware that it is illegal in both Canada and the U.S. to ask for money up front for a loan. If you’re asked to pay anything before you’ve received an agreed-on loan, walk away.

Related Scam: Bogus Equipment Leasing Deals – Your company gets a letter saying that you’re pre-approved for leasing. All you have to do is send in your first (or your first and last month’s) payment. The scam is that you never receive the equipment you were expecting to lease.

2. Fraudulent Billing Scams.

Your business receives an invoice for goods or services that you haven’t ordered. The hope of the scammers sending these out is that your business will just pay up. Easy money for them. Easy loss for you.

How to Avoid This Scam: Examine your invoices carefully. Educate your staff about phony invoices. Set up your payables system so that at least two people must authorize any payments.

Related Scam: The Surprise Cheque – Your business receives a cheque for a small amount. The catch is that the cheque is actually a “promotional incentive”. If you cash it, the company will claim that you’ve agreed to whatever terms are printed on the back of the cheque, and start the billing process immediately.

3. Business Identity Theft.

Identity theft itself is the fastest growing fraud in North America, according to the Better Business Bureau, and business identity theft is growing apace. Just as someone can steal your personal identity, your business’s identity can be stolen. Once stolen, the thieves can use your business name and financial information to open a bank account and run up expenses.

How To Avoid This Scam: Take steps to protect your business data. Shred all your discarded paper, including anything that has your business name on it. Be careful when responding to email asking you to do such things as verify your account. Be wary about information you give out over the phone.

Related Scam: Phishing – Internet “come-ons” that trick consumers and small businesses into providing bank or other financial information.

4. Work-At-Home Scams.

Preying on people who want to have home-based businesses, these scams offer the opportunity to “make big bucks” working at home. Sometimes the ads say all you have to do is own a computer. Other times, the work-at-home scam involves stuffing envelopes or assembly work. The scam is simple; you pay for the information or the materials you supposedly need. Rather than being the key to making money, what you get is useless.

How to Avoid This Scam: Don’t bite. These are not profitable opportunities; the only ones who make money from them are the scammers. If it seems too good to be true, it is. You never have to send money to get information about legitimate business opportunities.

5. Credit Card Scams.

Fraudulent use of credit cards is also on the rise. In the standard credit card scam, someone will call and place an order, offering to pay with fraudulently obtained credit card information. The business fills the order, but later is informed that the credit card was stolen and the amount of the transaction will be charged back to the business’s account.

How to Avoid This Scam: Always use due diligence to ensure that orders are legitimate. Be particularly leery of overseas callers, new callers placing large orders, and/or callers requesting rush shipping. If you are suspicious, ask the customer for the name of the credit card’s issuing bank and its toll-free customer service number which is printed on the back of all credit cards. Tell the customer you will check with the bank and call him back.

Sick Scam Twist: Overseas credit card thieves are using the TTY phone service for the deaf and posing as hearing-impaired callers. These scammers use the TTY relay operator to place an order for multiple high-end items.

Plants that Prevent Termites and Other Insects at Home.

2010-07-23T02:35:00.000-07:00

Plants that Prevent Termites and Other Insects at Home.

Termites are insects that can damage your home. These destructive insects bore into wood, causing it to weaken and rot. PestWorld.org reports that termites cause an estimated $5 billion in property damage each year in the United States. Keep termites away by keeping all wood away from your house, especially old wood that contacts the soil. Some plants can also help prevent termites.

Vetiver Grass

This grass is native to India and has been used for perfumes because of its pleasant scent. It repels termites and is toxic to them. Vetiver grass is used to help control erosion because of its deep root system, and it is the roots that cause termites, cockroaches, ants, ticks, weevils and other insects to stay far away from the area in which it grows. BeyondPesticides.com reports that the chemical nootkatone is responsible for deterring the Formosan subterranean termite. Vetiver grass has also been used in houses to repel moths.

Hot Chili Peppers

Hot chili pepper plants can deter termites, ants and cutworms, according to The Organic Farmer in Kenya, Africa. You can also make a spray from chilies by soaking 2 cups of very hot chilies in 1 qt. of water for one day; shake the mixture, strain it and add 1 gallon of water and 1tbsp. of dishwashing soap. Spray the wood where you suspect termites exist and repeat your application every other day until you see no further evidence of termite damage.

Catnip

Since 2003 the United States Department of Agriculture has tested essential oil of catnip for termite control, according to ScienceDaily.com. It has been shown to kill termites when they come into direct contact with this substance, but it is short-lived in the environment. It is unknown if growing catnip plants around the borders of your home can also deter or kill termites, but it is worth a try. The tests conducted with catnip oil are considered preliminary---its safety and effectiveness have not been officially tested.

Garlic, Mint, Marigolds

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises homeowners to limit their use of pesticides for termites and all other insect pests. In their publication, "Pesticide Reduction," they suggest using common plants that are known to repel insects. Included in their list are mint, garlic and marigolds, which you can plant near your house. Mint is a perennial plant that grows well and spreads nicely in damp, partly-shady areas. Garlic and marigolds are annuals that you can plant every spring.

List of Essential Oils for Insect Repellent

2010-07-23T02:32:00.000-07:00

List of Essential Oils for Insect Repellent

Essential oils are produced in the oil glands of plants. They're extracted for human use by steam or water distillation or through the use of solvents. Essential oils are most often used in aromatherapy to improve health and well being. But some essential oils are also effective insect repellents. Essential oils are an alternative to chemical insect repellents. Wear the oil dabbed on the skin and sprayed lightly on hair or clothing to repel insects. Dilute essential oils in a neutral oil such as almond or olive oil before applying to skin.

Lemon Grass

The essential oil of lemon grass contains citronella, which has long been a popular mosquito repellent, most often used in outdoor candles.

Lavender

Essential oil from lavender repels insects, hence lavender's popularity as a moth repellent in clothing chests and linen closets.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil, from the Australian tea tree, is also effective at repelling insects, according to Colorado State University's Cooperative Extension Service.

Pennyroyal

Oil of pennyroyal is an effective repellent for fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. The Cooperative Extension Service of Colorado State University cautions that oil of pennyroyal is very toxic and should be used with caution by a certified herbalist.

Osage Orange

The fruit of the Osage orange tree, also know as hedge apples of bowd'ark, contains an essential oil that researchers at Iowa State University have demonstrated repels German cockroaches, the brown cockroach found in many areas of the country. The oil can be applied as a barrier to keep cockroaches out of the home.

14 Uses of Lemons (or Calamansi) at Home

2010-07-23T02:21:00.000-07:00

14 Uses of Lemons (or Calamansi) at Home

Lemons. What a bright, fresh scent that just sings “wake up, feel refreshed!” This attribute must be why I often think of lemon’s scent on hot sticky days. I expect it goes along with the appeal of a cold glass of lemonade. Besides adding lemons to drinks there are a number of ways to use lemons in the home.

Like vinegar, much of lemon’s gift is that it is an acid. It smells much fresher than vinegar, which is fermented. (You’d be surprised how many people write to me saying that they truly don’t like the smell of vinegar.) As an acid, lemon juice provides the benefits of vinegar, such as being a very good antiseptic killer of mold, germs, and bacteria.

What better time to learn some of these household hints during the heat of the summer when you and your family can receive a bright aromatherapy boost from the scent? Here are tips for using lemons for hair spray, cleaning metal, freshening the air, cleansing your skin, lightening your hair, and more.

HOUSEHOLD USES

Lubricant

Lemon oil is renowned as being very lubricating, which is why it is so often used on furniture.

Aromatherapy

Known to calm fears and lift depression, adding a few drops of pure lemon oil to a diffuser is considered to be a good tip for when someone is experiencing these symptoms.

Antiseptic/Deodorizer

Lemon juice is a great choice for deodorizing counters, cutting boards, and more. The acid in lemon juice kills mold, bacteria, and germs. While not a 100 percent kill rate, you can’t sterilize your house anyway, so if you look at lemon juice as a solidly good deodorizer you will turn to it when you aren’t needing a hospital-level disinfectant job.

Using leftover lemon and lime rinds in the garbage disposal is a great way to deodorize this apparatus, which so often can give off an odor.

Glass and China Cleaner

The acid in lemon juice will break down the alkaline minerals found in hard water. It will also work on stains. Make a solution of ½ water and ½ lemon juice and place in the glass, letting the solution set there for a few hours before washing as usual.

Air Freshener

Simmer sliced lemons in water. I like to use 2-3 lemons to about 4 cups of water. Simmer for a few hours, replacing water as needed.

Microwave Cleaner

Just put a slice or two of lemon in a cup of water and put in the microwave for 30 seconds on high. Use a cloth to clean dry. You can substitute a tablespoon or so of lemon juice with water.

Metal Cleaner

An acid like lemon juice works wonders for cleaning metals such as chrome, copper, and brass. There are myriad ways to get the lemon juice onto the metal, from simply rubbing the metal with a cut lemon (use the majority of the juice for a salad dressing), to mixing lemon juice with salt for a bit of an abrasive.

Whitener

Lemon juice and the sun combined proves to whiten clothes, hair, and more. I like to soak grey clothes in some water and lemon juice (add ½ a cup of lemon juice to a small load of laundry and let it soak, agitating occasionally, before rinsing and hanging on the line on sunny days).

Soap Scum/Shower Stalls

Soap is very alkaline and when it combines with hard water minerals it tends to form soap scum that can then coat shower stalls, bathtubs, and sinks. Acids cut through this soap scum. I’d suggest using lemon juice straight on a sponge and wash it onto the soap scum, let set for a few hours, and then rinse.

Mineral Buildup/Scale

Minerals are very alkaline and the acid of lemon juice cuts through and dissolves the minerals. Known as scale, mineral buildup frequently gets hard and in particular resides around faucets. Pour straight lemon juice on a washcloth or clean cloth. Lay the cloth over the scale and let set for a few hours before rinsing and cleaning the area.

PERSONAL CARE

Alpha Hydroxy Acid

Freshly squeezed lemon juice on my face is one of the best facials I have ever given myself. Lemon is a natural alpha hydroxyl acid and works like a charm to remove dead skin cells. Add some carrot juice for some vitamin A and you have something as good as found in any spa!

Hairspray

The solvents in most commercial hairspray could light your hair on fire if you were ever near an open flame, so I recommend you make this lemon-based natural hair spray at home, instead!

Hair Lightener

How many Saturdays I spent on the front lawn in the summer, my hair rinsed full of lemon juice, lying in the sun for a few hours, hoping to lighten my brown tresses. Squeeze ½ cup of lemon juice into a container with a spout, pour on your hair, work it through, and set in the sun until it is fully dry and then wash as usual. Make sure not to get the lemon juice in your eyes!

Skin Lightener

Dab freshly squeezed, straight lemon juice on dark spots like “liver spots” that you want to remove. Let it fully dry and then rinse.

23 Ingenious Uses for White Vinegar

2010-07-23T02:13:00.000-07:00

23 Ingenious Uses for White Vinegar
By Allison Ford, DivineCaroline

About 10,000 years ago, ancient people discovered a product that would change lives forever. Wine had been around for a while, but after some was allowed to oxidize, vinegar was born. It became an immediate hit. The Babylonians used vinegar as a preservative, as did Ancient Greeks and Romans. Some peoples, including the Chinese, believed that vinegar was a tonic that would give them strength and vitality, as well as bestow healing properties. Legend has it that Hannibal only succeeded in crossing the Alps because his armies heated mountain boulders and doused them with vinegar, causing the rocks to crumble and clear the path.

Vinegar’s magic ingredient is acetic acid, which comprises about 5 percent of the finished product. Vinegar has been produced commercially for about 2,500 years, making it one of the oldest products in use by humans. There are many different types of vinegar out there, all produced by the oxidization of alcohol into acetic acid, but white vinegar is the most useful and the most versatile by far.

White vinegar has dozens of household applications, and the best part is that it’s green. It’s enjoying a newfound popularity as many people try to avoid toxic or harsh cleaning chemicals around their pets and children, as well as save money by making their own cleansers. Not to mention that vinegar is cheap, it’s versatile, and it doesn’t irritate allergies like some fragranced cleansers. Chances are, whenever you run into a household funk, vinegar is your answer.

Kitchen Remedies: Besides adding zest to salad dressings, white vinegar is handy for many cooking tasks.

1. Adding a few tablespoons of white vinegar to the water when poaching eggs helps the whites stay formed. Add a few tablespoons to the water when boiling eggs, and if any shells crack, the whites won’t leak out.

2. If your leafy veggies are wilted, soaking them in cold water with a little vinegar can perk them right up.

3. After chopping an onion, you can eliminate the odor from your hands by rubbing them with a bit of white vinegar.

4. When cooking any vegetables from the cabbage family (like broccoli or cauliflower), adding a little vinegar to the water will perk up the taste and reduce the gassiness they can induce. This also works when cooking beans, making Mexican food a far more attractive option.

Cleaning House: Vinegar can help with a variety of cleaning tasks, since the acid acts as a disinfectant and an odor neutralizer.

5. Clean and deodorize the garbage disposal by mixing equal parts vinegar and baking soda and putting it down the drain. After letting this fizzing mixture sit for a few minutes, flush out the drain with warm water for a clean and stink-free sink.

6. The steam from a boiling a bowl of vinegar and water can loosen caked-on food and get rid of odors in the microwave, too.

7. One of my favorite vinegar remedies and my personal weapon against fruit flies is to set out a small dish of white vinegar and some smashed fruit, covered with plastic wrap with some holes in it–the flies crawl into the trap, but can’t get out.

8. If your stemware is cloudy from the dishwasher, wrap the glasses in paper towels soaked in vinegar, let them sit, and the cloudy deposits will rinse right off.

9. There’s no need to use bleach on tile grouting when you can let vinegar soak on it and then scrub with a toothbrush.

10. Bring lightly scuffed or dirty DVDs back to life by wiping them down with some vinegar on a soft cloth.

11. If you have water condensation marks on your wood, just rub the piece of furniture with equal parts vinegar and vegetable oil to remove them. Make sure to rub with the grain, and then invest in a set of coasters.

Cleaning Clothes: Vinegar works magic on upholstery and fabric, too.

12. If a child has an “accident” on a mattress, clean it with a solution of vinegar and water. Afterwards, pour some baking soda onto the mattress, and brush or vacuum the residue once it’s dry.

13. Spraying vinegar onto deodorant-stained shirts before the wash can remove the discoloration. It’s also great for fighting mustard, tomato sauce, or ketchup stains.

14. Adding a cupful of vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine can freshen up bright colors and give you cleaner laundry. Acetic acid won’t harm fabrics, but it dissolves the soap residue that can dull dark clothing. It also acts as a fabric softener, a static reducer, and a mildew-inhibitor.
15. Vinegar will also loosen chewing gum stuck to car upholstery, rugs, and carpeting.

Outdoor Solutions: Tough enough even for the outdoors, vinegar can function as a car cleaner and an organic pest remover.

16. If your car still sports a bumper sticker from two elections ago, remove it by spraying the decal with white vinegar to saturate the area, and the sticker will peel off in a few hours. (You might need to spray it a few times.)

17. Wiping down your car windows and windshield with a three-to-one vinegar-water mixture can keep them frost-free in the wintertime.

18. Kill weeds and crabgrass growing in sidewalks and driveways by pouring vinegar onto them. A half-and-half solution of vinegar and water can even kill garden slugs if it’s sprayed directly onto them.

19. To extend the life of cut flowers, add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the water in their vase, along with a teaspoon of sugar.

Pet Protection: There’s no need to use chemicals near pets when vinegar can handle most cleaning and bathing tasks.

20. Wipe out itchy ears with undiluted vinegar to keep dogs and cats from scratching at them.

21. Cats avoid vinegar, so to keep them from scratching furniture or sitting on certain areas, spray a vinegar solution onto the spot.

22. For outdoor areas, soak a sponge in vinegar and place it in the forbidden area to keep cats away. If kitty likes to mark his territory, spraying the area with vinegar can help eliminate the smell and deter recurrences.

23. Vinegar also gets rid of skunk odor. Soak the animal with a half-and-half vinegar and water solution, and then rinse with fresh water.

