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With the weather warming up, it's good to practice some basic safety measures as you pull out the mower and the electric shears to rejuvenate your landscape. More than 200,000 people a year are injured in accidents related to lawn and garden tools, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Many of the injuries treated can be prevented, if people concentrate on the task at hand and use common sense when operating machinery," says Dr. Maureen Finnegan, associate professor of orthopedic surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Start by wearing sturdy shoes rather than sandals or flip flops. Before mowing, check the yard for potential problems like rocks and sticks that could be thrown by the blades. The whirling blades can send projectiles flying, as well as cut fingers, toes and feet.

"Always turn off the mower before you clear the blades if something is caught, so it doesn't end up being your fingers that are caught," Dr. Finnegan says. "If you do accidentally sever a finger or toe, it's important to cleanse the amputated part with saline water, wrap it in gauze and put it in a watertight bag. Place the bag over ice and take it with you to the emergency room."

(5-12-09)

Washing hands and paying close attention to symptoms of illness are just some of the things the public can to do help reduce the risk from the swine flu (H1N1) outbreak, says the American Red Cross. "This is a serious situation that has the potential to spread, and it is a good time for families, businesses and organizations to follow good public health practices and to review and update their preparedness plans," says Scott Conner, senior vice president of Preparedness and Health & Safety Services at the American Red Cross. "Taking steps to prepare for potential emergencies in advance can go a long way in making families feel safer."

The American Red Cross urges the public to remember these simple actions:

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective when soap and water aren't available.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home if you are feeling sick.

Children have been greatly impacted by this outbreak, and need to know how to properly wash their hands to prevent the spread of germs. The Red Cross has partnered with NSF International's (NSF) Scrub Club to educate children about the importance of hand washing to protect them against influenza. The Scrub Club Web site (scrubclub.org) is an easy, online tool to teach kids how to wash their hands and why it's important.

If families are asked to stay home during this outbreak, it's important to have a plan and supplies in place before that happens. The Red Cross recommends the following:

Stock extra food, water and supplies at home to reduce the need to go out should swine flu become more widespread, limiting potential for exposure to the virus.

Be sure to include household necessities such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, etc. Select foods that are easy to prepare and store.

Make sure you have an adequate supply of essential medications and medical items for all family members. Include non-prescription medications as well.

Other preparedness steps that can be taken include these:

Plan for what you would do if you had to stay at home for a period of time.

Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick.

Find out your employer's plans to keep the business open if key staff can't come to work.

Ask your child's school or day care if there are plans to encourage sick children to stay home to reduce the spread of the disease.

Identify how you can get information, whether through local radio, TV, Internet or other sources.

For more tips on how to prepare yourself, your family and community for this and other potential emergencies, visit www.redcross.org. Learn more about the swine flu by reading the following articles:

Swine Flu and Babies: Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment for the Swine Flu

Swine Flu and Pregnancy: How Does the Influenza H1N1 Strain Affect Mom-to-be?

(5-05-09)

Worldwide concerns over the swine flu outbreak is spurring governments and health agencies into action to keep the public safe. Closer to home, the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) is reminding families that disease prevention is in their hands – literally.

"Cleaning your hands with soap and water is simple, safe, effective and inexpensive," says Nancy Bock, SDA Vice President of Education. "When it comes to preventing the spread of the flu, hygiene is your first line of everyday defense. Very simply put, clean hands save lives ... Whether you're using bar soap, liquid soap or foam soap, just make sure you lather your hands and rub vigorously for at least 20 seconds."

Parents' concern over their children's health in school settings may be understandably heightened due to the round-the-clock news coverage of the swine flu outbreak. SDA offers three quick tips for parents to help keep their kids healthy in school:

Make sure your school has adequate supplies of soap, paper towels and surface cleaning and disinfecting products. It's tough for students to keep their hands clean if bathrooms lack the basics. And make sure there are sufficient and effective cleaning and disinfecting products available for school custodians, who are on the front lines of keeping our schools healthy.

Tuck some hand wipes along your child's packed lunch. Sometimes kids are so rushed during the day, they don't wash their hands before they eat. Hands wipes are useful when kids are on the go.

