Archive for the ‘Household Risks’ Category

These are the easy steps in securing a safe handling of food for people to avoid illness and other issues of health brought on with food-borne bacteria. Proper food handling safety, storage and cooking are very essential for everyone, with or without a food handler permit, to ensure the safety of the food that they serve to people. For every person handling, processing or cooking food, they need to follow the simple CCSR’s of food handling safety:

· Clean – Hands, surfaces, utensils, and other kitchen instruments or equipment should always be washed before and after use.
· Cook – Food must be cooked properly on the recommended cooking temperatures for the various types of meat.
· Separate – To avoid contamination between food, always separate different types of food and meat properly when storing.
· Chill – Refrigerator and freezers must be set for the recommended temperatures for chilling, freezing, and refrigerating meat.

Purchasing:
Always make sure food is purchased on a reputable and well- known seller or establishment. Non-perishables should always be shopped first before heading out for perishable food such as meat, and it is recommended to purchase them frozen to keep them fresh until you arrive at your home for refrigerating or freezing on your refrigerator. Be on the lookout for tampered or leaking packaging of and never buy food that is past the “sell-by”, “use-by” and other expiration dates.

Storage:
Perishable food should be refrigerated in less than two hours upon purchase, and 1 hour when the general weather goes above 90 degrees F. Also, when placing the food on you’re the refrigerator for freezing, chilling or refrigerating, always check the temperatures of your freezer which recommended to be under 0 degrees F and refrigerator temperature is not to be higher than 40 degrees F. Ground meats, fresh poultry and other meats should be cooked within two days upon freezing. The wrapping of meat that is stored in your refrigerator should be secured and with no leaks to prevent contamination with other types of meat on that is stored. It is best to place different types of meat away from each other to avoid possible contamination.

Thawing:
To thaw frozen meat properly, people need to know that thawing should be done gradually. Not the process of bringing out the frozen pack of meat and leave it to thaw in room temperature, thawing it gradually means getting frozen meat from the freezer and chilling it or placing it down on the refrigerator for it to gradually thaw down in temperature.

What does pollution do to your health?

Pollution is terrible for your health, think what happens to your lungs when you have to breathe in the smog created by these fossil fuels. That is just a direct consequence of polluting fossil fuels. Down the line these fossil fuels could be cutting years off of our lives. We have no way to directly calculate it. There are also some indirect effects that must be noted as well. The emissions from fossil fuels have created a hole in our ozone layer. The ozone has become thinner across the world, so when we are out in the sun, not as many UV rays are being blocked as before. This creates a higher incidence of different types of cancers and can cut countless years off peoples lives.

This pollution is in direct result of fossil fuels. We have now reached a point in which the cost of continuing use of these fossil fuels is no longer worth the benefit. Solar panel technology has advanced to a point where it is efficient enough to completely power most homes. Solar panels are completely renewable, and are also a very clean source of energy. There are absolutely no harmful byproducts produced in the collecting of solar energy.

*The sun creates all forms of energy that are consumed on the earth, that is why I refer to solar panels as collecting energy and not creating.

The direct health benefits of solar panels include:

1. Smog and pollution will be reduced causing the air we breathe to be cleaner, and healthier for our lungs!                                                                      ( Only if we could get the smokers to quit polluting our air as well)

2. The ozone hole will eventually close and the ozone will be more adequately equipped to stop UV rays from penetrating it.

What are solar panels?

Solar panels use silicon and the suns rays to collect energy from the sun.

Black mold is a fungus that grows in damp places with poor air circulation. The scientific name for black mold is “Stachybotrys chartarum” and is potentially toxic to people. The mold is very common and chances are if given the right conditions can show up in almost any building in North America.

The fungus favors materials made of cellulose, like paper or wood; however the fungus is resilient, and will grow just about any area where the right conditions exist.

The causes of black mold is indoor moisture in areas that are not properly ventilated. The total removal of mold or mold spores is not realistic; therefore proactive steps must be taken and maintained in order to prevent a potential mold outbreak; this means that any areas indoor that are damp need to be dried up immediately to prevent the mold from growing and spreading.

Black mold prevention is the key; once the mold spreads it can become very expensive to clean up, and in some cases impractical at which point the structure has to be abandoned, and destroyed. The fungus can grow on almost any surface; therefore all surfaces need to be kept dry and clean as possible. Also consider using a dehumidifier in areas indoor where air can’t circulate properly such as a basement.

The health problems associated with the fungus depend on mold density, air circulation, and length of exposure; also some individuals are more sensitive to mold than others, possibly due to allergies, or a preexisting health condition such as asthma.