Vinegar can disinfect, deodorize, and de-gunkify just about everything. From shower curtains to sofa cushions, there’s not much that it can’t do. As an alternative to expensive and harsh cleaning chemicals, vinegar is something you can feel good about keeping in your cupboards. White vinegar and baking soda can even remove product buildup from hair and leave it soft and manageable. A product that can clean you, the dog, your car, and your house is what I’d call a good, green buy.

40 Fantastic Uses for Baking Soda

2010-07-23T01:57:00.000-07:00

40 fantastic uses for baking soda

Most of us know that baking soda can be used for more than just making homemade cookies and other dough rise. It's not uncommon to see an open box of this leavening agent deodorizing refrigerators, for example. But did you know that there are at least 40 different ways to use baking soda?

Baking soda makes a perfect stand-in for many personal care, cleaning, and deodorizing products. The list of benefits is long: It is inexpensive, free of toxic chemicals, versatile, and effective.

Wondering how baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate, works its magic? It helps regulate pH — keeping a substance neither too acidic nor too alkaline. When baking soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, its natural effect is to neutralize that pH. Beyond that, baking soda has the ability to retard further changes in the pH balance, known as buffering.

This dual capability of neutralizing and buffering allows baking soda to do things such as neutralize acidic odors (like in the refrigerator) as well as maintain neutral pH (like in your laundry water, which helps boost your detergent's power). It's a simple reaction, but one that has far-reaching effects for a number of cleaning and deodorizing tasks.

And so without further ado, here are some of the many creative ways you can use baking soda.

Personal Care

1. Make toothpaste

A paste made from baking soda and a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution can be used as an alternative to commercial non-fluoride toothpastes. You can also just dip your toothbrush with toothpaste into baking soda for an extra boost.

2. Freshen your mouth

Put one teaspoon in half a glass of water, swish, spit, and rinse. Odors are neutralized, not just covered up.

3. Soak oral appliance

Soak oral appliances (like retainers, mouthpieces, and dentures) in a solution of 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in a glass or small bowl of warm water. The baking soda loosens food particles and neutralizes odors to keep appliances fresh. You can also brush appliances clean using baking soda.

4. Use as a facial scrub and body exfoliant

Give yourself an invigorating facial and body scrub. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Rinse clean. This is gentle enough for daily use.

5. Skip harsh deodorant

Pat baking soda onto your underarms to neutralize body odor.

6. Use as an antacid

Baking soda is a safe and effective antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach, and/or acid indigestion. Refer to baking soda package for instructions.

7. Treat insect bites and itchy skin

For insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply as a salve onto affected skin. To ease the itch, shake some baking soda into your hand and rub it into damp skin after bath or shower.

8. Make a hand cleanser and softener

Skip harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water or 3 parts baking soda with gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean.

9. Help your hair

Vinegar is amazing for your hair, but baking soda has its place in the shower too. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly — baking soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.

10. Clean brushes and combs

For lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean. Remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and allow to dry.

11. Make a bath soak

Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration. It also makes your skin feel very soft. Or just focus on soothing your feet. Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a tub of warm water and soak feet. Gently scrub.

Cleaning

12. Make a surface soft scrub

For safe, effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile, and sinks — even fiberglass and glossy tiles — sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For extra cleaning power, make a paste with baking soda, coarse salt, and liquid dish soap — let it sit then scour off.

13. Hand-wash dishes and pots and pans

Add 2 heaping tablespoons baking soda (along with your regular dish detergent) to the dish water to help cut grease and foods left on dishes, pots, and pans. For cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda and detergent with water first, then use dry baking soda on a clean damp sponge or cloth as a scratch-less scouring powder.

14. Freshen sponges

Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of the mess (4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water). For more thorough disinfecting, use the microwave.

15. Clean the microwave

Baking soda on a clean damp sponge cleans gently inside and outside the microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water.

16. Polish silver flatware

Use a baking soda paste made with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub onto the silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry for shining sterling and silver-plate serving pieces.

17. Clean coffee and tea pots

Remove coffee and tea stains and eliminate bitter off-tastes by washing mugs and coffee makers in a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. For stubborn stains, try soaking overnight in the baking soda solution and detergent or scrubbing with baking soda on a clean damp sponge.

18. Clean the oven

Sprinkle baking soda onto the bottom of the oven. Spray with water to dampen the baking soda. Let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub, scoop the baking soda and grime out with a sponge, or vacuum, and rinse.

19. Clean floors

Remove dirt and grime (without unwanted scratch marks) from no-wax and tile floors using 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water — mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor. For scuff marks, use baking soda on a clean damp sponge, then rinse.

20. Clean furniture

Clean and remove marks (even crayon) from walls and painted furniture by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.

21. Clean shower curtains

Clean and deodorize your vinyl shower curtain by sprinkling baking soda directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. Hang it up to dry.

22. Boost your liquid laundry detergent

Give your laundry a boost by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work harder. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner, fresher, and brighter. Or you can add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle for fresher sheets and towels or to neutralize gym clothes and odoriferous clothing.

23. Clean and freshen sports gear

Use a baking soda solution (4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water) to clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment. Sprinkle baking soda into golf bags and gym bags to deodorize and clean golf irons (without scratching them!) with a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda to 1 part water) and a brush. Rinse thoroughly.

24. Remove oil and grease stains

Use baking soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.

25. Clean batteries

Baking soda can be used to neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers, etc., because its a mild alkali. Be sure to disconnect the battery terminals before cleaning. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and apply with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning and reconnecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion. Please be careful when working around a battery — they contain a strong acid.

26. Clean cars

Use baking soda to clean your car lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats, and floor mats without worrying about unwanted scratch marks. Use a baking soda solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Apply with a sponge or soft cloth to remove road grime, tree sap, bugs, and tar. For stubborn stains use baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or soft brush. Eliminate odors by sprinkling baking soda directly on fabric car seats and carpets. Wait 15 minutes (or longer for strong odors) and vacuum up the baking soda.

Deodorizing

27. Deodorize your refrigerator

Place an open box in the back of the fridge to neutralize odors.

28. Deodorize trashcans and recyclables

Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your trashcan to keep stinky trash smells at bay. Clean your recyclables container periodically by sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge. Wipe clean and rinse. Also, sprinkle baking soda on top as you add recyclables to the bin.

29. Deodorize drains and garbage disposals

To deodorize your sink and tub drains and garbage disposal and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water — it will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain. (This a good way to dispose of baking soda that is being retired from your refrigerator.)

30. Deodorize and clean dishwashers

Use baking soda to deodorize before you run the dishwasher and then as a gentle cleanser in the wash cycle.

31. Deodorize lunch boxes

Between uses, place a spill-proof box of baking soda in everyone’s lunch box to absorb lingering odors.

32. Remove odor from carpets

Liberally sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let set overnight or as long as possible (the longer it sets the better it works). Sweep up the larger amounts of baking soda, and vacuum up the rest. (Note that your vacuum cleaner bag will get full and heavy.) An added bonus: You'll also deodorize your vacuum cleaner.

33. Freshen closets

Place a box on the shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh.

34. Deodorize pet items

Cover the bottom of your cat box with baking soda, then fill as usual with litter. To freshen between changes, sprinkle baking soda on top of the litter after a thorough cleaning. Eliminate odors from your pet's bedding by sprinkling liberally with baking soda, wait 15 minutes (or longer for stronger odors), then vacuum up.

35. Deodorize sneakers

Keep odors from spreading in smelly sneakers by shaking baking soda into them when not in use. Shake out before wearing.

36. Freshen stuffed animals

Keep favorite cuddly toys fresh with a dry shower of baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda on and let it sit for 15 minutes before brushing off.

Miscellaneous

37. Cure all camping needs

Baking soda is a must-have for your next camping trip. It's a dish-washer, pot-scrubber, hand-cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste, and fire extinguisher, and has many other uses.

38. Extinguish fires

Baking soda can help in the initial handling of minor grease or electrical kitchen fires, because when baking soda is heated, it gives off carbon dioxide, which helps to smother the flames. For small cooking fires (frying pans, broilers, ovens, grills), turn off the gas or electricity if you can safely do so. Stand back and throw handfuls of baking soda at the base of the flame to help put out the fire — and call the fire department just to be safe.

39. Care for the septic system

Regular use of baking soda in your drains can help keep your septic system flowing freely. One cup of baking soda per week will help maintain a favorable pH in your septic tank.

40. Scrub fruits and vegetables

Baking soda is the food safe way to clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and vegetables. Just sprinkle a little on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse. Here’s another way to clean your vegetables as well.

Hurricane or Typhoon Safety Guide

2010-07-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hurricane or Typhoon Safety Guide

Hurricanes or typhoons are strong storms that cause life- ¬and property¬-threatening hazards such as flooding, storm surges, high winds and tornadoes.
Preparation is the best protection against the dangers of a hurricane.

What should I do?

• Listen to Weather broadcast for critical information from the PAGASA. Check your disaster supplies and replace or restock as needed.
• Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (e.g. bicycles, lawn furniture, toys, trash cans).
• Close windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If you do not have hurricane shutters, close and board up all windows and doors with plywood.
• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.
• Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.
• Fill your car’s gas tank.
• Talk with members of your household and create an evacuation plan. Planning and practicing your evacuation plan minimizes confusion and fear during the event.
• Learn about your community’s hurricane response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs as required and make plans for your pets to be cared for.
• Evacuate if advised by authorities. Be careful to avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges.

What supplies do I need?

• Water—at least a 3¬-day supply; one gallon per person per day
• Food—at least a 3¬-day supply of non¬perishable, easy-¬to¬-prepare food
• Flashlight
• Battery-¬powered or hand¬-crank radio
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (7¬-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)
• Multi¬purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Silver-foil emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
• Tools/supplies for securing your home
• Extra set of car keys and house keys
• Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
• Rain gear
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• Camera for photos of damage

What do I do after a hurricane?

• Continue listening to Weather broadcast or the local news for the latest updates.
• Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding even after the hurricane or tropical storm has ended.
• If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe.
• Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed ¬out bridges.
• Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company.
• Stay out of any building that has water around it.
• Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance purposes.
• Use flashlights in the dark. Do NOT use candles.
• Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it’s not contaminated.
• Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.
• Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.
• Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

Recovery

As you rebuild
• Secure double entry doors at the top and the bottom.
• Strengthen existing garage doors to improve the wind resistance, particularly double-wide garage doors.
• Protect windows with permanent storm shutters or one-half inch marine plywood that is pre-cut to fit your doors and windows.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts to prevent flooding and unnecessary pressure on the awnings.
• Select trees that are not as subject to uprooting to replace damaged ones. A gardening or landscaping professional can give you excellent advice.
• Identify a place to store lawn furniture, toys, gardening tools and trash cans that is away from stairs and exits to prevent them from being moved by high winds and becoming missiles.

Ask a professional to...

• Ensure roof sheathing is properly installed.
• Ensure end gables are securely fastened to the rest of the roof.
• Fasten the roof to the walls with hurricane straps.
• Elevate your home if it is near the coast and subject to flooding from a storm surge.

Let Your Family Know You’re Safe

Earthquake Safety Checklist

2010-07-22T07:50:00.000-07:00

Earthquake Safety Checklist

An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the earth caused by the breaking and shifting of rock beneath the earth’s surface. Earthquakes strike suddenly, without warning, and they can occur at any time of the year, day or night. Forty-¬five states and territories in the United States are at moderate to very high risk of earthquakes, and they are located in every region of the country.

Are you at increased risk from earthquakes?

• Contact your local emergency management office, chapter state geological survey or department of natural resources.
• Mobile homes and homes not attached to their foundations are at particular risk during an earthquake.
• Buildings with foundations resting on landfill and other unstable soils are at increased risk of damage.

Did you know?

Doorways are no stronger than any other part of the structure. During an earthquake, get under a sturdy piece of furniture and hold on. This will provide some protection from falling objects that can injure you during an earthquake.

How can I prepare?

• Become aware of fire evacuation and earthquake plans for all of the buildings you occupy regularly.
• Pick safe places in each room of your home, workplace and/or school. A safe place could be under a piece of furniture or against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases or tall furniture that could fall on you.
• Practice drop, cover and hold on in each safe place. If you do not have sturdy furniture to hold on to, sit on the floor next to an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms.
• Keep a flashlight and sturdy shoes by each person’s bed.
• Make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundation.
• Bolt and brace water heaters and gas appliances to wall studs.
• Bolt bookcases, china cabinets and other tall furniture to wall studs.
• Hang heavy items, such as pictures and mirrors, away from beds, couches and anywhere people sleep or sit.
• Brace overhead light fixtures.
• Install strong latches or bolts on cabinets. Large or heavy items should be closest to the floor.
• Learn how to shut off the gas valves in your home and keep a wrench handy for that purpose.
• Learn about your area’s seismic building standards and land use codes before you begin new construction.
• Keep and maintain an emergency supplies kit in an easy-¬to-¬access location.

What should I do during an earthquake?

If you are inside when the shaking starts...

• Drop, cover and hold on. Move as little as possible.
• If you are in bed, stay there, curl up and hold on. Protect your head with a pillow.
• Stay away from windows to avoid being injured by shattered glass.
• Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit. If you must leave the building after the shaking stops, use stairs rather than an elevator in case there are aftershocks, power outages or other damage.
• Be aware that fire alarms and sprinkler systems frequently go off in buildings during an earthquake, even if there is no fire.

If you are outside when the shaking starts...

• Find a clear spot and drop to the ground. Stay there until the shaking stops (away from buildings, power lines, trees, streetlights).
• If you are in a vehicle, pull over to a clear location and stop. Avoid bridges, overpasses and power lines if possible. Stay inside with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Then, drive carefully, avoiding bridges and ramps that may have been damaged.
• If a power line falls on your vehicle, do not get out. Wait for assistance.
• If you are in a mountainous area or near unstable slopes or cliffs, be alert for falling rocks and other debris. Landslides are often triggered by earthquakes.

What do I do after an earthquake?

• After an earthquake, the disaster may continue. Expect and prepare for potential aftershocks, landslides or even a tsunami. Tsunamis are often generated by earthquakes.
• Each time you feel an aftershock, drop, cover and hold on. Aftershocks frequently occur minutes, days, weeks and even months following an earthquake.
• Check yourself for injuries and get first aid, if necessary, before helping injured or trapped persons.
• Put on long pants, a long-¬sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and work gloves to protect against injury from broken objects.
• Look quickly for damage in and around your home and get everyone out if your home is unsafe.
• Listen to a portable, battery¬-operated or hand¬-crank radio for updated emergency information and instructions.
• Check the telephones in your home or workplace to see if you can get a dial tone. Make brief calls to report life ¬threatening emergencies.
• Look for and extinguish small fires. Fire is the most common hazard after an earthquake.
• Clean up spilled medications, bleach, gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately.
• Open closet and cabinet doors carefully as contents may have shifted.
• Help people who require special assistance, such as infants, children and the elderly or disabled.
• Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and stay out of damaged areas.
• Keep animals under your direct control.
• Stay out of damaged buildings.
• If you were away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so. Use extreme caution and examine walls, floors, doors, staircases and windows to check for damage.
• Be careful when driving after an earthquake and anticipate traffic light outages.

Recovery

As you rebuild

• Install strong latches or bolts on cabinets.
• Place large and heavy objects and breakable items (bottled foods, glass or china) on lower shelves.
• Anchor overhead lighting fixtures to joists.
• Anchor top-heavy and freestanding furniture such as bookcases, china cabinets and other tall furniture to wall studs to keep these from toppling over in an earthquake.
• Secure gas appliances to the floor to prevent them from tipping over in an earthquake.
• Use heavy gauge metal strapping, sometimes called "strap iron" or "plumber's tape," to anchor the water heater to wall studs to keep it from moving or tipping. Find out if there are local building codes that describe the type of metal strapping that may be required in your area.