Consider adding a hand sanitizer into your older child's backpack. Convenient, portable sanitizer products are great to have around when soap and water aren't readily available. (Check with your school to make sure students are allowed to carry along a sanitizer.)

"Take time to explain to your kids why handwashing is important, and stay informed. Proper hygiene, common sense and good information from credible sources will go a long way to seeing us through this public health challenge," says SDA's Nancy Bock.

For more information, visit www.cleaning101.com.

(5-05-09)

While there is no vaccine for the disease, and no way to guarantee prevention against infection, one doctor believes that there are simple and easy ways we can all reduce our susceptibility to infection.

"Most flus enter our body through our noses, and the organ in our nose that is critical to fighting infection is the nasal cilia," says sinus infection expert Dr. Murray Grossan, author of Free Yourself from Sinus and Allergy Problems – Permanently (Hydro Med., Inc.). "If you take care of your cilia, and take steps to enhance their ability to ward off infection, you can increase your immune response and reduce your susceptibility to swine flu."

With swine flu overtaking foreign countries and also making its presence known in the United States, people feel helpless because there is no vaccine and limited preventive measures they can take to prevent against infection. But Dr. Grossan (www.drgrossan.com), an expert in the causes and prevention of sinus infections, believes that the same methods he advises his patients to prevent sinus infection and the cold can also be useful in helping to prevent swine flu.

"The key to preventing sinus infections, and repeated sinus infections, is healthy nasal cilia," Dr. Grossan says. "They are our first line of defense, and too many OTC products may be harmful. My method is to enhance cilia health so that the organ can do the job it was intended to do – keep us healthy."

Tea is one main weapon in the arsenal to fight infection. "Tea can boost the body's defense fivefold," Dr. Grossan says. "Dr. Jack Bukowski of Harvard reported that five cups of tea per day increased the body's defenses against disease. The chemical in tea, L-theanine, transforms into ethylamine in the liver. Ethylamine is a molecule that primes the response of an immune blood cell, one of the T cells. These T cells, called gamma delta T cells, prompt the secretion of interferon, a key defense against infection. Tea is also high in antioxidants and actually stimulates cilia action."

Chicken soup is also not a cliché in this case, he says. It contains properties that are critical to cilia health, and can actually help keep them strong. There are also a number of over-the-counter products that can be used to protect the cilia topically, and these remedies are usually employed by travelers on airplanes. "These gels coat the cilia, and prevent bacteria from penetrating to the nasal tissue, thereby helping to prevent infection," Dr. Grossan says.

Relaxation is also important, as is a good night's sleep, according to Dr. Grossan. "When you're stressed out and exhausted, your immune response is significantly hampered, and you are more susceptible to infection," he says. "Learning to relax and relieve your stress is an important tool in the fight against disease, and a general aid to good health."

(5-05-09)

The International Playground Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) is reminding parents and caregivers of the importance of providing safe play environments during National Playground Safety Week (April 19-25). IPEMA's playground safety experts have compiled a list of helpful hints to help safely maximize their child's experience on the playground – to help take advantage of the many benefits of play.

"Even more than ever, during these difficult economic times, parents are turning to simple activities such as free play to create family fun," says Tom Norquist, past president of IPEMA and leader of the Voice of Play advocacy initiative. "Going outside to encourage children to play is one of the most important things parents can do to help a child's development, and playground safety is a critical first step in creating a positive play experience."

IPEMA's experience in safety certification of playground equipment and surfacing has prompted them to issue a list of five important steps that communities should take to help ensure safety on the playground.

"Spring is the perfect time to brush up on playground safety," Norquist says. "Performing equipment and surfacing maintenance upgrades can help contribute to a great play experience."

Don't forget what's below your feet! Grass is not an acceptable surfacing for playgrounds. One of the leading causes of injury on playgrounds is falling from playground equipment. To minimize the frequency and severity of injury from playground falls, it is crucial to have certified playground surfacing, such as engineered wood fiber, poured-in-place or rubber mulch surfacing installed under and around the equipment on any public playground. This surfacing is certified to have sufficient depth or thickness to minimize impact injuries from falls.

