Keep You And Your Family Safe On The Road

Staying alert is very important in case of driving, as keeping some safety tips in mind can save our and our family's life. It is a fact that all accidents are not avoidable, but we can still stay at a safe side by not being a cause of accident, by adopting travel safety tips.

Few statistics of accidents:

- Each year worldwide there are 500,000 road deaths, It is estimated that by 2020 this figure will rise to 700,000 deaths per annum.

- Injuries outnumber deaths 70 times

- 15,000,000 serious injuries each year

- Annual cost of motor vehicle crashes in USA is $70 billion

'Getting Ready For The Road' tips:

Even under the best conditions, driving has its inherent risks. But when special situations or hazards arise, paying attention to driving and making sound decisions become even more vital.
The word “emergency” indicates the unforeseen, the unpredictable. No matter how careful you are, you cannot keep emergencies from occurring. However, as safe and competent drivers, you can deliberately prepare for emergency conditions you might encounter on the roadway — from unpredictable weather to transporting an individual to the hospital.

Travel Safety Tips

* Take your vehicle for a full safety inspection 1–2 weeks before a long trip.
* Be well-rested and alert each time you get behind the wheel.
* Never leave children or pets unattended in your vehicle.
* Never drive if you have been drinking alcohol.
* Never drive if you are using medications that cause drowsiness.
* Wear prescription lenses as appropriate.
* Make sure each passenger wears a seatbelt.
* Make sure child passenger safety seats are properly installed.
* Make sure children are properly secured in appropriate child passenger safety seats.
* Follow traffic safety laws.
* Obey speed limits.
* Slow down in adverse weather conditions or if there are safety hazards present, such as an accident or debris on the roadway.
* Avoid distractions while driving, including eating, drinking, using cell phones, tuning the radio, interacting with other drivers and other passengers and watching sights along the road.
* Use rearview and side mirrors often.
* Avoid prolonged hours of driving.
* Place warning devices, when needed, at least 200 feet behind the vehicle.
* Keep doors locked.
* Do not leave valuables in view.
* Check your vehicle’s tire pressure at least once each month.

Tips provided by: USAA Ed Foundation

Related study:CRASH SAFETY

Saving Money with Online Cash Back Credit Card

You would be noticing that there are lots of companies offering low rate, or 0% interest rate credit cards. But if you are offered to save hundreds of dollars annually by using 'Online cash back credit cards' would you believe?

Yes it is possible! Cash back option is the best credit card's benefit scheme.

How much you can save with cash back credit deals?

With cash back credit deals, your everyday credit purchases may bring you some hundred dollars by the end of the fiscal year.

If in active use - commonly brings 5% on purchases, which are made in some specialized shops like supermarkets, drug stores, gas stations and other trading nets. Moreover the program will add up 1% on any other credit purchases.

Tips:

- The higher your credit score is - the better your chances to get the best credit offer will be, especially Platinum credit card.

- The credit card's options will better suit those who frequently buy goods for housing or are going to make some repairing works.

- Read carefully the fine print terms of your credit application. There are various cards that don't include any kind of cash back limit. It will also depend on some certain trading nets where you will make your purchases. If they have it - then your card will evidently be your best variant!

Importance Of Play And Humour In Our Lives

Play, humour and laughter are an essential part of our lives. Play name is associated with children or with sports, but adults need to play for the development of their mind and soul. Everyone knows of the physical benefits of engaging in a more active lifestyle, but did you realize there are proven psychological benefits as well?

Like play, humour and laughter plays an important role in our lives. First read few quotes about 'humour':

“A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road.”
Henry Ward Beecher quotes (Liberal US Congregational minister)

“Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.”
- Bill Cosby quotes (American Actor, Comedian and Producer)

Humor, laughter and play lighten our burdens and help us to keep things in perspective. A good hearty laugh reduces stress, elevates mood, and improves brain functioning. Play is our most joyous form of nonverbal communication in personal and work relationships.

Enriching our interactions with humor, laughter and play also gives our relationships that extra zing that keeps them happy, light, and joyful. This shared pleasure can create a sense of intimacy and connection, qualities that define healthy long lasting relationships.

Mutual playfulness is more than fun; it’s an opportunity for you to relax, renew, and refresh yourself—whether at home or at work. Using playful communication broadens your emotional intelligence. But as adults we forget 'how to play'? If played properly it rewards us the joy of relaxation and pure joy. So let's "learn to play"


Learning to Play

Many people, not having experienced mutual play as infants, don’t know how to play as adults. The good news is that this is something you can learn! The more you play, the easier it becomes, and the more you practice, the more you learn. Make a commitment to play by putting aside quality play time on a regular basis. Realize that self-consciousness and concern for how you look and sound to others is probably a big factor that’s limiting your playfulness. Remember—as a baby, you were naturally playful; you didn’t worry about the reaction of other people.