Ask a professional to

• Install flexible fittings to avoid gas or water leaks.
• Bolt the frame of the house to the foundation.
• Repair deep cracks in ceilings and foundations and make sure they are not indications of structural damage.
• Provide structural engineering design advice. Ask about home repair and strengthening tips for exterior features, such as porches, decks, sliding glass doors, canopies, carports and garage doors.

Let Your Family Know You’re Safe

Fire Prevention & Safety Guide

2010-07-22T07:42:00.000-07:00

Fire Prevention & Safety Guide

The most effective way to protect yourself and your home from fire is to identify and remove fire hazards. Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.

• If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL for help.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Test them every month and replace the batteries at least once a year.
• Talk with all household members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.
Prevent home fires
Steps You Can Take Now
• Keep items that can catch fire at least three feet away from anything that gets hot, such as space heaters.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Talk to children regularly about the dangers of fire, matches and lighters and keep them out of reach.
• Turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
Cooking Safely
• Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Stay in the home while simmering, baking, roasting or boiling food. Check it regularly and use a timer to remind you that food is cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire—like pot holders, towels, plastic and clothing— away from the stove.
• Keep pets off cooking surfaces and countertops to prevent them from knocking things onto the burner.
Caution: Carbon Monoxide Kills
• Install carbon monoxide alarms in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas.
• If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, move quickly to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door.
• Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawl space or any partially enclosed area.

Practice fire safety at home

Smoke Alarms

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
• Teach children what smoke alarms sound like and what to do when they hear one.
• Once a month check whether each alarm in the home is working properly by pushing the test button.
• Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year. Immediately install a new battery if an alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low.
• Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years. Never disable smoke or carbon monoxide alarms.
• Carbon monoxide alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms. Know the difference between the sound of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
Fire Escape Planning
• Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home.
• Make sure everyone knows where to meet outside in case of fire.
• Practice escaping from your home at least twice a year and at different times of the day. Practice waking up to smoke alarms, low crawling and meeting outside.
• Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes should catch fire.

In case of fire...

Follow Your Escape Plan!

Remember to GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL your local emergency phone number.
• If closed doors or handles are warm, use your second way out. Never open doors that are warm to the touch.
• Crawl low under smoke.
• Go to your outside meeting place and then call for help.
• If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with doors closed. Place a wet towel under the door and call the fire department or 9-1-1. Open a window and wave a brightly colored cloth or flashlight to signal for help.
Use Caution with Fire Extinguishers
• Use a portable fire extinguisher ONLY if you have been trained by the fire department and in the following conditions:
o The fire is confined to a small area, and is not growing.
o The room is not filled with smoke.
o Everyone has exited the building.
o The fire department has been called.
• Remember the word PASS when using a fire extinguisher.
o Pull the pin and hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you.
o Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
o Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
o Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

Let Your Family Know You're Safe

Preparedness Tips

��Remember that lit candles are fire. Keep them at least 12 inches from anything that can burn, such as curtains, bedding, mattresses, paper, books, flammable decorations, clothing, and upholstered furniture.

��Always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed. Do not leave a room before blowing out all candles.

��Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over easily, are made from a material that cannot burn, and are large enough to collect dripping wax.

��Place candles where they cannot be reached or knocked over by pets and children.

��During an emergency, always use flashlights and not candles as light sources.

��Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. And keep all matches and lighters out of reach and out of site of children.

��Keep all lit candles and other open flames away from any flammable liquids.

��Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home and use the test button to check each alarm each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year.

FIRE PREVENTION TIPS

AT HOME

- Put phone numbers of fire department near phone.

- Eliminate fire hazards through goods housekeeping. Dispose waste paper, rubbish, and other flammable materials regularly.

- Keep matches out of the children’s reach.

- Oil or gas lamps and candles should be placed away from curtains. Do not put them where the wind, children or pets may topple them. Put out the flame before going to bed.

- Do not keep flammable materials like gasoline, alcohol, and paint inside the house.

- Regularly check your electrical installations, and have all frayed wirings and electrical fixtures changed or repaired by a licensed electrician.

- Do not overload electrical circuits by putting additional lights and appliances.

- Blown fuses should not be replaced with coins, wires, or any metal.

- Never leave a lit cigarette/cigar/pipe unattended-it may fall on flammable materials which could start a fire.

SIMPLE HOME PREVENTION MEASURES

- Crush your cigarettes and cigar stubs thoroughly before discarding them. Provide yourselves with ashtray. Do not smoke in bed.

- Oil or gas and other native lamps should be place away from curtains and other objects that easily catch fire. Do not put them where the wind, children, cats or other moving beings may topple them. Put out the flame before going to bed.

- Do not store any flammable substance or any volatile liquid in the kitchen. Cover the flammable container tightly.

- Extinguish all live charcoals and embers or concentrate them in the middle of the stove after being through with kitchen chores. Make it a habit to inspect the kitchen before retiring. Most fires in the home occur at night.

Keep matches and lighters away from reach of children.

- Clear the corners and nook of the house from rubbish, rags and other waste materials.

- Remove the accumulation of leaves in gutters and other parts of the roof and wood shaving and litters in the attic.

- Quantities of flammables, such as gasoline, oil benzene, naptha, alcohol, and other highly flammable materials should be kept in dwelling houses.

- Rubbish burning should be done on the stove or in the yard away from the house wall. Every smoldering coal left from the bonfire should be extinguished. Be careful that no flying embers from bonfire would alight on the roof of the houses.

- Do not use open flames for decorations.

Combustible objects, such as firewoods, waste paper and rugs should not be indiscriminately dumped or strewn in the house. Boxes should be regularly cleaned.

- Kerosene and oil stoves should be checked to leakage and they should be regularly cleaned.

- Do not use leaking liquefied petroleum gas equipment.

EMERGENCY ACTION: BURNS

SMALL HEAT BURNS

Remove clothing if not stuck.

Immerse burned area in lukewarm water or applied cold pack (never use ice) unless skin is open or blistered.

Cover burn with sterile or clean dressing.

MAJOR HEAT BURNS

Call for emergency help (usually 117) or rush conscious victim to hospital.

DO NOT remove clothing, DO NOT immerse in cold water.

Cover burn with clean material; keep victim warm, elevated burned feet or legs.

If not breathing, give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation: tilt-lift chin, pinch nose shut, seals mouth with yours gives 2 full breaths. Repeat: 1 breath each 5 seconds.

CHEMICAL BURNS

PROMPTLY call for emergency aid, or rush to hospital immediately.

If chemical container is nearby, obey first aid steps on it. Keep it to show to the hospital personnel.

Until helps arrived, remove clothing from burn and flood burn with water, if face is burned the eyes. DOCTORS SHOULD SEE ALL BURNS, EXCEPT IF SKIN IS REDDENED IN ONLY SMALL AREA.

Sun Burn

2010-07-22T07:40:00.000-07:00

Sun Burn

Skin burned by exposure to the sun or other ultraviolet light.

Cause

Amount of exposure to the sun or other ultraviolet light source exceeds the ability of the body’s protective pigment, melanin, to protect the skin.

Signs

• Skin starts to become painful and red.
• The pain is worst between 6 and 48 hours after sun exposure. In severe sunburns,
blistering of the skin may occur.
• Swelling (Edema) of the skin, especially in the legs, is common.
• Skin peeling usually begins between three and eight days after exposure.
• May or may have no fever.
• Seek medical help if there is fever.

Treatment

• Take a cool shower or bath or place wet, cold wash rags on the burn. (Aspirin should be avoided in children who are running a fever). Avoid products that contain benzocaine, lidocaine or petroleum (like vaseline).

• If blisters are present, dry bandages may help prevent infection.
• Ibuprofen may help to alleviate the pain from sunburn.
• If the skin is not blistering, apply moisturizing cream to relieve discomfort.

Prevention

• Sunscreen, protective clothing, and ultraviolet-protected sunglasses are all recommended to prevent excessive sun exposure.
• SPF level of 30 or greater is recommended for sunscreen of application into exposed skin.
• Wear a hat and other protective clothing if exposed in the sun.

Prickly Heat:: Cause, Signs, Prevention,&Treatment

2010-07-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

Prickly Heat

Prickly heat is a type of heat rash characterized by tiny bumps or even water blisters.

Causes

• Brought about by clogging of sweat glands, resulting into tiny bumps.
• The forehead (under caps or visors), body folds, the upper back and chest, and the arms are the most common locations.
• Most common when it is hot and humid.

Signs

• ‘Prickly’ sensation.
• The rash can look quite similar to one caused by infected hair follicles (folliculitis), there are no hair follicles in prickly heat bumps.

Prevention

• Take a bath everyday.
• Limit exposure to the sun.
• Always dries up sweat from the skin.
• Wear light, loose clothing.

Treatment

• Cleanse the skin gently.
• Apply corn starch or baking soda powder.
• If there is excessive itching or if the rash is infected, consult a physician.

Insomnia - Causes, Symptoms, Remedies and Preventions

2010-07-22T07:22:00.000-07:00

Insomnia - Causes, Symptoms, Remedies and Preventions

What causes Insomnia? There are some known causes of insomnia, like chronic pain, restless legs syndrome, nocturnal disturbances, too much coffee, and the like. But, today, mental stress is one of the main culprits for this problem. Worries and tensions keep the mind engaged at night, keeping you wide awake.

If you're stressed only for a few times, you can cope with sleeplessness. But, if you're a chronic worrier, chances are you're an insomniac too.

Fewer hours of sleep and greater levels of sleep disturbance have become very common in present society. Competition levels at working places and high aspirations and ambitions has resulted in longer working hours. Sleep researchers say that we all sleep less then we used to - form average of 9 hours a night in the 1960s to around 7 hours now.

Disturbed sleep could be hazardous. Proper sleep enhance the quality of life and control co-morbid conditions like diabetes hypertension, ischemic heart diseases, strokes and sudden deaths. Snoring is another kind of sleep disturbance, which leads to day-time sleepiness, forgetfulness, fatigue and even sexual dysfunction.

Our internal body clocks (caricadian rhythms) are the patterns of repeated activity associated with the environment cycles of day and night. People who have trouble sleeping may have internal clock that has gone out of sync with day - night cycle.
The amount of sleeping hours varies depending on the individual. If you do not wake up feeling refreshed and feel sleepier then you are not getting enough sleep.

Insomnia Symptoms

Symptoms of insomnia can be different for each individual, and people with insomnia might experience a variety of symptoms. People who have insomnia do not start the day refreshed from a good night's sleep. They are tired. They may have difficulty falling asleep, and commonly lie in bed tossing and turning for hours. Or the individual may go to sleep without a problem but wakes in the early hours of the morning and is either unable to go back to sleep, or drifts into a restless unsatisfying sleep.

This is a common symptom in the elderly and in those suffering from depression. Sometimes sleep patterns are reversed and the individual has difficulty staying awake during the day and takes frequent naps. The sleep at night is fitful and frequently interrupted.

Insomnia Home remedies

Insomnia treatment using Thiamine

Of the various food elements, thiamine or vitamin B is of special significance in the treatment of insomnia. It is vital for strong, healthy nerves. A body starved of thiamine over a long period will be unable to relax and fall asleep naturally. Valuable sources of this vitamin are whole grain cereals, pulses, and nuts.

Insomnia treatment using Lettuce

Lettuce is beneficial in the treatment of insomnia as it contains a sleep-inducing substance, called 'lectucarium'. The juice of this plant has been likened in effect to the sedative action of opium without the accompanying excitement. Lettuce seeds taken in a decoction are also useful in insomnia. One tablespoon of seeds should be boiled in half a liter of water, till it is reduced by one-third.

Insomnia treatment using Milk

Milk is very valuable in insomnia. A glass of milk, sweetened with honey, should be taken every night before going to bed in treating this condition. It acts as a tonic and a tranquillizer. Massaging the milk over the soles of the feet has also been found effective.

Insomnia treatment using Curd

Curd is also useful in insomnia. The patient should take plenty of curd and massage it on the head. This will induce sleep.

Insomnia treatment using Bottle Gourd

The mixture of bottle gourd juice and sesame oil in 50:50 ratio acts as an effective medicine for insomnia. It should be massaged over the scalp every night. The cooked leaves of bottle gourd taken as a vegetable are also beneficial in the treatment of this disease.

Insomnia treatment using Aniseed

A tea made from aniseed is valuable in sleeplessness. This tea is prepared by boiling about 375 ml of water in a vessel and adding a teaspoon of aniseed. The water should be covered with a lid and allowed to simmer for fifteen minutes. It should then be strained and drunk hot or warm. The tea may be sweetened with honey, and hot milk may also be added to it. This tea should be taken after meals or before going to bed.

Insomnia treatment using Honey

Honey is beneficial in the treatment of insomnia. It has a hypnotic action and induces a sound sleep. It should be taken with water, before going to bed, in doses of two teaspoons in a large cup of water. Babies generally fall asleep after taking honey.

Insomnia treatment using Rauwolfia

The herb rauwolfia is a valuable medicine for insomnia because of its indisputable efficacy as a sedative. The hypnotic action of the drug appears to have been known since ancient times. The very first dose of rauwolfia will enable a patient with a phlegmatic and gouty nature to go to sleep. The powder of the root in a quantity of 0.25 gm to 0.5 gm should be mixed with some scented substance like cardamom and given to the patient The patient will have a sound sleep during the entire night. If the disease is chronic, the patient should take O.25 gm twice a day, in the morning as well as at night before retiring.

Sleep Count

• One must sleep for at least 6-8 hours
• Working professionals require more quality sleep as they have to remain alert and focused to optimize their performance. They should sleep for minimum 6-7 hours
• Software professionals require maximum sleep of 8 hours as they spend most hours in front of PC screen and this effects their eyes, which in turn leads to headache and other problems.
• Media professionals should have minimum 5 to 6 hours of sleep to have a healthy mind.
• Elderly people require maximum five hours of sound sleep

Insomnia Prevention

Expert Advice

Researchers say that those who are gaining weight, sleep more, and those who are shedding pounds sleep less. It has also been seen that people who lose weight rapidly often experi¬ence sleeplessness. But the most common cause of insomnia is mental tension, overexcitement, suppressed feeling of resentment, over-eating at night, excessive intake of foods, like starches, tea, coffee and going to bed hungry. And. of course, often worrying about falling asleep is enough to keep one awake.

Studies show that women are particularly prone to insomnia from calcium deficiency 10 to 14 days before their periods. This is the time when the calcium blood levels drop. If you used to a midnight snack and are now on a diet you would probably experience sleeplessness. The use by all means have a low-calorie snack before going to bed, preferably carbohydrate-based wheat or Bran biscuits, or 1 cup of warm skimmed milk. Many diets urge the dieter to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. Those who are used to a lesser intake often feel the need to urinate at night thereby disturbing their sleep pattern.

I suggest you watch your diet if you feel you are not sleeping well as it forms an important part of the treatment.

If you have been on a very low calorie diet then it is possible that you are deficient in B complex Vitamin, calcium, magnesium, and zinc and the sleep mechanism is unable to function efficiently in the absence of these nutrients. These vitamins are found in whole grain cereals, nuts. Fruits are a rich source of potassium and could cause severe cramps in the legs, making it impossible to sleep. White flour (maida) is lacking in the B-vitamins and hence should be avoided on any diet To regain the lost vitamins and in effect normalise your sleep pattern, eat at least 6-8 fruits a day along with two cups of curd and approximately 50 gm of dryfruit for 3-4 days.

Along 'with this you could eat one salad based meal and another protein based consisting of fish/chicken or sprouts along with whole wheat bread 2-3 slices or 2 chappatis. A cup of hot milk at night also helps induce sleep as it contains tryplophan (an amino acid) which helps in increasing the serotomin levels in the brain. Serotomin is known to be a canning factor.

Try not to take any fluids within 2 hours before bedtime. The stimulating effects of caffeine are felt more.

On an empty stomach, extending to 2-4 hours after it is taken. Therefore those who have a trouble sleeping should not drink coffee within 4-6 hours of bedtime.

Then there are those who exercise at night. Usually exercise, is better for sleep than no exercise at all but it should be done in the morning or"' late afternoon. If done after dinner (like a brisk walk) then it might keep you awake at night as it pumps in enough adrenaline 'to keep you active and awake.