Be an advocate for safety standards. Playground equipment and surfacing have been carefully evaluated by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The standards set by these organizations help ensure that playground equipment and surfacing is age appropriate and designed with the measurement of children's physical dimensions, skills and abilities in mind. IPEMA runs an industry-leading certification program to test and validate playground equipment and surfacing to meet ASTM standards.

Proper installation is key to safety! Playground equipment should be installed by individuals experienced in assembly directions and knowledgeable about the environment surrounding the playground, including soil, drainage and the use of other construction materials, tools, equipment and machinery. The manufacturers of specific pieces of equipment can provide certified installers, or the International Playground Contractors Association can provide assistance.

Check, re-check and then check again. Once the equipment and surfacing are installed, have a post-installation safety audit performed by a person certified in playground safety prior to use. This audit will determine if any equipment or surfacing is non-compliant and will help prioritize any issues that should be corrected before the playing begins. Proper installation also includes posting signage about the age-appropriateness of specific equipment.

Don't underestimate maintenance and upkeep. Proper maintenance can be forgotten – but is one of the most important aspects of ensuring safety on a playground. Maintenance processes must be in place on both a routine and long-term basis. Equipment and surfacing must be checked for signs of damage following severe weather and for signs of vandalism or any other man-made or natural catastrophe. In addition, equipment and surfacing will show natural wear and tear each year and regular maintenance inspections and replacement processes should be in place to minimize hazards.

"Parents and caregivers should advocate maintenance and safety in their local communities and to playground owners and officials," Norquist says.

To learn more, visit www.voiceofplay.com or www.playgroundsafety.org.

(4-21-09)

Five billion gallons of bottled water were consumed in 2000, an increase of more than 200 percent from a decade earlier. Whether consumers drink more bottled water because it is an alternative to soda, or because it is convenient to do so is unclear, but one thing is certain: They are missing out on the valuable fluoride found in tap water, which helps to protect teeth from cavities, according to a study published in General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal.

Researchers tested the fluoride content in more than 100 different samples of bottled water, which fell into six categories: distilled, drinking/purified, spring/artesian, mineral, fluoride-added and flavor-added. Of the total 105 samples, the fluoride concentrations in the majority of the samples fell below the U.S. government's recommended range of 0.7-1.2 parts per million (ppm), the ideal range to prevent cavities. Only five samples met the recommended range.

Lead author of the study, Ryan L. Quock, DDS, recommends that consumers speak with their dentist about their primary drinking water source. "Understanding consumers' water drinking habits is extremely important," he says. "Determining if they are drinking appropriately fluoridated water, especially when they have or are at risk for cavities, is crucial information, because fluoridated water is an automatic way for them to help improve their oral health. Talking to them also allows us to have a conversation about fluoride's effects, mainly focusing on its relationship to dental caries and fluorosis."

Receiving the appropriate amount of fluoride is critical to consumers' oral health – especially children's oral health – as it strengthens the teeth and protects them against cavities. Dr. Patricia Meredith, AGD spokesperson, advises parents to do their research before handing their child a water bottle. "Parents should be in charge of how much bottled water their kids drink, in order to make sure that that they also receive the proper amount of fluoridated water that will keep their teeth healthy," says Dr. Meredith. Fluoride in toothpaste, water supplies and other oral hygiene products is one of the basics of keeping children's mouths healthy, Dr. Meredith says. "With soda and energy drinks being as popular as they are, not to mention the attractiveness of sugary snacks, children's mouths are constantly fighting cavity-causing bacteria. Something as simple as drinking water from the tap is a no-nonsense and cost-effective way to prevent cavities."

The AGD supports the use of fluoride and adopted a position statement based on the Center for Disease Control's Recommendation for Using Fluoride, which states, "When used appropriately, fluoride is safe and effective in preventing and controlling dental caries. Regular use throughout life will help protect teeth against decay. All water supplies, including bottled water, should have appropriate fluoride levels. All fluoridated items, including toothpaste, should be used as recommended by your dentist."

To learn more, visit www.agd.org or www.knowyourteeth.com.

(4-21-09)

Research from the national, nonprofit Home Safety Council shows that more than 2,000 children die each year from home injuries, and the highest rate of home injury death is among babies under 1 year old.

