There is no particular time of the year when it’s the best time to get a cold. A person can catch a cold during any season of the year, even summertime, so safety precautions are good to practice all year and all seasons to avoid the unpleasant illness. There are however a couple of seasons of the year when the odds of catching a cold are significantly increased and a persons chance of getting sick are higher. Fall and winter are considered the prime target seasons for catching a cold for the majority of people, especially in crowded, public areas like the workplace, school, church and even the local grocery store.
One thing that people can do to avoid catching colds during the prime cold season is to cover up when and where appropriate. They should avoid going outside in extremely cold weather without a covering of some sort, whether it’s a coat or a jacket. There is moisture in cold weather, and when that moisture is on the body for long periods of time, it compromises the person’s immune system and makes them more susceptible to germs and colds.
Also, to avoid catching colds and staying healthy, a person should wash their hands as often as possible. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available and avoid touching surfaces that are frequently touched by the general population. This includes doorknobs, tables and even money. Although handling these things are sometimes unavoidable, be mindful of touching them and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth after you’ve been exposed to those things. Frequent hand washing clears away germs and bacteria, things that are present and contribute to a person catching a cold.
Finally, drinking plenty of fluids during cold season keeps the body flushed and hydrated and the cold germs at bay. The best liquid to drink of course would be water, but any kind of liquid is good so long as it is frequent and in abundance. Orange juice, sports drinks and even coffee and tea are good liquids to drink and helps a person avoid sicknesses.
During hot summer months, a great way to cool off is by taking a dip in the pool and letting the water whisk away the scorch of the blazing heat. Swimming is a favorite pastime for children and adults. It’s a great way to get in a good exercise regimen and a fun way to cool off from summertime heat. Cooling off at the local community pool is the way most people find to swim if they don’t have a personal pool at their home.
Enjoying the pool is also a great way to entertain and have fun with friends. Pool parties are frequent entertainment venues and can provide countless hours of fun. However, along with the fun and entertainment that this popular pastime provides, there are safety issues that must be observed so that the swimmer can continue to enjoy their favorite community pool and stay in good health. Some good tips for public pool and general pool safety include:
1.) Observe community pool rules and acclimate yourself with their requirements and the do’s and dont’s of their establishment. Part of the pool requirements will likely be included in your membership fees and may also be posted inside the pools common area where traffic is heavy.
2.) Don’t run at the pool or alongside the pool at any time. This is a very dangerous situation and a great cause for concern for many public pools. There is a lot of water on the rim of the pool, in the common walking area, therefore running and playing close to this area is highly discouraged because one slip can become a big problem and cause severe accidents.
3.) Bathe before entering the pool. This reduces the transference of germs and bacteria and shows common courtesy to those around you.
These few, basic tips for public pool safety will make your visit to the local community pool more enjoyable and healthier in the long run.
Making your home a safe place for the baby is very important. Babies have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and need a safe environment to quench their thirst. Having things in a controlled, safe environment leaves their small world completely open for them to learn and explore without being in harms way. Here are a few tips to ensure that they can do that:
1.) Place safety plugs for outlets in all open outlets in your home. As babies start crawling and exploring, they learn by touching and tasting. They instinctively drawn to place things in their mouths and to reach out and touch objects. Outlets can be very dangerous if they place their fingers in them, so therefore protecting them by closing up outlets can help tremendously.
2.) Never give a baby a bath in hot water, but use warm, tepid water instead. Hot water above 75 degrees or more can cause skin burns and be completely uncomfortable as well. Water that is too hot can also completely dries out the baby’s skin, creating dryness, flakiness and soreness over his skin.
3.) Remove all hanging cords, strings or anything that the baby can pull from all areas around the home where they may be prone to hurt themselves. Take cords to curtains and loop them out of the baby’s reach, as well as removing ceiling fans from within their grasp or where their fingers can reach.
4.) Remove all chemicals and hazardous materials from out of the baby’s reach. Most homes keep cleaning solutions underneath sinks and cabinets, but to protect the baby and make the home very safe for the baby, it’s better to take chemical and cleaning solutions and place them above counter space, completely out of their reach.
Being thorough in baby-proofing the home makes the home a joyful, fun and safe environment for them to learn and grow. It also gives the parent peace of mind knowing that the baby is out of harms way and can play to their hearts content!