If you've had a rollicking time at a party and then you come home and dash into bed, in all probability you won't get sleep. Watch tele¬vision or try to read something. It will help you take your mind off the excitement and make you sleep, better.

Take some low calorie snacks like fruit or some millet biscuits or 1 cup skimmed milk if you can't sleep due to hunger. If you suffer from leg cramps take your calcium tablet at night before going to bed. Never take a" B Complex before bedtime as it keeps- you active.

Taking oily meals late in the night also leads to sleeplessness. Dinner should be consumed at least 2 hours before going to bed, in a relaxed atmosphere.

Preventions

- Learn to use physical and mental relaxation techniques. Exercise regularly during the day. Especially do exercises before dinner. A low point in energy occurs a few hours after exercise; sleep will then come more easily. Exercising close to bedtime, however, may increase alertness. Take a hot bath about an hour and a half to two hours before bedtime. This alters the body's core temperature rhythm and helps people fall asleep more easily and more continuously. (Taking a bath shortly before bed increases alertness.) Do something relaxing in the half-hour before bedtime. Reading, meditation, and a leisurely walk are all appropriate activities.

- Eat light meals and schedule dinner four to five hours before bedtime. A light snack before bedtime can help sleep, but a large meal may have the opposite effect.

- Avoid fluids just before bedtime so that sleep is not disturbed by the need to urinate.

- Avoid caffeine, and other stimulants, especially late in the day. Eliminate smoking. It has a detrimental effect on the lungs, heart, sinuses, and circulation, and it also interferes significantly with sleep, as nicotine is a stimulant that prevents the brain from resting. Cutting back on cigarette smoking may lead to nicotine withdrawal in the middle of the night, which can awaken you, so it is important to stop smoking completely. Avoid alcohol. Even if it helps you fall asleep quicker, it actually worsens insomnia by causing shallow, un-refreshing sleep.

Head Lice - Causes, Symptom, Remedies and Preventions

2010-07-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

Head Lice - Causes, Symptom, Remedies and Preventions

Head lice cannot fly and they cannot jump from one person to the next; they are not transmitted from household pets or other animals. Instead, when they are caught, it is usually through head-to-head contact or by sharing hair accessories, such as hair-brushes, combs, hats or even by putting these items on top of each other.

Head lice can also survive for short times on bedding and furniture. Children are particularly prone to infestation with head lice as they often have close contact with each other at school or when playing. There is no link between the presence of head lice and a lack of hygiene or susceptibility to infection.

Head Lice Symptoms

Often the first sign of infestation is an itchy head or neck. The saliva of head lice is irritating on the skin, and itching is often worse behind the ears or at the back of the neck. However, head lice do not always cause itching. In some developing countries, human head lice have been blamed for passing rare diseases from person to person. In the United States and other devolped nations, lice do not usually cause direct harm to an affected person but the persistent irritation and itching can disturb concentration and disrupt sleep. When trying to eradicate the lice, care should be taken not to overuse potentially hazardous medicines.

Head Lice Home remedies and removal

For head lice problem wash your hair with vinegar. It will kill all the nits in two days. Apply coconut oil to your head after shampoo and condition.

-Add ten to fifteen drops of tea tree oil into shampoo bottle and use it daily.

-Rub listerine mouth wash on your head. This will kill all the lice.

-Massage your head with mayonnaise and comb it after 2 hours. This will kill all the lice and their eggs. Apply a mixture of lemon and butter on your head, wait for 15 seconds and then rinse your head.

Head Lice Prevention

Head louse infestations (pediculosis) are prevalent worldwide. In developed countries, the infestation rate of 4- to 13-year-old children remains high despite preventive efforts. This is due to the existence of numerous ineffective pediculicides, the incorrect use of the effective agents, toxicological concerns and the development of louse strains resistant to insecticides.

One of the most effective tools for the prevention and control of lice is the louse comb, which should be used regularly for the detection of living lice at an early stage of infestation, and as an accessory to any treatment method to remove living and dead lice. The louse comb can also be used systematically for the treatment of infestations, for confirmation that treatment with pediculicides has been successful, and for the removal of nits (dead eggs or egg shells).

Most pediculicides are only partially ovicidal. Therefore, 10 days after beginning treatment with any antilouse product, the scalp of the child should be examined. If no living lice are found, the treatment should be discontinued. If living lice are still present, treatment should be continued with a product containing a different active ingredient. Suffocating agents such as olive, soya, sunflower and corn oils, hair gels and mayonnaise are able to kill a significant number of lice only if they are applied in liberal quantities for more than 12 hours.

However, they lubricate the hair and therefore may facilitate combing and removing lice and eggs from the scalp. Nits may remain glued on the hair for at least 6 months, even after a successful treatment, and lead to a false positive diagnosis of louse infestation. If nits are seen on the hair, the child should be examined, but treatment should be initiated only if living lice are found. Formulations containing 5% acetic acid or 8% formic acid, as well as acid shampoos (pH 4.5 to 5.5) and conditioners, in combination with a louse comb, can be helpful for removing nits.

There is no conclusive evidence that using essential oils to repel lice is effective. Regular examination of the child's head using a louse comb is the best measure to detect re-infestation at an early stage. Educating caregivers, nurses and teachers about louse biology, epidemiology, prevention and control is of paramount importance. The psychological effect of an infestation with lice is significant and often associated with anxiety and fear. The child should not be made to feel responsible for having lice, or be punished or reprimanded.

Eczema: Causes, Symptoms, Remedies and Preventions

2010-07-22T07:06:00.000-07:00

Eczema: Causes, Symptoms, Remedies and Preventions

Eczema, or dermatitis as it is sometimes called, is a group of skin conditions which can affect all age groups. The severity of the disease can vary. In mild forms the skin is dry, hot and itchy, whilst in more severe forms the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding.

Although it can sometimes look unpleasant, eczema is not contagious. With treatment the inflammation of eczema can be reduced, though the skin will always be sensitive to flare-ups and need extra care.

The causes of eczema are many and varied, and depend on the particular type of eczema that a person has.

Atopic eczema is thought to be a hereditary condition, being genetically linked. It is proposed that people with atopic eczema are sensitive to allergens in the environment which are harmless to others. In atopy there is an excessive reaction by the immune system producing inflamed, irritated and sore skin.

Associated atopic conditions include asthma and hayfever. Other types of eczema are caused by irritants such as chemicals and detergents, allergens such as nickel, and yeast growths. In later years eczema can be caused by a blood circulatory problems in the legs. The causes of certain types of eczema remain to be explained, though links with environmental factors and stress are being explored.

Eczema Symptoms

Whatever the cause, eczema leads to itching and redness, and may make the skin dry and flaky. Sometimes itchy blisters form. The surface of the skin may become moist and crusty if these blisters burst, or when scratching damages the skin. Atopic eczema is often worse in the folds of the skin where the limbs bend. The itch is intense, but scratching only makes the symptoms worse. Eczema makes the skin more sensitive, so you may notice that you are more irritated by cosmetics, soaps, detergents, etc. Eczema in infants is most commonly seen as a patch below the chin or cradle cap.

The common symptoms of eczema are:

- Itch
- Redness
- Thickening
- Blisters
- Crusts

Eczema Home remedies

- Put natural vitamin E on the affected skin, it will relieve you of itching.

- Rub nutmeg against a smooth stone with a few drops of water. Make a smooth paste and apply.

- Add 1 tbsp turmeric powder to a tbsp of bitter neem leaves. Grind to paste and apply.

- Apply a mixture of 1 tsp camphor and 1 tsp sandalwood paste on the rashes.

- Drink tomato juice daily, it will cure the symptoms in a few days.

- Zinc taken orally and applied directly on the affected skin is effective.

- Shark cartilage and lotion of blueberry leaves reduce inflammation.

- Use pine tar soap to wash the affected skin.

Eyes Mark or Dark Eye: Causes, Symptoms, Remedies and Preventions

2010-07-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Eyes Mark or Dark Eye: Causes, Symptoms, Remedies and Preventions

Dark circles are a common problem nowadays. With people spending more hours in front of computer screens and less hours in bed, their incidence is definitely on the rise. They make you look chronically tired, dull, lethargic and in extreme cases, something out of a horror show.

Causes of Eyes Mark or Dark Eye

• Genetic: If your parents, aunts etc have it, you are more likely to develop it.
• Lack of sleep: The most common cause. In a metropolitan life, if you get 5-6 hours, you are lucky. The deficit builds up over months and causes darkening and puffiness due to poor circulation.
• Lack of proper nutrition: Diets deficient in fresh fruits and veggies lead to antioxidant deficiencies, which in turn cause pigmentary irregularities.
• Allergies: Chronic ones can be the cause of dark circles (especially hay fever, pollen allergies etc)
• Over-exposure to computer monitors, television screens and such.
• Stress, chronic fatigue, anxiety.

Eyes Mark or Dark Eye Symptoms :

Black mark below the eyes associates with other physical problem like sleepless ness and tiredness.

Eyes Mark or Dark Eye Home remedies:

- By placing potatoes, cut round in shape,on your eyes. Leave it on for 10 - 15 mins. follow this method for 15 days. If you are allergic to potatoes then you can always use tomatoes or cucumber for good remedy. You can also apply milk cream around your eyes and leave it until it gets dried up.

- Use cucumber paste on around the eyes & wait 15 mins adn wash.

Here is a list of effective remedies form dark eyes:

• Improve your diet: Raw fruit and vegetables -- of at least 5 different colours (the brighter the better) must be included daily in your diet.

• Use a high-potency sunscreen around your eyes, because ultra-violet exposure can darken and worsen the existing problem. For the same reason, always wear sunglasses when outdoors.

• Use an excellent quality skin moisturiser (like Physiogel or Lipidz) that resembles natural moisturising factors and plumps up skin cells, making them look softer and lighter.

• Get your allergies treated by a good dermatologist or allergy specialist.

• Vitamin C is known to help under-eye pigmentation. High concentration creams or serums (eg C-VIT) are available on a dermatologist's prescription for home use.

• Consult your dermatologist for an argipeel. This is a revolutionary new treatment that can fade away your dark circles most effectively, without any damage to the sensitive under-eye skin or side-effects. Argipeels are gel peels containing arginine, derived from natural sources (ie brown sugar). Arginine activates the immune system, contributes to healing, helps eliminate toxins like ammonia, enhances blood circulation and increases collagen production. All this helps to decrease darkening and improve the quality of under-eye skin. You need one treatment every 10 days for 6-8 such sittings. Treatments are painless and quite affordable.

• 'Fillers' can be used to fill out the hollowness under the eyes that is responsible for shading and a dark effect. This is, however, an expensive treatment.

Eyes Mark or Dark Eye Prevention :

- Sleep 8hours a day. Drink 8 glasses or more water. Dont stay on computers for too long wihtout breaks , even TV. Avoid mental stress

- For all it's worth -- last piece of advice is to get enough sleep regularly and de-addict yourself from those computer screens. Dark circles are for pandas -- you deserve a flawless healthy complexion.

Dry lips - Causes, Symptoms, Remedies and Preventions

2010-07-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

Dry lips - Causes, Symptoms, Remedies and Preventions

Unlike other body parts, lips do not have a self-protection system against low humidity and cold winds. Due to changes in climatic conditions, lips get badly affected. They can chap, dry or crack. Lips do not contain the oil glands and thus it becomes all the more necessary to keep them moist.
Unlike other body parts, lips do not have a self-protection system against low humidity and cold winds. Due to changes in climatic conditions, lips get badly affected. They can chap, dry or crack. Lips do not contain the oil glands and thus it becomes all the more necessary to keep them moist. Read on further to explore chapped lips information, its causes and symptom.

Causes of dry chapped lips:

• Over exposure to cold winds
• Exposure to sun radiations
• Infections
• Dehydration
• Frequent use of soaps and other chemicals
• Smoking
• Deficiency of vitamin A, B and C in the body
• Allergies to cosmetic products

Dry lips Symptoms

• Loss of moisture from the lips
• Bleeding
• Mild pain
• Dryness
• Lips become rough and reddish
• Sensitivity of lips

Dry lips Home remedies

- Dry chapped cracked lips home remedy treatment is quite effective. Following are some dry chapped cure home remedies. Read on for home remedy for dry chapped lips:

- Drink plenty of water everyday.

- Cut fine slices of cucumber and rub on lips.

- Apply Aloe Vera gel on your lips.

- Take a saline bath

- Apply nee leaves extract on your lips.

Dry lips Preventions

- Applying a small coat of Vaseline or lip balm when using a dry lipstick.
Using a bit of lip balm to moisturize as you sleep.

- Using a lip balm before going out into harsh weather, especially one with a good SPF factor to protect them from the sun’s rays.

- Drinking plenty of water to keep your lips hydrated and supple.

- Avoiding the use of lipsticks that can dry out your lips if they have become chapped.

- Resisting the urge to lick your lips (saliva does not moisturize).

- Resisting the urge to nibble at your lips.

- Using a toothbrush with soft bristles to remove flaky skin from your lips.

- Remember that pain is unnecessary, lips that hurt can and should be avoided.

Cracked Heels - Causes, Remedies and Preventions

2010-07-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

Cracked Heels - Causes, Remedies and Preventions

Cracked heels are a common foot problem that are often referred to as heel fissures. Cracked heels are commonly caused by dry skin (Eros), and made more complicated if the skin around the rim of the heel is thick (callus).

For most people this is a nuisance and a cosmetic problem but when the fissures or cracks are deep, they are painful to stand on and the skin can bleed - in severe cases this can become infected.
Cracked Heels Symptoms

Cracks in the rim of the heel or soles or web of toes are the main symptoms. The length and width may vary depending upon the position and pressure exerted. The edges of the cracks are usually raised as crusts and resist healing. Other than fissures, mostly there won’t be any symptoms. But in extreme cases, pain will be more with bleeding and restriction of movement. Also, there will be pain in the cracks while walking or standing or touching the part. Red raw part may show in some deep ulcers. Discharges can occur in case of infection.

Cracked Heels Home remedies

Applying an oil based moisturizing cream twice daily is really important to get on top of this problem. A pumice stone can be used to reduce the thickness of the hard skin. After looking at the 'tomato' analogy above it should be obvious why it is important to avoid open backed shoes or thin soled shoes.

Never try to reduce the hard skin your self with a razor blade or a pair of scissors. There is a risk of an infection developing and taking too much off.

Cracked Heels Prevention

Because so many viruses cause them, there isn't a vaccine that can protect against catching colds. But to help prevent them, kids should:

- Try to steer clear of anyone who smokes or who has a cold. Virus particles can travel up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) through the air when someone with a cold coughs or sneezes, and even secondhand smoke can make your child more likely to get sick.

- Wash their hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after blowing their noses.

- Cover their noses and mouths when coughing or sneezing.

Do not use the same towels or eating utensils as someone who has a cold. They also shouldn't drink from the same glass, can, or bottle as anyone else - you never know who might be about to come down with a cold and is already spreading the virus.

Do not pick up other people's used tissues

Do :
- Keep soles clean
- Wear soft, cushioned, comfortable shoes or slippers
- Wear socks to prevent friction
- Apply oil, if there is dryness
- Take rich sources of vitamins - fruits, dates, leafy vegetables etc.

Should not do:
- Walking bare foot
- Tight shoes
- Standing for a long time in water
- Contact of bleaching powder or any other chemical
- Using strong chemical soaps

Dark Skin - Causes,Remedies and Preventions

2010-07-22T06:41:00.000-07:00

Dark Skin - Causes,Remedies and Preventions

The causes for a dark skin or complexion could be many. Some of the most common ones are:

Heredity - People who have a dark skin often have children who are dark-skinned too. The genes seem to pass on from generation to generation..
Hyper pigmentation - In this condition the skin produces too much of the pigment melanin, causing the skin to become darker than usual.

Skin disorders - Conditions such as Lichen Simplex Chronicus is a skin disorder that causes severe itching that leaves the skin thick, dark and patchy.

Sun rays - Over exposure to sun causes the skin to tan. This is a natural mechanism, wherein to protect itself from the harmful UV rays of the sun, the skin produces more of the pigment melanin which shields the penetration of UV rays into the skin.