In addition, the Home Safety Council just completed a survey of parents of babies age 1 and younger and found that while 99 percent of parents report it is important that they bring their new baby home to a safe environment, most buy items to fill their baby's toy chest and dresser drawers and neglect to ensure their home is safe. In fact:

Nearly nine in 10 (87 percent) new parents purchased new toys and baby clothes.

Less than two in three (65 percent) made sure they had working smoke alarms in or near bedrooms.

Less than half (49 percent) ensured they had a working carbon monoxide alarm in the home.

Just 32 percent set their hot water heater to 120 degrees.

Only one-quarter created and practiced a fire escape plan to ensure they could get to their baby and get out of the home in time in the event of a fire.

To help babies sleep safely, the Home Safety Council urges parents to put their babies to sleep on their backs, use sleepers instead of blankets to keep them warm and remove all soft bedding, pillows, toys and stuffed animals from the crib. While 15 percent of parents surveyed say they worry about the safety of their baby in the crib, in their effort to keep their baby warm and happy, many have at least one safety hazard in the crib:

68 percent have blankets in the crib.

Nearly half (47 percent) have bumpers in the crib.

More than one-third (34 percent) have stuffed animals in the crib.

Almost one-quarter (23 percent) keep toys in the crib with their baby.

The Home Safety Council offers the following baby safety tips for injury prevention in the nursery and throughout the home.

Safe Sleep Tips

Put babies to sleep on their backs. Keep pillows, blankets and toys out of cribs. Do not hang anything with strings or ribbons over cribs. Mobiles should be removed once the baby starts to sit up.

Put a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm near the bedrooms. A CO alarm will tell you if the gas level is too high.

Make sure to have working smoke alarms inside or near every bedroom. Test each smoke alarm every month. Put new batteries in your smoke alarms at least one time each year.

If your smoke alarms are more than 10 years old, replace them with new smoke alarms.

Keep baby monitors and other cords a safe distance from the crib.

Nursery Safety Tips

Children can choke on small things. If something is small enough to fit in a toilet paper tube, it is not safe for little children. Look in every room of your home. Pick up small items like buttons, coins, jewelry and small toys.

Never leave the baby unattended on the changing table. Always use safety straps on highchairs, changing tables and strollers.

All pictures should be secured out of reach. Don't hang pictures or other heavy decorations directly over a crib.

Keep cribs, beds, chairs and other furniture away from windows.

Install a baby gate at the nursery door.

Replace all door stops that have removable caps that can pose a choking hazard.

Install finger pinch guards on doors or drape a towel over the hinge side to prevent painful pinching injuries.

Safe Bathing Tips

Drowning can happen very fast. Most of the time you will not hear someone drowning. Stay within an arm's reach of young children when they are in or near water.

Hot water burns like fire. Set your home water heater at or below 120 degrees F to prevent burns. Use a water thermometer to test bath water. The water temperature should be at 100 degrees F.

Babies and young children have delicate skin. Install special tub spouts and shower heads that prevent hot water burns.

(4-14-09)

From grassroots initiatives in communities across the country to global campaigns around the world, Earth Day is a day to commemorate the importance of our environment and identify the impact we have on our planet. In recognizing the significance of individual responsibility, Keep America Beautiful wants to remind everyone that every little bit counts. Do your part this spring to preserve and protect the environment with these simple tips, and help to keep the spirit of Earth Day alive all year long.

As they say, April showers bring May flowers. Capture rain water and use it to water your garden.

Spring cleaning! Spring is here at last, and it is always a good time to freshen up your house and sort through old things. Find out what can be recycled. Everything from newspapers and cardboard to aluminum and electronics are recyclable so make sure to recycle as much as you can. You can practice "reuse" by donating usable items to local charities or through Freecycle.org.

Go organic! With spring here, you can save money and go green by cultivating your own favorite vegetables and fruits. If you don't have the space or means for your own garden, buy local produce and support local farmers.

Beautify your home or business by planting trees and flowers. Spring is officially here and it is the opportune time to make your garden look bright and beautiful.

