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World Water Day

Today is World Water Day. World Water Day began in 1992 as an initiative at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. It was at this conference that March 22 was named World Water Day to help raise awareness of safe, reliable water for everyone in the world. It may seem unbelievable to those of us in the United States, but approximately one billion people around the world don’t have healthy water available for use. Since the first World Water Day in 1993, 200 million people have gained access to clean water, but there … Continue reading →

Flood Health: Other Illnesses

When a natural disaster strikes in your area, you have to be careful to prevent illness and other injuries. Safe food and water is a priority. Here are some things the U.S. Centers for Disease Control suggest to help keep you and your family safe and healthy during a flood or other disaster. Avoid floodwater — don’t drive vehicles or equipment through standing water because you don’t know how deep it is. If you will be working in or near water, be sure to wear a life jacket. Prevent mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and pants or using an … Continue reading →

Flood Health: Food and Water

In light of flooding in the Midwest, this is a good time to look at how to stay safe and healthy during a flood. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control suggest looking at preventing illness from three different perspectives: Preventing illness from food Preventing illness from water Preventing other illness and injuries Make safe food and water a priority after a flood. If the power is out, try to keep fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep the cold air in. If the power will be out for more than four hours, you can add block … Continue reading →

Driving the Healthy Highway

Sitting in the car all day can cut your usual daily calorie burn by as much as four hundred calories! If you’ve got a family road trip planned, use these tips to keep the highway a little healthier. Adjust your calorie intake accordingly. You’ll burn four hundred calories less sitting in the car all day, so you should be eating four hundred calories less, too! Stock up on drinks. That recirculated air (or open windows) can dry you out and make you thirsty. If you’ve got bottled water and other healthy drinks handy, you won’t be tempted to stop at … Continue reading →

Holiday Travel: 10 Ways To Stay Healthy On Vacation

Continuing with our series: “Holiday Travel” today we move on to another important issue related to holiday travel-—health. Winter’s crummy weather doesn’t only serve as the impetus for travel delays and cancellations, it wrecks havoc on people’s immune systems. To avoid being laid up in a hotel bed while the rest of your family is hitting the slopes or the beach consider following these tips: 1. Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating. 2. Examine dishes and utensils (make sure they are clean and dry) before using them. 3. If you are traveling abroad (places other than the United States … Continue reading →

Travel Tip–Avoiding The Fast Food Trap

Do you remember hearing this on your last road trip? Day One: “Welcome to McDonald’s. Can I take your order?” Day Two: “Thanks for choosing Burger King. How can I help you?” Day Three: “Hola! Taco John’s. What can I get for you?” If it sounds familiar you aren’t alone. Many vacations and road trips are filled with fast food stops. The key to avoid falling prey to this all too familiar junk food trap is to plan ahead. Here are some tips that have served my family well: · Take a large cooler of bottled water. Staying hydrated curbs … Continue reading →

Take Me Out to the Water Park

A favored activity between my husband and my daughter is to go the water park. The hotter the summer, the more glorious the time spent in the water at the water park. From the wave pool to the giant slides to floating down the lazy river – a water park can make a day in the Texas heat tolerable. Drought Conditions When we were growing up, slip and slides were all the rage and so was dashing through the water sprinklers. Being wet in the sun and the heat does a lot for cooling you down. Currently, we are in … Continue reading →

VPI Has Advice for Pet Owners This Summer

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Will you be traveling this Summer? Are you going to bring your pets with you? VPI has some great advice for keeping your pets cool and safe this Summer. Whether you will be traveling across the country, or to the nearest park, the advice from VPI is very useful for pet owners. You probably know how to keep yourself, and your kids, safe this Summer. This includes using plenty of sunscreen, and staying in the shade during the hours that the sun is the hottest. It could mean coming back inside to cool off and rehydrate several times a day. … Continue reading →

Intestinal Parasites: Giardia

While I was reading up on worms, I came across some other types of intestinal parasite. Giardia are single-celled organisms that can cause illness in pets and people. Symptoms of Giardia infection include: Weight loss — large populations of Giardia can interfere with food absorption Listlessness Diarrhea or stool that is soft, light colored, and greasy Mild anemia If your pet has had contact with dirty or potentially contaminated water or with animals with similar symptoms, you may want to have your veterinarian check for Giardia. These protozoans mature in stages. The inactive form — known as cysts — is … Continue reading →

Keeping Germs Away At 35,000-Feet

For some travelers the mere thought of having to be cooped up with hundreds of strangers in an airtight environment is enough to make them sick. But are you really more susceptible to cold viruses at 35,000-feet? I have friends who have told me that they have boarded a flight feeling great, but shortly after they landed a horrendous cold set in and their vacation was ruined. Is this possible? According to doctors, there is little evidence that indicates riding on a plane increases the likelihood of contracting an illness. In fact, the notion that the air in planes is … Continue reading →