Dark Skin Home remedies

Here are some simple home remedies that you can do to lighten the skin tone and get a lighter complexion. However, they must be done regularly and best results are obtained if they are inculcated as a part of daily routine.

Mix 1 tsp of milk powder, 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and ½ tsp of almond oil. Apply on face and wash off after 10-15 minutes. This pack helps bring shine to the skin and also removes tan.

Mix oatmeal with curd and tomato juice and apply on the face. Keep it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water. It helps remove the tan and lightens the skin.

Place sliced raw potato on the face. It helps reduce blemishes and other marks.

Applying turmeric powder along with lime juice removes the tan. Lime juice is a natural bleach.

Dried orange peels mixed with curd also help reduce blemishes and scars. Wash off this mixture with cold water after 15 minutes.

Soak 4 almonds overnight. Grind into a fine paste using milk. Apply on face and neck and leave it overnight. Wash with cold water in the morning. Do this daily for 15 days, followed by twice a week.

A tbsp of gram flour mixed with 2 tsp of raw milk and 2-3 drops of lime juice works well for lightening dark skin. Apply this mixture and leave it for 15 minutes before washing off. Repeat for 4 weeks and follow up with once a week.

Apply a paste of fresh ground mint leaves and leave it for about 20 minutes. Wash with cold water, continue for 15 days.

Apply a mixture of grated tomato with 2-3 drops of lime juice on the face. Leave it for 20 minutes before washing off. Do this twice a day for 15-20 days for best results

Dandruff - Causes, Symptions, Remedies and Preventions

2010-07-22T01:44:00.000-07:00

Dandruff - Causes, Symptions, Remedies and Preventions

Dandruff is medically known as Seborrhoea. It is not just dryness of the skin. Actually, the word “Seborrhoea” means “too much oil.” Seborrhoea is also known as Seborrhoeic Dermatitis or common Dandruff. Skin has a natural mechanism that its cells flake off regularly.

Skin contains glands called Sebaceous glands. Function of these glands is to keep our skin moist. The function of these glands is to release oily material or discharge, which is known as Sebum. Dandruff is a mixture of flaked off skin cells and Sebum. Seborrhoea can present as a variety of conditions such as Dandruff, thick scales on the scalp, Redness on the face or in the armpits, or raw, Red patches below the breasts. Although some of these conditions may feel dry moisturizing only makes them Redder. In other cases the skin may seem oily or even oily and dry at the same time. Seborrhoea (Dandruff) is a skin disorder that results from neither too little moisture nor too much oil. It is a form of skin inflammation (Dermatitis), which has no known cause. This condition can appear at any time from infancy to old age, and can come and go more or less at random.

Causes of Dandruff

As the epidermal layer continually replaces itself, cells are pushed outward where they eventually die and flake off. In most people, these flakes of skin are too small to be visible. However, certain conditions cause cell turnover to be unusually rapid, especially in the scalp. For people with Dandruff, skin cells may mature and be shed in 2 - 7 days, as opposed to around a month in people without Dandruff. The result is that dead skin cells are shed in large, oily clumps, which appear as White or Grayish patches on the scalp and clothes.

Dandruff has been shown to be the result of three required factors:

1. Skin oil commonly referred to as Sebum or sebaceous secretions;
2. The metabolic by-products of skin micro-organisms (most specifically Malassezia yeasts);
3. An individual susceptibility.
4. Due to stress

Symptoms of Dandruff

For most people, the signs and symptoms of Dandruff are very clear sometimes elaborate enough to embarrass the patient in public. White, oily looking flakes of dead skin that dot your hair and shoulders and an Itchy, scaling scalp. But it’s not quite that simple — many conditions cause excessive skin scaling, including:
Dry Skin.

Simple dry skin — the kind you get in winter when the air is cold and rooms are overheated — is by far the most common cause of Itchy, flaking skin. But flakes from dry skin are generally smaller and less oily than those caused by Dandruff.

Seborrhoeic Dermatitis. This condition, a frequent cause of Dandruff, is marked by Red, Greasy skin covered with flaky White or Yellow scales. Seborrhoeic Dermatitis affects not only your scalp but also other areas rich in oil glands, such as your eyebrows, the sides of your nose and the backs of your ears, your breastbone, your groin area, and sometimes your armpits.

Cradle Cap (Seborrhoeic Dermatitis of the Scalp). This disorder, which causes a scaling, crusty scalp, is most common in newborns, but it can occur anytime during infancy. Although it can be alarming for parents, Cradle Cap isn’t dangerous and usually clears up on its own by the time a baby is a year old.

Psoriasis. This skin disorder causes accumulation of dead skin cells that form thick silvery scales. Psoriasis commonly occurs on your knees, elbows and trunk, but it can also affect your scalp.

Contact dermatitis. Sometimes sensitivities to certain hair-care products or hair dyes can cause a Red, Itchy, scaling scalp.

Dandruff Home remedies

Garlic and oil of oregano are also excellent for fighting dandruff. You can take it internally or externally depending on what seems to work best for your situation. Both are sold in health food stores as capsules or tablets.

Improving Circulation

Alternating hot and cold water on the head increases circulation to the scalp. Yoga headstands will also help with circulation. Exercising out in the fresh air will also help with circulation to the scalp. Brush your scalp carefully to loosen scales before shampooing. If you wash your hair daily use small amounts of baby shampoo. Harsh shampoos will just cause the sebaceous gland to overcompensate by producing more oil than necessary.

Sulfur Products Are Beneficial

Onions are high in sulfur. Cut a fresh onion in half and rub it on the scalp, I know it looks strange. Wash your hair once a week with a sulfur based soap. Avoid hair products that contain alcohol which dries out the scalp. Also avoid hair dryers which will also dry the scalp and add to the problem.

For good hair without dandruff, drink at least 2 liter water, eat lots of salads, green vegetables, and fresh fruits. Combs must be washed as frequently and hair should be brushed regularly. Dandruff is a scalp condition that can be controlled. Too little oil or too much oil can result in dandruff. Try the following:

Mix 2 teaspoons pure vinegar in 6 teaspoons water and apply it on the scalp before going to bed. Tie a towel around the head. Wash your head next morning. After shampooing, rinse again with vinegar water. Treat your hair like this once a week for at least three months.

Mix 1 teaspoons lemon juice with 2 teaspoons vinegar and massage on the scalp. Wash your hair with an egg shampoo.

Take 1 part almond oil, 1 part pure sulphur powder, 2 parts 'surgical spirit' and 4 parts distilled water or rose water and mix well. Rub on the scalp.

Take 2 cup water, add 4-5 tablespoons dried thyme and boil for 10 minutes. Cool, strain, and use the mixture to massage scalp. Keep for half an hour.

Dissolve 2 aspirins in any dandruff shampoo and wash your hair.

Massage the scalp with almond oil. Dip a towel in boiling water and wrap it around the hair. Repeat it thrice or four times when the towel gets cold.

Make a shampoo by mixing 100 g each of amla (Indian goose berry), reetha, and shikakai, and boil in two litre of water until the liquid reduces to half. Use this shampoo for one month. Dandruff will vanish and your hair will become thick.

Grind fenugreek (methi) seeds soaked in water overnight. Massage this paste on scalp and hair and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Wash it off with a mild shampoo.

Wash your hair with warm apple cider vinegar. Then cover your head with a towel or a shower cap and leave for about 30-40 minutes. Rinse with plain water. Repeat 2 times a week until your dandruff goes away.

Mix 100 g witch hazel and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice in 200 ml water. Shampoo your hair and apply with cotton to the scalp when the hair are still wet. Repeat several times until the dandruff is treated.

Try a shampoo with selenium sulfide or salicylic acid.
Try Zest soap once a week. It may work for oily hair. It leaves your hair dry, so use conditioner to your hair only but try not to get it on your scalp. It has worked to get rid of dandruff for some people.

Dandruff Prevention

You can’t prevent Dandruff, but you can take steps to Reduce your risk:
Learn to manage stress. Stress affects your overall health, making you susceptible to a number of conditions and diseases. It can even help trigger Dandruff or exacerbate existing symptoms.

Shampoo often. If you tend to have an oily scalp, daily shampooing to remove the excess oil may help prevent Dandruff.
Cut back on styling products. Hair sprays, styling gels, mousses and hair waxes can all build up on your hair and scalp, making them oilier.
Eat a healthy diet. A diet that provides enough Zinc, B Vitamins and essential Fatty Acids may help prevent Dandruff.

Get a little Sunlight. Do not take Sunbath. Instead, just spend a little time outdoors. Sunlight may be good for Dandruff. But because exposure to Ultraviolet light damages the skin and increases the risk of skin Cancer.

Dandruff Misconceptions

Dandruff is sometimes confused with dried shampoo. This usually occurs when hair isn’t rinsed properly. Dandruff is not an organism like Lice; it is just dead skin that accumulates in the scalp. Dandruff is unlikely to be the cause of hair loss, although excess Sebum which is linked to Dandruff contains DHT (Dihydrotachysterol), the primary agent in Alopecia.

Care tips for long silky and beautiful hairs

2010-07-22T01:38:00.000-07:00

Care tips for long silky and beautiful hairs

Here are some tips to get through the winter with the least possible damage to your hair. Maybe this year you won't have to cut it. Shampoo every other day or less frequently, if possible, unless you exercise regularly or work outdoors. Excess shampooing strips natural oils from the hair.

• Hair treatments -- perming, straightening and colouring -- are also damaging to your mane and lead to hairfall. Be prepared for at least a 10 percent reduction in hair volume two months after any such treatment. To minimise damage, do not repeat these treatments too often -- once or then twice in a year at the most. Always go to a professional and ask for a hair protecting serum before treatment. Also use appropriate aftercare products.

• Another big no-no is over-enthusiastic massaging during oil application, in the mistaken belief that this will increase the scalp's absorption and stimulate follicles. In reality, a vigorous massage will only serve to uproot hair in the telogen phase and lead to hair trauma.

• Hair is at its weakest when wet, so never roughly comb it after a wash. Disentangle the strands gently with a wide-toothed comb or wait till they are semi-dry.

• Holding a hair dryer too close to the scalp is another reason for hairfall -- the heat can cause lasting damage. Use a diffuser attachment on the dryer, holding it at least eight to 10 inches away and never wait till your hair is bone-dry -- always leave a little moisture in. Cold air drying is, in fact, the best method. Also avoid hot rollers and tongs if you value your locks.

• Steer clear of tight hairstyles that pull your hair taut. Indian mothers enthusiastically twist their daughters' hair into tight plaits, thinking this will increase hair length -- it actually only serves to encourage a receding hairline and balding in the frontal areas of the scalp. So keep your hair looking neat, but don't pull and manipulate it too hard.

• Losing a lot of hair post-pregnancy is common, because the elevated hormone levels that persist during pregnancy prevent normal hairfall during that period. Once you have delivered your baby, it often happens that these hormonal changes are reversed and you start losing a lot of hair all of a sudden -- there's not much to do except wait it out. Don't panic, because your hair growth and hairfall patterns will eventually return to normal. If the hair loss shows no sign of letting up, however, you may want to consult a doctor.

• Certain medications cause hair loss. If you're concerned, ask your doctor whenever you're given a prescription whether the medication has such side-effects and if so, request a substitute if possible. Long periods of illness, chronic diseases, surgery etc. are also reasons why hair sometimes starts falling more than it should, but this is often temporary, nothing that a good diet and adequate rest won't solve

Let your hair air dry whenever possible. Blow-drying can dry out the hair and damage it even more. When using hot rollers or a curling iron put thin strips of cotton fabric around them to lessen the damage done by them to your hair.

If you're in a rush and have to blow dry your hair, use the dryer on the lowest, coolest setting or stand in front of a fan and run your fingers gently through your hair as it dries.

Massage your head daily for 5-10 minutes to promote blood flow to the scalp and improve the quality of your hair. Start at your temples and work toward the back of your head, apply pressure in circular motions.

Turn your head upside down and give it a good brushing from the scalp to the ends, which stimulates the scalp and spreads natural oils through the hair.
Be sure to take your B vitamins. B6, B12, folic acid, pantothenic acid and biotin are associated with moisture rich hair. You can take a multivitamin or eat food's rich in B vitamins including soybeans, bananas, beans, yogurt, avocados, eggs and grains.

Be sure to eat enough protein. Your hair is composed of protein and if you don't get enough it could cause your hair to become dry and brittle. Make a protein shake twice a day just to be sure.

Protein Shake Recipe

2 Tbs. Soy protein Powder (your favorite kind)
1 cup milk or juice
1/4 cup fresh, canned or frozen fruit
ice
Mix in a blender until smooth and creamy.
Try this wonderful deep conditioning treatment once a week
to rejuvenate dry damaged hair.

Egg Shampoo

1 egg
1 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 Tbs. Castile soap
1/2 cup water or herbal tea
5 Drops of essential oil of your choice (optional)
Combine all in blender and whip until smooth. Shampoo with mixture using warm, not hot water for the shampoo and rinse. Store any remaining shampoo in the refrigerator for use the next day.

Burns: Treatment and Scar Burn Removal

2010-07-22T01:27:00.000-07:00

BURNS

In classical medical terms, there were six degrees, the first three of which are still commonly used by the public:

- First-degree burns are usually limited to redness (erythema), a white plaque and minor pain at the site of injury. These burns usually extend only into the epidermis.

- Second-degree burns additionally fill with clear fluid, have superficial blistering of the skin, and can involve more or less pain depending on the level of nerve involvement. Second-degree burns involve the superficial (papillary) dermis and may also involve the deep (reticular) dermis layer.
Evolution of a 2nd degree burn — One hour

Evolution of a 2nd degree burn — One day

Evolution of a 2nd degree burn — two days, the blister is appearing
Third-degree burns additionally have charring of the skin, and produce hard, leather-like eschars. An eschar is a scab that has separated from the unaffected part of the body. Frequently, there is also purple fluid. These types of burns are often painless (insensate) because nerve endings have been destroyed in the involved areas.

Burns that injure the tissues underlying the skin, such as the muscles or bones, are sometimes characterized as fourth-degree burns. 4th degree burns are additionally broken down into three additional degrees; fourth-degree burns resulted in the skin being irretrievably lost, in fifth-degree burns the muscle is irretrievably lost, and in sixth-degree burns the bone is charred.
A newer classification of "Superficial Thickness", "Partial Thickness" (which is divided into superficial and deep categories) and "Full Thickness" relates more precisely to the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous layers of skin and i used to guide treatment and predict outcome.

Burn Injury Home remedies :

BURN FIRST AID TREATMENT

First remove any constricting jewelry, such as rings.

Do NOT use butter or oils on a burn.

The effected area should be dowsed with cool water as soon as possible. It can be cleansed gently with chlorhexidine solution. Do NOT apply ice or cool to near-freezing temperatures (this can cause additional tissue injury).

The first and foremost thing that is required to be done after burn is to pour lots of chilled water on the burn affected area for about half an hour.

To heal the wound that has developed due to burning, take honey and apply it all over the wound. But do it only after you have properly washed your wound.

Eating papaya also forms part of burns home remedy treatment, as it contains enzymes that aid in removing dead cells from the injured area.

Aloe Vera is considered valuable in the treatment of burns.

Burn Mark Removal

Scar may appear due to burn injury, overweight and muscle building.

Burn, scar mark home remedies :

It would be best to use preventive measures such as drinking plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated, stay away from caffeinated drink that tend to dehydrate the skin.

If you do drink such things as coffee or tea, you should drink the same amount of water.

Quite a few home remedies are safe to use even while pregnant such as cocoa butter and Shea Nut butter. If you are pregnant then you should apply cocoa butter or Shea Nut butter to your abdomen, buttocks, thighs, and breast once in the morning and then in the evening before bed. This will help to moisturize your skin and give your skin the chance to become more elastic when needed.

If you are weight lifting, you may use these butters on your arms, shoulders, and even your legs to help prevent stretch marks.