Keep rivers, lakes and oceans clean. Do what you can to reduce litter on your favorite beaches. With summer coming, you'll keep your favorite places to swim safe for you, your family and your friends.

Walk to work! The nice weather is here, and with the flowers blooming and the temperature getting warmer, walk – to save money, conserve energy and be more active!

Spend time outside. Take advantage of local parks and plan activities outside – from throwing around a ball to having a picnic – spending time outdoors is a wonderful way to enjoy the weather and reduce energy consumption.

Encourage others to be more environmentally friendly. Individuals at the grassroots level are the spirit of Earth Day and Keep America Beautiful. Help support the environment by encouraging others to follow in your lead. Remember to practice what you preach!

Teach the next generation – our children – about how important our environment really is. Make sure they know to keep the tradition of Earth Day alive, not only on April 22, but every day.

Join Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup. There are cleanup events going on everywhere, so lend a hand and make this country cleaner and more beautiful. Get friends and family involved and don't forget to participate in future fall events and cleanups. Join your local Keep America Beautiful affiliate, or create your own Great American Cleanup event at www.kab.org/gac.

(4-14-09)

Unlike playgrounds, no national standards exist for tree houses. Although building and playing in tree houses is widely considered a rite of passage for children, it can unfortunately lead to serious injury.

A recent study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that an average of 2,800 children younger than 20 years of age visited emergency departments for tree-house-related injuries each year from 1990 to 2006.

According to the study, published in Academic Emergency Medicine, the majority of tree-house-related injuries occurred when a child fell or jumped from the tree house. The most common injuries were fractures (37 percent), bruises (20 percent) and cuts (20 percent) to the upper body.

"The most serious tree-house-related injuries occurred when children fell from great heights and onto hard, non-impact-absorbing surfaces," says study author Dr. Lara McKenzie, principal investigator at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital. "The odds of a child requiring hospitalization tripled if the fall was from higher than 10 feet, and boys and older children were the most likely to sustain falls from these heights."

The findings of this study are consistent with previous studies on falls and playground injuries, which have led to the establishment of safety standards and regulations regarding height and surface type for playgrounds. However, despite many of the same risks, tree houses have little regulation and oversight, and safety standards are minimal and vary by location.

"Tree house safety deserves special attention because of the potential for serious injury or death due to falls from great heights, as well as the absence of national or regional safety standards," says Dr. McKenzie, also a faculty member of The Ohio State University College of Medicine. "We recommend tree house safety standards are modeled after those developed for playgrounds by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Society for Testing and Materials."

Specific recommendations include building tree houses low to the ground (no more than 10 feet), covering a 72-inch zone around the tree house with at least 9 inches of protective surfacing (such as wood mulch), using solid barrier walls at least 38 inches in height instead of guardrails, and requiring adult supervision for any child younger than 6 years of age using a tree house.

(4-07-09)

NSF International has announced that AquaPRO Systems is the first pump manufacturer to receive certification to both NSF/ANSI Standard 50 – Equipment for Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs and Other Recreational Water Facilities and ANSI/UL 1081 – Standard for Swimming Pool Pumps, Filters and Chlorinators from NSF. Certification to NSF Standard 50 and UL 1081 for pool pumps verifies compliance with the American National Standards for these products, which establish performance and safety requirements.

"AquaPRO Systems' decision to bundle both NSF 50 and UL 1081 certifications to one accredited certification organization, NSF, which is accepted by regulators in the pool and spa industry, was a strategic move for us," says Joe Mauro, president of Wayne Water Systems, d/b/a AquaPRO Systems. "It significantly reduced our time to market and total certification cost."

NSF services for pumps include certification to NSF Standard 50 and UL 1081 along with California Energy Commission and sound emissions testing. Ongoing compliance is verified through periodic facility inspections and retesting.

"We are proud to provide proactive manufacturers, such as AquaPRO Systems, the combined testing and certification services they need to demonstrate their commitment to producing safer, quality products," says Dave Purkiss, General Manager, NSF International Water Treatment and Distribution Systems. "Obtaining certification is important because it helps consumers select recreational water products that have been tested and proven to meet national standards."

To learn more about NSF, visit www.nsf.org.

(4-07-09)