Archive for May, 2012

What To Include In Your First Aid Kit

May 8th, 2012

Ask any mother and she will attest that accidents occur around the home. It does not matter whether there are children in the home or all adults; there is certainly a need for wound care products and tubular bandages. No matter who lives in the home, having a first aid kit is a wise investment. In fact, every 1.6 seconds another accident happens in the home. Those who are prepared with antiseptic wipes and adhesive bandages have an upper hand.

Whether it is for the office or home, a first aid kit is essential. The most common accidents that occur in the home are resulting from poison, slips and falls and also choking. In a home where there are children, it is necessary to have the proper equipment on hand to treat these injuries, such as liquid bandages. Where other bandages lose their stickiness in certain activities, liquid bandages can last thought swimming and all of child’s play.

When putting together a first aid kit, it should be carefully thought out and well stocked. Pre-made kits are an excellent start, but they usually do not have everything that one would need in them, like tubular bandages. Sure pre-made kits will have the basic necessary wound care products, but one will need to add additional products to them. It is advisable to stock the first aid kit with things that are pertinent to each family. For instance, if a person has asthma, an inhaler should be kept in the kit for emergencies.

Adhesive bandages are the number one thing that needs to be in a kit. For kids adding some cute character bandages are nice and make wearing Band-Aids more enjoyable. The first aid kit is also a great place to keep antiseptic wipes and a list of any medications being taken in the home. For those who have allergies to meds, it is a good place to list them. If there is a baby sitter or grandparents taking care of children, this information can prove valuable. Important phone numbers like doctors or the poison control center are also a great thing to have on hand. Here are some other things that should be included in a first aid kit:

Paint Reliever like aspirin
Cough Medication
Medical Syringe for Medicine
Syrup of Ipecac
Band Aids in Various Sizes
Gauze
Safety Pins
Peroxide
Long Armed Tweezers
Cold Packs
Hot Packs
Antibiotic Creams
Scissors
Clean Rags for Blood Spills
Flash Light
Batteries (not in flash light)

Once a family has a kit, it is important to remember to keep restocking it periodically. Nothing is worse than needing the kit and someone has removed something from it. Bandages are something that can quickly disappear. Children love to play with them and always have a need for one more. Making sure these are stocked for true emergencies is essential.

The one thing that most people do not consider is the container used for first aid. The regular pre-made kits have small containers. Using a larger one will provide plenty of storage space for all the items that need to be included. A little bit of effort and a family or office can have an amazing first aid kit equipped to handle any medical emergency.

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Planning Meals for the Elderly

May 7th, 2012

Elder care includes the planning of meals for the elderly. This can be challenging as there are several factors that can cause a depression in the appetite of an elderly person. Seniors may also experience drastic changes in their digestive pattern that may make it difficult for them to consume certain things. It is important to consider these when planning meals.

The eating habits and appetites of elderly people can be affected by a number of factors including the difficulty of preparing a meal for one person as well as the low desire to eat alone. Many elderly people who leave alone would prefer not to eat or prepare meals due to the loneliness at meal times. Others may be affected by difficulties in chewing, decreased physical activity, attacks of depression or lowered interest in meals as well as the inability to taste certain foods.

Some elderly people may also face challenges such as financial constraints that keep them from purchasing enough food. They may also have no means of purchasing foods from the store and will therefore stick to the foods that they can access easily.

If you are in and are planning meals for the elderly, you should take all these factors into consideration. You may otherwise plan for meals that they either have no interest in or cannot prepare.

You will also need to take into consideration the calorific requirements of the elderly. As we grow older, our calorific needs reduce. This is because the level of our activities is also reducing. The number of calories required by the elderly person will depend on their level of activity. Women who are aged over 50 and are not physically active will only require about 1600 calories per day. Men of the same age who are physically inactive will require about 2000 calories daily.

When planning an meal, it is important to consider the different foods and their nutritive value. Not all foods that have the same calorific value will have the same nutritive value. You should therefore ensure that you are incorporating meals that include high nutritive value as opposed to high calorific value.

You should also consider the value of the food in terms of fiber. Foods high in fiber will give a full feeling faster and for longer as they are bulky and take longer to digest. These foods will also serve to improve the digestive ability of the elderly. They should therefore be included in large quantities.

It is important to consult a medical doctor when planning meals. This is especially true for those who may be taking medication that may react with certain foods.