Acne: Causes, Prevention, Natural Remedies

2010-07-21T20:38:00.000-07:00

Home remedy for acne, Acne cures, Acne Scar Treatment

Excessive secretion of oils from the glands combine with naturally occurring dead skin cells to block the hair follicles. Acne is caused due to excessive of oil in human body. Generally people those who eat a lot of oil foodstuff suffer from this problem. Due to Acne some parts of human body are affected. Some of them are face, arms etc.

Oil secretions build up beneath the blocked pore, providing a perfect environment for the skin bacteria to multiply uncontrolled. In response, the skin inflames, producing the visible lesion (acne). Rashes are occurred on the body, face, chest, back and upper arms are especially affected by acne.

Main Causes of Acne

Constipation
Not cleansing the face thoroughly
To much consumption of coca-cola, tea, coffee
Less consumption of water
Late nights

Hormonal imbalance

The typical lesions of acne are: small whitish or skin-colored bumps (whiteheads) or blackish elevations (blackheads). More inflamed rashes take the form of pus-filled or reddish bumps, even boil-like tender swellings. After resolution of the lesions, prominent unsightly acne scars may remain.
The acne condition is common in puberty as a result of an abnormal response to normal levels of the male hormone testosterone. Acne is occurred when the hormones are increased due to excess of oil in the body. There is however no way to predict how long acne will take to disappear completely or that it will ever recur again.
Acne affects a large percentage of humans at some stage in life. Aside from scarring its main effects are psychological, such as reduced selfesteem and depression.

Acne Symptoms

There are two main types of acne: non-inflammatory and inflammatory.
In non-inflammatory acne, there are usually just a few whiteheads and blackheads on the face. A relatively mild type of acne, it can often be treated effectively with nonprescription medicines. The majority of people with acne have this type of acne.
With inflammatory acne, the whiteheads become inflamed, and red pimples and pustules develop. In its most severe form, inflammatory acne can cause disfiguring cysts and deep, pitting scars of the face, neck, back, chest and groin. Prescription drugs and sometimes surgery are needed to treat inflammatory acne.

Acne Home remedies

- Take the cream from fresh milk, add few drops of lemon and apply on the face to remove pimples and acne.

- Grind 30 gm of thymol seeds (ajwain) in 25 gm of curd and apply on pimples and acne. Wash the face the next morning. This remove pimples.

- Take equal quantities of holy basil leaves and lemon juice and apply on the pigmentation marks, dark circles or pimples. This is an effective medicine.
Add glycerin four times the quantity of lemon juice and rub the face to get rid of pimples. Massage the whole body to get the silky and soft effect.

- Soak lentil dal in sufficient water so that the entire water is absorbed. Grind it and add it in milk. Apply this paste on the face twice daily. This removes pigmentation marks and pimples.

- Grind the dried orange peels in water and apply the paste on the face. This removes pigmentation marks and pimple.

- Rub Jaiphal in milk and apply on pimples and pigmentation marks. This gives glowing skin.

- Boil cumin seeds and wash the face with that water. This gets rid of pigmentation marks, dark circles etc and enhances the beauty.

- Grind Jaiphal and black pepper in raw milk and apply on the face at bedtime. This cures pimples and removes pigmentation marks and makes the face beautiful.

- Take one spoon lentil dal, half spoon rapeseeds and two almonds - grind it nicely and add lemon juice. Apply this paste on the face. Wash the face when dry.

- Take equal quantities of alum and black pepper and apply on pimples and acne.

- Grind guava and banana and apply the paste on face.

- Apply cucumber juice on face to remove pigmentation marks and pimples.

- Add radish juice in curd and apply on face to get rid of pimples, acne and pigmentation marks.

-Add honey in onion juice and apply on the face, this cures both the problems
Take enema of hot water with lemon juice.

- Take boiled gourd or torai in meals. Eat the chapattis made with whole wheat.
Pat the face with water while taking bath.

- Apply multani mati on face and peel it when dry. Wash the face with cold water.

- Eat boiled vegetables or drink their juice.

- Add Triphala and Moolhati and take 3 to 4 gm daily to cure constipation and get rid of pimples and acne.

- Grind black pepper and apply on pimples.

- Add gram flour in castor oil and apply on face, this is very beneficial.

- Add lemon juice and rose water in equal quantities and apply on face. Wash the face after half hour with fresh water. The pimples are cured within 10 to 15 days. This gets rid of pigmentation marks and dark spots.

- Rub the lemon peels on the body before taking bath and wash the face with lukewarm water, this is effective to get rid of pimples.

* Never pinch the pimples and try to break them. This spreads the pimples faster and causes permanent scars on the face. Take hot steam before applying any, pack for immediate results.

- Apply olive oil regularly to cure different types of pimples and boils. This is also effective for curing pigmentation marks and spots.

- Rub the inner portion of neem bark in water like sandal and apply on pimples.
Extract 1 teaspoon each juice of Tulsa leaves and Abel flowers. Add 1 teaspoon honey. Take twice every day.

- Tea made by boiling 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds (met hi dana), taken twice When you have blackheads wash the face quite often, say 4-5 times in a day with water.

Acne reducing masks

~ Mix fuller's earth (multani mitti) with rosewater. Add a little Glyco-A (12%) cream (Rs 95, available at all chemists) and apply all over your face for 30 minutes. This mask not only controls acne, but also helps to get rid of marks left by old acne lesions.

~ Two teaspoons of besan mixed with 1 teaspoon lime juice, teaspoon turmeric and 3-4 teaspoons cucumber juice makes a great acne pack. It removes excess oil and acts as an antiseptic against acne causing bacteria.

Tips for Day to Day Acne Care

- Wash the affected area twice a day with mild soap. Use soap such as Dove, or one that contains benzoyl peroxide, such as Oxy-5. Wash as often necessary to keep the area clean. Do not scrub.

- Shampoo the hair regularly.

- Keep long hair off the face and shoulders and wash it daily.
Avoid shaving as much as possible; while shaving take care to avoid nicking the pimples.

- Use a fresh shaving blade to minimize the chance of spreading the infection.
Avoid use of make-up or cosmetics in areas prone to acne. If you have to wear make-up, use only the hypoallergenic or fragrance free kind. Don't pop, pick, scratch, or squeeze your pimples. This may cause infection and scarring.

You may use an over-the-counter treatment that contain substances such
as benzoyl peroxide (gel or cream) or salicyclic acid. Start with the lowest strength and apply once a day about half an hour after washing. Never use more than 5 percent strength without consulting a physician.

Food and Nutrition Recommendations for Acne:

Some doctors believe that acne is not a food related problem. Some alternate practitioners use diet as a basis for their treatment of acne. They recommend that acne patients should eat foods high in beta-carotene, such as carrots, pumpkin, cantaloupe and other yellow-orange fruits and vegetables. They should also avoid fatty foods. Acnezine controls the oil secretion in your body to protect your skin from getting acne prone.

Vitamin Therapy for Acne:Nutritionists generally suggest:Chromium supplements - Chromium helps boosts the body's ability to break down glucose.Vitamin A - reduces sebum and keratin production. (Caution: taking mega doses of Vitamin A can cause headaches, fatigue, muscle and joint pain and other side effects. Consult a qualified practitioner before taking mega supplements).Vitamin E - an antioxidant (200 to 400 IU a day).Vitamin B-6 50 mg per day.

Combat All Types of Acne Scars

Scars caused by acne are much more common than doctors once believed; most people will have acne scars that are mild. However, some will have scars that look significant even to others. The best approach is prevention and to treat acne right away as sometimes even mild acne can cause scarring, this can minimize the risk of permanent acne scars.

Acne scars result from two types of tissue response to the inflammation of acne: (1) increased tissue formation, and (2) loss of tissue.
Increased Tissue FormationThe scars caused by increased tissue formation are called keloids or hypertrophic scars. The word hypertrophy means "enlargement" or "overgrowth." Both hypertrophic and keloid scars are associated with excessive amounts of the cell substance collagen. Overproduction of collagen is a response of skin cells to injury.

The excess collagen becomes piled up in fibrous masses, resulting in a characteristic firm, smooth, usually rregularly-shaped scar. Keloids tend to "run in the family"—that is, there is a genetic predisposition to form keloids after tissue injury. African-Americans often have a predisposition to keloid formation. Some families also tend to form hypertrophic acne scars or thickened acne scars.

Acne Scars Resulting From Loss of TissuesAcne scars resulting from loss of tissue are more common than scars resulting from increased tissue formation. There are several types:Ice-pick acne scars get their name from their appearance. They may be superficial or deep, are usually small in diameter and have steep sides like an ice-pick wound. They may be hard or soft to the touch; the soft acne scars are usually more superficial and the hard scars deeper. The base of hard scars under the skin may be wider than the scar at the surface of the skin. Depressed fibrotic acne scars are usually large scars that have sharp margins and steep sides. They are similar in appearance to deep chicken pox scars.Superficial and deep soft acne scars are variable in size, and have sloping edges that merge with normal skin.

Follicular macular atrophy is more likely to occur on the chest or back of a person with acne. These are small, white, soft lesions, often barely raised above the surface of the skin—somewhat like whiteheads that didn’t fully develop. This condition is sometimes also called "perifollicular elastolysis." The lesions may persist for months to years.

Pimples Ance Prevention

Acne Prevention - Tip 1: Don't over-wash. Since dirt is not causing your acne, excessive scrubbing and washing won't make it go away. Try to limit yourself to two washings per day — anything more than that can leave your healthy skin dry, and your acne-prone areas irritated. Habitual over-washing may also stimulate extra oil production, which could result in more breakouts.

Acne Prevention - Tip 2: Skip harsh scrubs. It's okay to exfoliate, but be sure to use a gentle formula with small, smooth grains. Avoid products
with almond or apricot shell fragments; they can irritate or even tear your
skin and further aggravate your acne.

Acne Prevention - Tip 3: Say no to alcohol. If you use a toner, avoid products with high concentrations of isopropyl alcohol, or common rubbing alcohol. A strong astringent, alcohol strips the top layer of your skin, causing your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. The result? Dry, red skin — and possibly more blemishes.

Acne Prevention - Tip 4: Don't squeeze or pick. Squeezing or picking your blemishes — with fingernails, pins or anything else — can force bacteria deeper into the skin, causing greater inflammation and infection. You'll also increase the damage to the surrounding skin, so the blemish is more likely to leave a permanent acne scar.

Acne Prevention - Tip 5: Hands off! Propionibacterium acnes (the bacteria that causes breakouts) is a normal resident of your skin; it doesn't lead to acne until it gets trapped inside the hair follicle. Excessive touching of your face, including rubbing or even resting your chin in your hands, can drive bacteria into your pores — where it can begin its dirtywork.

Acne Prevention - Tip 6: Work out, wash off. When you exercise, your movement generates heat; clothing and equipment cause friction. Until you shower off, heat and moisture are trapped against your skin, creating an ideal breeding ground for the spread of bacteria. So whenever you can, shower off immediately after exercising.

Acne Prevention Treatment - Find a regimen and stick with it. Most cases of mild acne can be improved with "over-the-counter" products, or products that don't require a prescription from your doctor. There is a wide range of treatments available, and there’s a good chance one of them will work for you. If you start treatment before your acne gets severe, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding physical and emotional problems down the road. But if your acne gets worse or lasts more than a couple of weeks, see a dermatologist.

Body Odor

2010-07-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

BODY ODOR - Causes, Remedies and Preventions

Human sweat itself is largely odorless. The principal cause of body odor are bacteria thriving in hot, humid environments such as the human underarm, which has a high density of sweat glands and is relatively occluded. The armpits are among the consistently warmest areas on the surface of the human body, and sweat glands provide moisture.

Armpit hair adds to the odor because of the increased surface area.
Hot drinks, caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods can all cause excessive sweating. Since sweat and bacteria equate body odor

Body Odor Home remedies :

If your body odor persists despite good hygiene, your problem may be clogged pores. When your skin can't properly eliminate body wastes, bad body odor can result. Gently dry-brushing your skin just before every shower exfoliates the dead skin that traps those odor-causing wastes. You'll find body brushes in most drugstores. If you brush with long, gentle strokes moving toward your heart, you'll also improve circulation, which will help your body detoxify more efficiently.

Some easy and useful home remedy to get rid of body odor:

Ingredients: Small piece of lemon, baking soda
Instructions: Pour a small amount of baking soda onto hands, then squeeze some lemon juice onto baking soda.
Rub mixture on underarms and Voila!! You can also use lemon for female private parts, and outer private parts in between thighs trust me ladies you will have no scent especially in summer weather.

Ingredients: Milk of Magnesia.
Instructions: After you take a bath, shake the bottle of milk of
magnesia and wet a cotton ball, or use your fingers, and just put it on your under arms. It is better than a deosodorant, and it works inmediatily.

Ingredients: Mineral salts
Instructions: . Its called "THAI CRYSTAL" deodorant stone. Wet it and put it on like deodorant! All it is is mineral salts, that kill the bacteria that cause odor. It istruly amazing how well it works!! This is available in deodorent store.

Ingredients: Peanut butter
Apply chunky peanut butter liberally on your under arms, every night before you go to bed, and no more body odour.

Ingredients: Vanilla
Instructions: soak cotton pads in vanilla. rub on where odor is works every time

Ingredients: Tawas (white stone)
Take a bath daily. After each bath, apply tawas (powedered or stone form) on your armpits. No bad odor plus whitens your skin too.

Ingredients: Tomato Juice
Start off by drinking 1 12oz can of tomato juice per day for 1wk. The next week slack down to maybe 1 can every 2 to 3 days. Once the odor has cleared drink this juice on an "as needed" basis. The salt in this juice evens out the PH balance. I had this problem all my life and fell into a deep depression for years as a result. There have been days when I'd forget to use deodorant and wasn't bothered with underarm odor any that day.

Ingredients: Ginger
Get one big piece of ginger and mash it up. Put it in a hankerchief or anything so you can squeeze it to get the water from it. After shower, apply it under your armpit with cotton. You will get rid of body odor in two weeks. Every time after you use it, save the ginger water in the refrigerator.

Body Odor Preventions

Never repeat unwashed clothes, especially undergarments during summer, it will aggravate the odor. Wax your armpits regularly. People who wear shoes for long time complain of foot odor. It is caused by rapid bacteria growth due to excess sweating of feet. To avoid foot odor wear cotton socks, never use socks repeatedly. Wash your feet properly. If possible wear open foot wear like leather sandals. All the above mentioned remedies for body odor can be used for preventing foot odor

Powder the offensive area. Sprinkling some baking soda, talc, baby powder or cornstarch under the arms or across the body will absorb and mask many of the odors produced.

Get the odor out of your clothes. Wash your clothes with an odor-fighting detergent. If necessary, take a change of clothes or underwear with you to work or school.

Rub on some alcohol. You may want to try directly applying a splash or two of some rubbing alcohol, witch hazel or hydrogen peroxide during the day just as some extra maintenance,. These substances help reduce the number of odor-causing bacteria. Aim your splash where bacteria hang out—under the arms, for instance.

Avoid spicy, pungent foods. Frequent consumption of foods containing garlic, curry and cumin can cause some overpowering odors to emanate from your pores—often up to 24 hours after consumption. Try cutting back on these spices and see if it helps.
Trim underarm and body hair. "Since men are the biggest offenders, they should follow the example of women and shave their armpits," says Dr. Targovnik. "The hairs trap a lot of the sweat and odor and provide hiding places for the bacteria."

To overcome the problem of unpleasant body odor, use antibacterial soap or deodorant soap while bathing.

During summers, it’s a good idea to wear cotton clothes that soak sweat.
Eating habits also tend to affect body odor. Avoid consuming refined foods; hydrogenated oils and other processed foods. Eat healthy food that contains loads of fiber, whole grains, wheat, soy products and green leafy veggies.
To combat the unpleasant armpit odor apply cider vinegar. It serves as the best body odor home remedy treatment.

Applying baking soda on the underarms helps to kill bacteria and also aids in absorbing sweat.

In the bathing water, add a few cups of tomato juice and soak yourself in water for about 15 minutes.

Reference:
http://www.home-remedytips.info/

BLACK OUT SAFETY TIPS

2010-07-20T23:44:00.000-07:00

Blackout Safety Tips

Top Safety Tips for a Blackout

• Use only flashlights for emergency lighting. Never use candles due to extreme risk of fire!