Learning to play together is necessary for sharpening the fun skills that help make your relationships flourish. The process of learning to play depends on your preferences. Begin by observing what you already do that borders on fun - telling and listening to jokes; going to movies; making faces in the mirror when you're alone; daydreaming; even eating can be playful. Then, you can try to incorporate more playful activities into your life. You could try taking an improvisation comedy class, throw a costume party, or even volunteer to provide entertainment, such as playing Santa Claus, for the next holiday gathering. The important thing is to find enjoyable activities that loosen you up and help you embrace your playful nature with other people.

Another excellent way to learn playfulness is to practice with “experts”:

- Play with animals. Puppies, kittens, and other young animals are eager playmates and always ready to frolic. Make play dates with friends’ pets, or get your own.

- Play with babies and young children. The real authorities in human play are children, especially young children. Playing with children who know and trust you is a wonderful way to learn from the experts.

- Play with customer service people. Most people in the service industry are social and you’ll find that many will welcome playful banter.

As humor and play become an integrated part of your life, your creativity will flourish and new discoveries for playing with loved ones will occur to you daily.


Source: This article is based on a portion of Dr. Jeanne Segal's new book, 'The Language of Emotional Intelligence', The Five Essential Tools for Building Powerful and Effective Relationships.

'Project Weight Loss' - A community to help you live a healthy life

It is a fact that we learn from our mistakes, but the easiest way to learn is from other's lives. The people around us can teach us the real life lessons. As we all know that if you want to live a healthy life for long, you should maintain a healthy diet and weight. Those who are 'over weight' are at high risk of inviting serious diseases. The best solution to get the awareness is to have contact with the people who have similar target of living a healthy life.

Project Weight Loss is a community for those who want to live healthy. It helps you to maintain balanced diet and achieve an active lifestyle which is essential for weight loss and healthy living.

Here you'll find weight loss articles, weight loss blogs , clubs, and a forum where you can post diet and fitness questions and answers.

More features of the site

There are many tools which are offered at the site like as:
- menu planner helps you create healthy diet plans;
- the calorie counter counts the calories in your meals and tells you if that's more than you need to reach your ideal weight;
- the workout planner helps you choose exercises to burn excess calories;
- the BMI calculator calculates your current and ideal body mass index.

Cosmetics and Beauty Tips

This article would help you learn cosmetics and beauty tips. People use cosmetics to enhance their beauty, but if the product is not providing you the benefits and in some cases it produces adverse reaction to your health or beauty, then you need to know more about the law, and other related information about cosmetics.

- How does the law protect you?

Cosmetics:
Must be made and packaged in clean factories.
Cannot contain poison, rotten, or harmful ingredients.
May only use color additives that are FDA-approved.
Must have a clear, truthful label.
Read the label!
The law says a label must include:

- What the product is.
A list of what is in the product and how to used it safely.
How much of the product the package contains by weight.
The name of the company that makes or sells the product.
Does FDA test cosmetics before they are sold?
FDA does not test cosmetics before they are sold in stores. Companies must make sure their products and ingredients are safe before they sell them. FDA can take action against companies who break the law.

Will my cosmetics expire?

There is no law that cosmetics must have an expiration date.
Expiration dates are just guidelines. A product may go bad sooner if you store it the wrong way.

Are “testers” at makeup counters safe?

Testers can have lots of germs because so many people use them.
When you test a product at the counter, use a new sponge or cotton swab.

Could I be allergic to something in a cosmetic?

Some people may react to something in a product. For example, they may have itching, redness, rash, sneezing, or wheezing.
Allergies may happen the first time you use a product or after you have used it more than once.

- What should I do if I have a bad reaction to a cosmetic?

Stop using the product
Call your doctor to find out how to take care of the problem.
Call FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) at (301) 436-2405 or
Send an email to CAERS@cfsan.fda.gov
Call the company that makes the product

Safety tips for beauty

* Follow all directions on the label, including “Cautions” and “Warnings.”
* Keep makeup containers clean and closed tight when not in use.
* Wash your hands before you put on makeup.
* Do not share makeup.
* Do not add saliva or water to makeup.
* Throw away makeup if the color or smell changes.
* Don’t store your make-up above 85 degrees Fahrenheit / 29 degrees Celsius
* Stop using a product if you get a rash or have a problem.
* Do not use spray cans while you are smoking or near an open flame. It could start a fire.
* Do not put on makeup while you are driving.

