Search Results for: blog kids and summer health dangers

5 Fitness Goals for the Summer

When it comes to goal setting, most of us think about the New Year. That’s the time when resolutions are made. But summer is a perfect opportunity to do the same. If there is ever a season to really be committed to a fit lifestyle, summer is it. It’s the perfect time of year to start eating healthier and incorporate more physical activity into your day. So with that, here are 5 fitness goals you should have for the summer. The first goal is to eat more fruit. Not only is this the season for some of the freshest fruits … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for December 3-9

After a couple week hiatus due to health and travel issues, I’m finally resuming Week in Review duties. And if your life has been nuts like mine has lately, you’ll appreciate having a place to find a snapshot of the week’s articles for easy browsing. So sit back and enjoy catching up on what Aimee and I wrote on: Monday, December 3 Another Shedding Season is Upon Us! It may be the season for cider and eggnog, carols and presents, but as Aimee reminds us it’s also that time of year when our dogs get their heavier winter coats…and shed … Continue reading →

Kids and Summer Health Dangers

I am choosing to ignore what the calendar says… Despite the fact that in bold, black, block letters the words, “FIRST DAY OF SUMMER” appear on June 21, we have been experiencing summer-like temperatures in the low 90s for the past 10 days. Amazingly, the blistering heat has not kept the bugs away. I think they are desperately trying to get in our home to escape the heat outside. Meanwhile, my daughter has been making a beeline for the front door—she wants out of the house and into the pool. Don’t get me wrong; I love the warmer summer months … Continue reading →

Children’s Fitness: New Global Health Threat in the Form of Video Games?

I’ve talked about World of Warcraft here before and I’ve addressed problems from concerned parents about the amount of time their kids spend playing video games versus how much time they spend on physical activities. Today, I want to take this discussion a bit further and I have my own personal reasons for maintaining my level of concern and this concern is something that I am working on here in my own family. My seven-year-old nephew loves to play this game and plays it at his father’s house a great deal. We can limit his game time when he is … Continue reading →

Accidental Poisoning: Common Culprits

An accidental poisoning can be a life or death situation. Knowing the symptoms of poisoning can help you get treatment quickly… but knowing the most common household hazards can help you prevent the situation entirely. A poison is any substance that disrupts the normal function of the body. Poison can be eaten or drunk, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through the skin. Keep your local poison control center phone number handy! Put a copy of that number (and other emergency numbers) in your first aid kit AND post an emergency phone list by your house phone. You don’t want to have … Continue reading →

Symptoms of Accidental Poisoning

An accidental poisoning can be a serious, life-threatening emergency. Knowing the signs of poisoning can help you take action quickly… and maybe safe a life. A poison can be ingested, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through the skin. A person who has been poisoned may become suddenly ill, or unconscious. You may notice a person who has been poisoned acting strangely. Common symptoms of poisoning can include: vomiting, stomach pain, trouble breathing, headache, fever, chills, dizziness, drowsiness, pain and swelling in the throat. If you suspect an accidental poisoning, you may also notice other signs. There may be burns or stains … Continue reading →

Stinging Nettle

With a name like “stinging nettle” it doesn’t sound like a good idea to use this plant internally or externally… does it? But stinging nettle has a long history in medicine. One of the earliest uses of stinging nettle was in attempts to stimulate paralyzed limbs. A paralyzed limb would be slapped with a bunch of stinging nettles — this was known as urtication. Nettle was also made into fabric; archaeologists have uncovered nettle cloth in Bronze Age burial sites. During the fifteen hundreds, stinging nettle was suggested as an antidote for some poisons. Colonists brought stinging nettle to the … Continue reading →

On the Road Again, Parenting on Vacation–Part Three

I used to think that vacation=relaxation. Isn’t that the myth that has been perpetuated in the popular culture? Vacations are supposed to be about kicking back and relaxing and letting go of all of the daily strife and worry. But, for any parent who has ever taken a passel of kids along on the summer or holiday outing–vacation does NOT equal relaxation. I really don’t mean to sound like such a sour puss. If you ask my three teens, they will all have all sorts of fond memories and tales to tell of vacations past. In fact, all of our … Continue reading →