• Turn off electrical equipment you were using when the power went out.

• Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer.

• Never run a generator inside a home or garage.

• Never connect a generator to a home's electrical system. Connect any equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.

• Listen to local radio and television for updated information.

How to Prepare for a Blackout

• Assemble essential supplies before a blackout, including:
o Flashlight
o Batteries
o Portable radio
o At least one gallon of water
o A small supply of food

• Follow energy conservation measures to keep the use of electricity as low as possible, which can help power companies avoid imposing rolling blackouts.

• Fill plastic containers with water and place them in the refrigerator and freezer if there's room. Leave about an inch of space inside each one, because water expands as it freezes. This chilled or frozen water will help keep food cold during a temporary power outage, by displacing air that can warm up quickly with water or ice that keeps cold for several hours without additional refrigeration

• Be aware that most medication that requires refrigeration can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.

• Keep your car tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.

• Know where the manual release lever of your electric garage door opener is located and how to operate it. Garage doors can be heavy, so know that you may need help to lift it.

• Keep a key to your house with you if you regularly use the garage as the primary means of entering your home, in case the garage door will not open.

What to Do During a Blackout

• Use only flashlights for emergency lighting. NEVER use candles during a blackout or power outage due to extreme risk of fire.

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep your food as fresh as possible. If you must eat food that was refrigerated or frozen, check it carefully for signs of spoilage.

• Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment (like air conditioners) or electronics in use when the power went out. Power may return with momentary "surges” or “spikes” that can damage computers as well as motors in appliances like the air conditioner, refrigerator, washer or furnace.

• Do not run a generator inside a home or garage.

• Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system. If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to run directly to the outlets on the generator.

• Listen to local radio and to a battery- or generator-powered television for updated information.

• Leave on one light so that you'll know when your power returns.

• Use a standard telephone handset, cellular phone, radio or pager if your phone requires electricity to work, as do cordless phones and answering machines. Use the phone for emergencies only. Listen to a portable radio for the latest information.

• Do not call Emergency Hotlines for information—call only to report a life-threatening emergency. Use the phone for life-threatening emergencies only.

• Take steps to remain cool if it is hot outside. In intense heat when the power may be off for a long time, consider going to a movie theater, shopping mall or “cooling shelter” that may be open in your community. If you remain at home, move to the lowest level of your home, since cool air falls. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty.

• Put on layers of warm clothing if it is cold outside. Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors. Never use your oven as a source of heat. If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location (the home of a relative or friend, or a public facility) that has heat to keep warm.

• Provide plenty of fresh, cool water for your pets.

• Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Traffic signals will stop working during an outage, creating traffic congestion.

• Remember that equipment such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and elevators may not work during a power outage.

Information for People With Disabilities

• Call your power company before rolling blackouts occur if you use a battery-operated wheelchair, life-support system or other power-dependent equipment. Many utility companies keep a list and map of the locations of power-dependent customers in case of an emergency. Ask them what alternatives are available in your area.
Contact the customer service department of your local utility company(ies) to learn if this service is available in your community.

• Have an extra battery if you use a motorized wheelchair or scooter. A car battery also can be used with a wheelchair but will not last as long as a wheelchair's deep-cycle battery. If available, have a lightweight manual wheelchair for backup.

• Have a talking or Braille clock or large-print timepiece with extra batteries if you are blind or have a visual disability.

• Consider getting a small portable battery-operated television set if you are deaf or have a hearing loss. Emergency broadcasts may give information in American Sign Language (ASL) or open captioning.

Using a Generator

• Get advice from a licensed professional, such as an electrician if you are considering obtaining a generator. Make sure the generator is listed with Underwriter's Laboratories or a similar organization. Some municipalities, Air Quality Districts, or states have "air quality permit" requirements. A licensed electrician will be able to give you more information on these matters.

• Plan to always keep the generator outdoors—never operate it inside, including in the basement or garage. Do not hook up a generator directly to your home's wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment you want to run directly to the outlets on the generator.

• Keep computer files and operating systems backed up regularly. Consider buying extra batteries and a power converter if you use a laptop computer. A power converter allows most laptops (12 volts or less) to be operated from the cigarette lighter of a vehicle.

• Turn off all computers, monitors, printers, copiers, scanners and other devices when they're not in use. That way, if the power goes out, this equipment will have already been safely shut down.

• Remember that some voice mail systems and remote dial-up servers for computer networks may not operate when the power is out where these systems are located. So even if you have power, your access to remote technology may be interrupted if the power that serves those areas is disrupted. Check with remote service providers to see if they have backup power systems, and how long those systems will operate.

Using a Generator

• Get advice from a licensed professional, such as an electrician if you are considering obtaining a generator. Make sure the generator is listed with Underwriter's Laboratories or a similar organization. Some municipalities, Air Quality Districts, or states have "air quality permit" requirements. A licensed electrician will be able to give you more information on these matters.

• Plan to always keep the generator outdoors—never operate it inside, including in the basement or garage. Do not hook up a generator directly to your home's wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment you want to run directly to the outlets on the generator.

Using a Computer

• Keep computer files and operating systems backed up regularly. Consider buying extra batteries and a power converter if you use a laptop computer. A power converter allows most laptops (12 volts or less) to be operated from the cigarette lighter of a vehicle.

• Turn off all computers, monitors, printers, copiers, scanners and other devices when they're not in use. That way, if the power goes out, this equipment will have already been safely shut down.

• Remember that some voice mail systems and remote dial-up servers for computer networks may not operate when the power is out where these systems are located. So even if you have power, your access to remote technology may be interrupted if the power that serves those areas is disrupted. Check with remote service providers to see if they have backup power systems, and how long those systems will operate.

Energy Conservation Recommendations

To conserve power and help to avoid a blackout, follow these power industry recommendations:

• Set your thermostat at 68 degrees or lower in winter and at 78 degrees or higher in summer. (A 75-degree setting uses 18 percent more electricity and a 72-degree setting uses 39 percent more electricity. A 78 degree setting allows for sufficient cooling while still conserving electric power.) Consider installing a programmable thermostat so that you can have your furnace or air conditioning run only when you are at home. Most power is consumed by heating and cooling, so adjusting the temperature on your thermostat is the biggest energy conservation measure you can take.

• Use an air conditioner only when you are home. If you want to cool down a room before you arrive home, set a timer to have it switch on no more than one-half hour before you arrive home.

• Only use appliances with heavy electrical loads (dishwashers, washers, dryers) early in the morning or late at night.

• Do not set the thermostat at a colder-than-normal setting when you turn on your air conditioner. It won't cool your home any faster and could result in unnecessary energy expenditure and expense.

• Open draperies and shades on south-facing windows during the day in the winter to allow warm sunlight to enter your home. Close them at night to reduce the chill. Keep window coverings closed during the day in summer.

• Clean or replace furnace and air-conditioner filters regularly. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use.

• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.

• Turn off lights, appliances and computers when not in use. Avoid using a "screen saver" on your computer monitor. Simply turn off the monitor when you won't be using the computer for a while. Set computers, monitors, printers, and copiers to their energy saving feature and turn them off in the evening. It's no longer true that computer equipment is damaged by turning it off and on.

• Close windows when the heating or cooling system is on.

• Caulk windows and doors to keep air from leaking, and replace old windows with new, energy-efficient windows.

• Purchase energy-efficient appliances and lights.

• Minimize "leaking energy." Many TVs, VCRs, chargers, computer peripherals and other appliances use electricity even when switched "off." These "standby losses" can add up. If possible, unplug electronic devices and chargers that have a block-shaped transformer on the plug when not in use.

• Wrap the water heater with an insulation jacket, available at most building supplies retailers.

• Wash only full loads of clothes and clean the dryer's lint trap after each use. Use the cold water setting on your clothes washer when you can. Using cold water reduces your washer's energy use by 75 percent.

• Wash full loads of dishes in the dishwasher and use the "lite" cycle. If possible, use the "rinse only" cycle and turn off the "high temperature" rinse option. When the regular wash cycle is done, open the dishwasher door to allow the dishes to air dry.

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights.
• Use one large light bulb rather than several smaller ones.

BOMB PREVENTION TIPS

2010-07-20T21:38:00.000-07:00

BOMB PREVENTION TIPS
ALWAYS BE CONSTANTLY PREPARED!

There is no excuse for not taking every step necessary to meet a bomb threat.

BOMB. A device capable of producing damage to material and injury or death to people when detonated or ignited. Bombs are classified as explosive which causes damage by fragmentation, heat and blast wave; and incendiary which generates fire-producing heat without a substantial explosion when ignited.

BOMBING. A bombing occurs when an explosive bomb detonates or an incendiary bomb ignites.

BOMB THREAT. An information or warning claiming knowledge that a dangerous device, such as a bomb or similar type of explosive, has been or will be placed in a building, aircraft or other facilities.

BOMBING INCIDENT. Any occurrence involving the detonation/ignition of a bomb, the discovery of a bomb, or the execution of a bomb threat.

WHY PREPARE AGAINST BOMB INCIDENTS?

The Philippine National Police encourages every citizen and every establishment to be constantly prepared against bomb threats and bombing incidents. Through preparation, you can reduce the accessibility of your building and identify those areas that can be "hardened" against the potential bomber. Proper planning can also reduce the threat of panic and decrease the potential for injury and property damage.

Be prepared! There is no excuse for not taking every step necessary to meet the threat.

HOW TO PREPARE. In preparing to cope with a bomb incident, it is necessary to develop two separate plans: a security plan and a bomb incident plan.

•Security provides for the protection of property, personnel, facilities, and material against unauthorized entry, trespass, damage, sabotage, or other illegal or criminal acts. The security plan deals with prevention and control of access to the building.

•The bomb incident plan provides detailed procedures to be implemented when a bomb is found or threatened.

•In planning, a command center must be designated to be located in a focal point of telephone or radio communications. Obtain an updated blueprint of floor plan of your building and maintain it in the command center.

•Contact the police department, fire department, or local government agencies for any assistance in developing your security or bomb incident plans.

•Training is essential to deal properly with a bomb threat incident. Instruct all personnel, especially those at the telephone switchboard, on what to do if a bomb threat is received.

RESPONDING TO BOMB THREATS. Each threat received through any means of communications should be treated as real and must be forwarded immediately to the proper authorities.

Telephone Bomb Threats. The receiving party must remain calm and courteous. Try to obtain as much information as possible from the caller. Take note of the following procedures:

1. Get the identity of the caller.

2. Take note of the following characteristics: male or female voice; young, middle-age or old sounding voice; accent of voice; speech impediments or peculiar voice characteristics; any background noise; does the voice sound familiar.

3. The exact words of the person placing the call.

4. Show no emotion on the phone.

5. Know the exact location of the bomb.

6. Ask for a description of the bomb/composition of the explosive.

7. Repeat the message to the caller whenever possible and ask for confirmation.

8. The receiving party should remain calm and courteous. He should listen carefully and write down accurately the information the caller provides.

9. If possible, refer the caller to a supervisor or a person in authority to extract more information.

10.Apply delaying tactics and engage the caller in prolonged conversation.

11. Take note of the exact time the suspect hung up.

12.The person receiving the bomb threat should attempt to ask the caller certain questions: When is the bomb going to explode?/ Where is the bomb right now? What type of bomb is it?/ What does the bomb look like?/ What will cause it to explode?/ Why did you place the bomb?

13.Remember that the caller may not answer your questions, but any additional information that he may relate will be helpful.

14.It may be advisable to inform the caller that the building is occupied and the detonation of a bomb could result in death or serious injury to many innocent people.

15.Once the telephone threat is received, notify your local police at once.

Handwritten or Typed Notes.

Documents and other materials received should be carefully handled to preserve marks, fingerprints, etc. for examination by competent authorities. These items should be forwarded immediately to the proper authorities for analysis and evaluation. Written messages should never be ignored.

Person-to-Person or Direct Threat

1. Notify your security supervisor immediately.

2. Keep the person making the threat or indicating knowledge of a threat under surveillance until relieved by your supervisor.

3. Take note of the age, height, weight, sex, color of eyes/hair/skin, clothing, and unusual characteristics such as lameness, twitching or any peculiarities of the person under surveillance. Observe other personal behavior, if any.

4. If the person leaves the scene, take note of the make, model, color, plate number and markings of the vehicle used.

PHYSICAL SEARCH OF BUILDINGS.

The most effective and fastest search of a building can be made by the normal occupants of that building. bombs can be made by the normal occupants of that building. Bombs can be packaged in as many different ways as the maker's imagination will allow. Since the object of the search can vary in size and shape, it is a fundamental rule that search must be made by persons who are familiar with the area in order to notice a strange or foreign object.

In some instances, the detonation or ignition of any explosive or incendiary might depend on a change in environment, e.g. temperature variations or the presence of an electric current. Therefore, the personnel assigned to conduct the search should be cautioned not to cause, or at least minimize any change in the environment. do not go into a dark room and turn on the lights or change the setting of the thermostats in the room.

SECURITY MEASURES IN BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS

1. Strictly implement the inspection procedures of all bags, knapsacks, boxes, merchandise, etc., that will enter your store/premises.

2. Suspicious looking package, paper bags, etc. left alone should be cautiously scrutinized as possible bomb(s).

3. When suspected bombs are noted, advice security personnel/employees to immediately contact the proper authorities.

4. Be observant of people roaming around your area doing nothing. Vendors with tricycles/knapsacks/bags should be driven out, as they may be used as couriers of bombs.

5. Advice your security to always observe people leaving behind bags/packages/boxes in the garbage cans/bins in your premises.

6. Be observant of cars/motorcycle riding individuals who are suspiciously observing constantly your establishment(s).

7. Be cautious in opening envelopes and packages sent to you by unknown individual or package with no return addresses.

8. The greatest safeguard against the effects of bomb threats is to prevent entry of unauthorized persons into certain areas, whenever possible.

9. Restricted entry and positive identification of staff and visitors can be significant factors in assessing the seriousness of any given threat.

About Drug and Alcohol Addiction

2010-07-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

About Addiction

Addictive drugs activate the brain’s reward systems. The promise of reward is very intense, causing the individual to crave the drug and to focus his or her activities around taking the drug. The ability of addictive drugs to strongly activate the brain reward mechanisms and their ability to chemically alter the normal functioning of these systems can produce an addiction. Drugs also reduce a person’s level of consciousness, harming their ability to think or be fully aware of present surroundings.

The Cycle of Addiction

What Is A Drug?

In medical terms, a drug is any substance that when taken into a living organism may modify one or more of its functions. Drugs can provide temporary relief from unhealthy symptoms and/or permanently supply the body with a necessary substance the body can no longer make. Some drugs produce unwanted side affects. Some drugs lead to an unhealthy dependency that has both physiological and behavioral roots.

Why People Use Drugs

No one wants to be a drug addict or alcoholic, but that doesn’t stop people from getting addicted. The most commonly asked question is simply - how? How could my son, daughter, father, sister, or brother become a liar, a thief, someone who cannot be trusted? How could this happen? And why won’t they stop?

The first thing you must understand about addiction, is that alcohol and addictive drugs are basically painkillers. They chemically kill physical or emotional pain and alter the mind’s perception of reality. They make people numb. For drugs to be attractive to a person there must first be some underlying unhappiness, sense of hopelessness, or physical pain that they wish to escape.

Drug Addiction Follows A Cycle Like This:

The life cycle of addiction begins with a problem, discomfort, or some form of emotional or physical pain a person is experiencing. They find this very difficult to deal with.

We start off with an individual who, like most people in our society, is basically good. This person encounters a problem or discomfort that they do not know how to resolve or cannot confront. This could include problems such as difficulty “fitting in” as a child or teenager, anxiety due to peer pressure or work expectations, identity problems or divorce as an adult. It can also include physical discomfort, such as an injury or chronic pain. The person experiencing the discomfort has a real problem and feels their present situation is unendurable, yet sees no good solution to the problem.