Mild symptoms of black mold infestation may include a stuffy nose, watery eyes, and skin rash. Those individuals exposed to a greater concentration of the mold for a relatively short length of time can have difficulty breathing and become nauseated; in some cases the individual’s lungs may become infected with the fungus.

A black mold infestation is a serious risk to the health of everyone. Those exposed or believed to be exposed should seek medical attention immediately. Also, tests should be performed in the building where mold contamination is thought to be present; a detailed inspection may be necessary to find the location of the mold.

It is best that everyone has their home or building tested and inspected for mold contamination for safety sake; it very well could save your health and your money. If the fungus is discovered professional help should be obtained to get rid of the problem; under no circumstance should an individual attempt to clean up the mold without a breathing apparatus designed to keep out the fungus.

The population is getting older which is increasing the need for bathroom accessories such as shower seats. As a person ages, their muscles are not as flexible as they used to be. Joints often stiffen and ache, or become arthritic. Aging, then, can make it difficult for an older person to stand for long periods of time such as when taking a shower. Additionally, slipping and falling in the shower is a key concern for seniors who have ailments which make it more difficult for them to easily maneuver in a small space, such as a shower or tub.

A reliable shower seat enables a person who is physically challenged or has any kind of restriction to be less concerned or worried about standing or falling when they are taking a shower.

Using a shower seat also means that an elderly person can take a shower without assistance. This provides him or her a greater sense of independence and control.

There are also a number of seats that provide places for an individual to keep their personal shower items like soap and shampoo close at hand. These features mean that they can access all of their things without having to move or reach too far. This also provides a feeling of independence as well as reducing the chance of slipping while reaching for an item in the shower.

Shower seats are available in a wide range of models and styles depending upon the needs of the individual. There are built-in shower benches that run the length of one shower wall. There are wall mounted fold-up shower seats that can be moved out of the way when not in use. There are folding shower seats that can be moved into and out of the shower. Also available are corner shower seats that are triangular and fit into the corner of the shower, thus taking up less space.

Many shower chairs are also available that have backrests and arms. These will provide someone who is weak with assistance getting in and out of a shower as well as more support while sitting in the shower. Arms also give an elderly person something to hold on to while in the shower which can help prevent them from slipping.

Finally, there are shower transfer benches which are geared specifically to the needs of anyone who is in a wheelchair. These benches allow the person in the wheelchair to get in and out of the shower by themselves.

With many options available, seniors and others who are temporarily or permanently disabled can be safer while enjoying a comforting shower.

Many people are looking for ways to make their home more environmentally friendly. One way of doing this in the bedroom is to buy a latex foam mattress. This type of mattress is produced through a sustainable process and made of an organic substance.  Latex as a material for a mattress also provides the best support and comfort over other types of mattress such as your traditional spring box and the more modern memory foam mattress. If you are looking for a cheaper or quicker solution, a latex foam mattress pad would be ideal, as it can be fitted over existing mattresses in the bedroom.

The manufacturing of latex is a sustainable process. The sap of a rubber, which is what makes latex, can be harvested over and over again as the tree is only ‘tapped’. When a rubber tree is tapped, a slice is made in the bark, allowing the sap to be collected. The tree will continue living and producing the sap even after being harvested. After the sap has been collected, it then goes to be processed into latex. There are a number of ways in which the sap can be processed into latex, and this is what determines the quality of the latex. A 100% latex foam mattress is sold at a premium whereas latex can be mixed with synthetics to reduce the cost (as well as benefits) of the mattress.

Latex carries a number of unique properties that make it a hypoallergenic. The organic material is a harsh environment for things to grow in, such as mold, bacteria, and dust mites.  For people who suffer from allergies, a 100% latex foam mattress can reduce or eliminate any sleeping problems resulting from allergies.  People who suffer from overheating while sleeping can also benefit, as latex does not retain heat like a memory foam mattress would.  The memory foam also traps a person into the bed as it molds to the body. The latex mattress is elastic and dense at the same time that is forms to body just in the right way, allowing people to roll side to side easier than sleeping on a memory foam mattress.

A latex foam mattress topper is a simpler option than buying a full-scale mattress. It can be fitted quickly and cheaply over existing mattresses and will add the benefits found from a full mattress. This solution only costs a fraction of the mattress, but will green up any mattress.

Organic materials posses a number of benefits, and this is true even when it comes to mattresses. If you are looking to add comfort to your sleep and add some organic furniture to your house, a latex foam mattress or even a topper would be an ideal choice.