Everyone has experienced this in life to a greater or lesser degree. The difference between an addict and the non-addict is that the addict chooses drugs or alcohol as a solution to the unwanted problem or discomfort.

The Addiction Progresses…

Analogous to an adolescent child in his first love affair, the use of drugs or alcohol becomes obsessive. The addicted person is trapped. Whatever problem he was initially trying to solve by using drugs or alcohol fades from memory. At this point, all they can think about is getting and using drugs. They lose the ability to control their usage and disregard the horrible consequences of their actions.

Alcohol And Drug Tolerance

In addition to the mental stress created by their unethical behavior, the addict’s body has also adapted to the presence of the drugs. He will experience an overwhelming obsession with getting and using his drugs, and will do anything to avoid the pain of withdrawing from them. This is when the newly-created addict begins to experience drug cravings. The individual now seeks drugs both for the reward of the “pleasure” they give him, and also to avoid the mental and physical horrors of withdrawal. Ironically, the addict’s ability to get “high” from the alcohol or drug gradually decreases as their body adapts to the presence of foreign chemicals. He must take more and more, not just to get an effect but often just to function at all.

At this point, the addict is stuck in a vicious dwindling spiral. The drugs being abused have changed him both physically and mentally. He has crossed an invisible and intangible line. He is now a drug addict or alcoholic.

Drugs and Problems

A person tries drugs or alcohol. The drug APPEAR to solve his problem. He feels better. Because he now SEEMS better able to deal with life, the drugs become valuable to him.

The person looks at drugs or alcohol as a cure for unwanted feelings. The painkilling effects of drugs or alcohol become a solution to their discomfort. Inadvertently the drug or alcohol now becomes valuable because it helped them feel better. This release is the main reason a person uses drugs or drinks a second or third time. It is just a matter of time before he becomes fully addicted and loses the ability to control his drug usage.

Drug addiction results from excessive or continued use of physiologically habit-forming drugs in an attempt to resolve the underlying symptoms of discomfort or unhappiness.

How Drugs Affect Behavior

The addict will now attempt to withhold the fact of their drug use from friends and family members. They will begin to suffer the effects of their own dishonesty and guilt. They may become withdrawn, difficult to reason with, and possibly develop strange behavior. The more they use drugs and alcohol, the guiltier they will feel, and the more depressed they will become. They will sacrifice their personal integrity, relationships with friends and family, theirs job, savings, and anything else they may possess in an attempt to get more drugs. The drugs are now the most important things in their life. Their relationships and job performance will go drastically downhill.

There is such a thing as a “drug personality”, which is artificially created by drugs. Drugs can change the attitude of a person from his original personality to one secretly harboring hostilities and hatreds he does not permit to show on the surface.

This establishes a link between drugs and increasing difficulties with crime, production and the modern breakdown of social and industrial culture.

The drug personality includes such characteristics as:
•Mood swings.
•Unreliable. Unable to finish projects.
•Unexpressed resentment and secret hatreds.
•Dishonesty. Lies to family, friends, employers.
•Withdraws from those who love him. Isolates self.
•May appear chronically depressed.
•May begin stealing from family and friends.

Drug Metabolites

Drugs and alcohol are broken down in the liver. When a person drinks or uses drugs over a period of time, the body becomes unable to completely eliminate them all. These metabolites, (the substances the body converts the drugs or alcohol into) although removed rapidly from the blood stream, become trapped in the fatty tissues. The problem that needs to be addressed is that these drug residues remain for years.There are various types of tissues that are high in fat content, and these tissues are turned over very slowly. When they are turned over, the stored drug metabolites are released into the blood stream and reactivate the same brain centers as if the person actually took the drug. The former addict now experiences a drug re-stimulation (or “flashback”) and drug craving. This is common in the months after an addict quits and can continue to occur for years, or even decades.

The Cycle Of Quitting, Withdrawal, Craving And Relapse.

When the addict initially tries to quit, cells in the brain that have become used to large amounts of these metabolites are now forced to deal with much decreased amounts. Even as the withdrawal symptoms subside, the brain “demands” that the addict give it more of the drug. This is called drug craving. Craving is an extremely powerful urge and can cause a person to create all kinds of “reasons” they should begin using drugs or drinking again. He is now trapped in an endless cycle of trying to quit, craving, relapse and fear of withdrawal. Eventually, the brain cells will again become used to having lowered drug metabolites.

However, because deposits of drug or alcohol metabolites release back into the bloodstream from fatty tissues for years, craving and relapse remain a cause for concern. Left unhandled, the presence of metabolites, even in microscopic amounts, cause the brain to react as if the addict had actually taken the drug again, and can set up craving and relapse even after years of sobriety. To prevent relapse due to the above scenario the solution is the Narconon New Life Detoxification procedure.

CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS

Prohibited Drug - Which includes opium and its active components and derivatives, such as heroin and morphine; coca leaf and its derivatives, principally cocaine; alpha and beta eucaine; hallucinogenic drugs, such as mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other substances producing similar effects; Indian hemp and its derivatives; all preparations made from any of the foregoing; and other drugs and chemical preparations, whether natural or synthetic, with the physiological effects of a narcotic or a hallucinogenic drug; or (As amended by B.P. 179 dated March 2, 1982).

Regulated Drug - Which includes self-inducing sedatives, such as secobarbital,
phenobarbital, pentobarbital, barbital, amobarbital and any other drug which contains a salt of a derivative of a salt of barbituric acid; any salt, isomer or salt of an isomer, of amphetamine, such as benzedrine or dexedrine, or any drug which produces a physiological action similar to amphetamine; and hypnotic drugs, such as methaqualone, nitrazepam or any other compound producing similar physiological effects; (As amended by PD No.1683 dated March 14, 1980).

MARIJUANA
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)

Marijuana, often called grass, pot, or weed is a crude drug made from Cannabis sativa, a plant that contains a mind-altering (psychoactive) ingredient called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Marijuana slows down the user’s mental and psychomotor activities. Users don’t remember what they have learned when they are high. The effects of marijuana can also impair thinking, reading comprehension and verbal and mathematical skills. Marijuana creates other health problems related to: the reproductive system, the heart, the lungs. It has been found that marijuana use may lead to cancer. Long-term regular use of marijuana may lead to psychological dependence. Once started, it may take more of the drug for the user to get the same effect. Young marijuana users are more likely to go on experimenting with other drugs.

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS:

1. Faster heartbeat and pulse rate
2. Bloodshot eyes
3. Dry mouth and throat
4. Altered sense of time/disorientation
5. Forgetfulness/inability to think
6. Impaired reflexes, coordination and concentration
“Acute panic anxiety reaction” – extreme fear of losing control

LONG TERM EFFECTS:

1. Chest pain
2. Irregular menstrual cycle
3. Temporary loss of fertility for both sexes
4. Premature babies/low birth weights
5. Cancer

Marijuana “burn-out” (dull, slow moving, inattentive, and unaware of surroundings)

SHABU
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)

Shabu is a white odorless crystal or cyrstalline powder with a bitter numbing taste. In the street name for the chemical substance known as Metamphetamine. It is also popularity known as “poor man’s cocaine”. Other slang names are “shabs, ubas, S, siopao, sha and ice”.

ACUTE:

1. Produces anxiety, irritability, irrational behavior, talkativeness and loss of self control.
2. Results in loss of appetite and inability to sleep.
3. Can lead to acute psychotic reactions, violent and destructive
4. behavior and recklessness that may result in accidents.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS:

Include chest pain, irregularity of heartbeat, hypertension, convulsion and death from cardiac arrest.

PSYCHOLOGICAL & PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE:

This chemical substance is known to produce psychological and physical dependency.
These are characterized by anxiety, tension and craving for the substance. This substance-seeking behavior can lead to various criminal and other anti-social acts. Withdrawal symptoms occur when drug use is abruptly stopped. Among these are feeling of apathy, hypersomnia (excessive period of sleep) and depression. Depression may lead to suicide.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS:

Psychiatric consequences are the major features of chronic “Shabu” abuse and dependency. Prolonged use and even a single exposure especially if administered intravenously can lead to manifestations of a full blown psychosis which is similar to schizophrenia characterized by the presence of paranoid delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations. The paranoia may lead to violent and aggressive behavior. Some chronic users have difficulty concentrating or remembering things. Diminished ability to cope with problems and difficulties in facing reality are common. Loss of interest in sex, ambition or motivation may also result.

Chronic snorters may suffer from severe irritation of the nasal passages and at times may even develop tissue perforation of the nasal bleed. Renal damage, heart disease and strokes have been documented among chronic abusers.

Injecting “shabu” from contaminated needles may lead to risk of infections resulting in inflammation of the blood vesels (Phebitis), infection of the heart valves (Endocarditis), blood poisoning (Septicemia), and the most dreaded disease AIDS, all of which can lead to death.

INHALANTS
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS:

1. Confusion/Disorientation
2. Distorted perception of time & distance
3. Aggressive behavior/violence
4. Hallucination
5. Illusions
6. Nausea and vomiting

LONG TERM EFFECTS:

1. Loss of memory
2. Inability to think
3. Muscle cramp and weakness
4. Numbness in limbs
5. Abdominal pains
6. Damage to the central nervous system, kidneys and liver
7. Bone marrow depression

SEDATIVE/HYNOTIC DRUGS
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)

Sedative-Hypnotics (tranquilizers, sleeping pills, sedatives) are drugs which depress or slow down body functions. These are drugs that can be dangerous when not taken according to a physician’s instructions.

1. Slurred speech
2. Poor judgment

Regular use of the sedative and hypnotic drugs can cause both physical and psychological dependence. User will have to take larger doses to get the same effects.

Users feel they used the drug to function. When regular users stop using these drugs suddenly, they may develop physical withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, insomia, anxiety, convulsion or death.

ECSTACY

Ecstacy is the name given to 3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) by a Los Angeles manufacturer of the drug in order to market it. Other street names of MDMA or “Adam” or XTC is a synthetic, PSYCHOACTIVE (mind allering) drug with hallucegenic and amphetamine like properties. Its chemical structure is similar to two other synthetic drugs, MDA and methemphetamine which are known to cause brain damage. MDMA is a so called “designer drug” which are known has become a worldwide problem as well as a serious health threat. It is known to be the cause of several deaths in the US and Europe.

UNDERSTANDING TERRORISM

2010-07-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

UNDERSTANDING TERRORISM

It is very important for all of us, including the public, to have a clear understanding of what terrorism is and how it works. A correct appreciation of the problem will greatly help us deal with the situation more effectively. Following are some valuable lessons learned from past events:

At the outset, we must consider that those faceless cowards can choose the time, place and even the manner they would carry out an attack. Hence, all preventive measures can only somehow reduce the threat but can not guarantee total safety. With said reality, we must be resilient; that is, capable and always ready to surge back and restore our lives to normal right after an incident. Never should we allow terrorists to dictate on us.

In examining the nature of terrorism, we are dealing with a multi-dimensional problem. Discussion is centered mostly on the criminal justice aspects: prevention and punishment.

The overriding questions are not technological or legal; they are philosophical and political.

“Terrorists usually employ the weapon of fear in a complicated sort of way. By sowing fear, they can paralyze the will, befuddle the mind and exhaust the strength of an adversary.”

Political considerations form the framework in which the activity of those engaged in terrorism is interpreted. We usually hear people say ? A man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter?. Simply stated, terrorism can be held to revolve around one's political point of view and this is the major impediment standing in the path of a universally acceptable definition of the term. However, regardless of the diversity in our political, religious or social outlook, we should be one in looking at the more important issue. Motivation notwithstanding, the rhetoric of terrorists should not be allowed to conceal their true identity. They are first and foremost, criminals. No doctrine or belief could justify killing helpless, innocent people. Because of the enormous damage they inflict, there is a misconception that terrorists are big in number and so strong. To the contrary, terrorism is the strategy of the weak, a weapon of those small band of rascals who are prepared to use violence but who believe that they would lose any contest by sheer strength.

Terrorism is means to an end, not an end in itself. Let alone, terrorism can accomplish nothing in terms of political goals; it can only aim at obtaining a response that will achieve those goals for it. Said another way, terrorist violence is aimed not so much on the target upon which the initial act is committed but to much wider audience who will view and interpret the act.

The success of terrorism is due in large part to the miscomprehension of the strategy by its opponents; which is, failure to focus on the critical issue of how to respond properly to provocations and threats. Brutality and repression are induced responses that will alienate the government from the masses, thus set the stage for revolution. In dealing with the problem of terrorism, paramount is the rule of law and our respect for human rights.

To be able to correctly interpret events, we must clearly distinguish terrorism from an ordinary criminal act. Not all violent incidents, however terrifying, can be categorized as works of terrorists. The political and social objectives which drive terrorists to act give terrorism a character of its own. Likewise, it is different from regular, as well as guerilla war because in terrorism, innocents are killed deliberately. Its very wickedness makes it a vulnerable strategy.

One possible purpose of a terrorist act is to create strife among the various sectors in a society. Some radicals pull religious verses out of context to suit their objective. But murder has no home in any religious faith. All of the world's major religions preach the values of love, peace, charity and respect for the sanctity of life. Hence, we must not fall into the enemy trap by institutionally faulting religion or its members for the upheaval.

Publicity tends to exaggerate the threats that terrorism pose to society. If we fail to understand its nature, possibility is high that we will make our fears very much greater than the actual threat.

Most of the victims of terrorist violence are innocent bystanders. Obviously then, terrorists are enemies of the humanity thereby making public support an essential factor in our war against terror.

(Note: Join the war against terror. Please reproduce this hand-out and give to friends and neighbors)

Safety Tips on the Streets

2010-07-20T20:37:00.000-07:00

Safety Tips on the Streets

1. Day or night, do not walk in dark streets, alleys and unsafe shortcuts.

2. Stay away from dark isolated places or vacant lots at night. These areas are hangouts of criminals. Do not take chances.

3. Do not walk between parked cars in parking lots. Avoid walking alone in unlit and uncertain places. At night, wait for buses, taxicabs or jeepneys in well-lighted areas.

4. When going to economically depressed areas (slums/squatter’s area) communities, do not wear expensive jewelry and carry substantial cash. If you decide to go to such places, remove your jewelry; this may save your life or limbs.

5. Do not flash a lot of cash around when traveling. Money attracts the “bad eggs.”

Commuter Safety

1. When in a bus or jeepney, do not extend your hand out the window; your watch/jewelry could be snatched or your hand injured by another vehicle.

2. When you ride a cab, take the habit of getting the name of the cab, its plate number,and the cab driver’s name. This will be handy in case you leave something in the cab or if the driver tries to hurt or rob you.

3. Be careful with what you carry when riding on a crowded bus. If you are to carry so many things, take a cab home and check the cab well before alighting.

4. If you are to visit someone, call him/her for your expected time of arrival. This will be helpful in case an accident happens on the way. It is also advisable to always inform your relatives or neighbors where you are going and for how long you will be away.

Safety in Commercial Centers

1. Never try to buy something from the sidewalks; instead, go to a department store. The goods may be a little more expensive there but it is safer since you avoid thieves, pickpockets and sidewalk hawkers.

2. Never grab a bargain sold gold watch, diamond ring or anything from the sidewalk. You are likely to be gypped with a stolen good and could be later on charged with theft.

3. Never exchange your wrist watch, expensive pen or gold ring for “a found diamond ring”. Never bargain or argue with strangers in the streets. Ignore them and just leave.

4. Never go with a stranger to get a bargain article. You may be robbed or gypped at the back street.

Tips for Women

1. If someone is talking you, seek the help of security guards (when inside a building)
and then call or go to the nearest police block/station in your area.

2. Do not ride a jeepney if there are no female passengers inside, wait for the next vehicles. It is safer to take a bus if you are commuting alone at night. Sit near the driver if passengers are predominantly male.

3. Do not hitch a ride with a person you do not know very well. It is always safer to take the bus, jeepney or taxicab.

4. Avoid watching movies alone; always take someone with you – a relative or trusted friend.

5. Ask somebody to accompany you when traveling, especially if night will overtake you.

6. Always carry in your bag a whistle or anything that may be used to sound alarm when in danger. Scream or shout for help when you are in danger of being attacked.