Special Tips for Your Eyes

Do not keep mascara too long. Some companies say three months is long enough.
Do not use eye makeup if you have an eye infection. Throw away eye makeup you were using.
Do not use cosmetics near your eyes unless they are meant for your eyes. For example, don’t use a lip liner as an eyeliner. You may spread germs from your mouth to you eyes.

Tips provided by "U.S Food and Drug Administration"
Download 'pdf version'

Tips To Use Medicines Safely

At this article you get free tips about how to take medicines safely. There are a lot of persons which are seriously harmed because of taking wrong medicines. This guide would help you learn how to use medicines safely.

You can get answers to many common questions like as:

When exactly should I take my medicine?
Is it safe to take my vitamins when I am taking a prescription medicine?
Now that I feel better, can I stop taking my medicine?

Medicine is prescribed to help you. But it can hurt you if you take too much or mix medicines that don't go together. Many people are harmed each year, some seriously, because of taking the wrong medicine or not taking the right medicines correctly.

Your Health Care Team
You can help get the best results by being a partner with your health care team.

Your health care team includes:

Doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or other professionals who prescribe your medicine for you or are in charge of your care.
Nurses who help with your care at home, a doctor's office, or a hospital.
Pharmacists who fill your prescription and are available to answer questions about your medicines.

Four Ways To Play It Safe With Medicines

1. Give Your Health Care Team Important Information

Be a partner with your health care team. Tell them about:

All the medicines, vitamins, herbals, and dietary supplements you're already taking. This includes:

- Prescription medicines.
- Medicines you can buy without a prescription, such as aspirin, antacids, laxatives, and cough medicine.
- Vitamins and dietary supplements, such as St. John's Wort or gingko biloba.

Also be sure to tell your health care team:

If you have medicine allergies or if you have had problems when taking a medicine before.
About any other doctors or health care professionals who have prescribed medicine for you or suggested that you take a vitamin or herbal supplement.
If you are pregnant, may get pregnant, or are nursing a baby.
About any other illness or medical condition you have, like diabetes or high blood pressure.
If cost is a concern, there may be another medicine that costs less and will work the same.

2. Get the Facts About Your Medicine

Be Informed
Ask questions about every new prescription medicine. Get the answers you need from your health care team before you take your medicine.

Read the Prescription
If your doctor writes your prescription by hand, make sure you can read it. If you can't read your doctor's handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to either. If your doctor submits your prescription to the pharmacy electronically, ask for a copy of the prescription.

Know What Your Medicine Is For
Ask your doctor to write down on the prescription what the medicine is used for...not just "take once a day" but "take once a day for high blood pressure."

Ask Questions
If you have other questions or concerns:

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Write questions down ahead of time and bring them to your appointment.
By taking the time to ask questions now, you may be preventing problems later.

Tips!
Write your questions down ahead of time. Keep a list of questions you want to ask your health care team. Take the list with you to your appointment.
Take notes when you get information from your health care team.
Bring a friend or family member with you when you visit the doctor. Talking over what to do with someone you trust can help you make better decisions.
Try to use the same pharmacy to buy all of your medicines so your prescription records will all be in one place.
Read and save the patient information that comes with your medicine. It's often stapled to the bag from the pharmacy.
Keep a list of all the medicines, vitamins, and dietary supplements you take. Be sure to add new medicines to the list when you start taking something new or when you change your dose. Show the list to your doctor and pharmacist.
Make a copy of your list. Keep one copy and give the other to a friend or loved one.

3. Stay With Your Treatment Plan

Now that you have the right medicine, you'll want to carry out the treatment plan. But that's not always easy. The medicines may cause side effects. Or you may feel better and want to stop before finishing your medicines.

Take all the antibiotics you were prescribed. If you are taking an antibiotic to fight an infection, it is very important to take all of your medicine for as many days as your doctor prescribed, even if you feel better.
Ask your doctor if your prescription needs to be refilled. If you are taking medicine for high blood pressure or to lower your cholesterol, you may be using your medicine for a long time.
If you are having side effects or other concerns, tell your doctor. You may be able to take a different amount or type of medicine.
Your medicine was prescribed only for you. Never give your prescription medicine to somebody else or take prescription medicine that wasn't prescribed for you, even if you have the same medical condition.
Ask whether you need blood tests, x-rays, or other lab tests to find out if the medicine is working, to find out if it's causing any problems, and to see if you need a different medicine. Ask your doctor to tell you what the tests showed.

What Products Can Help Me Keep Track of My Medicines?

Many products can help remind you to take your medicine on time and keep track of the doses you take. There are containers you can fill with your pills for each day of the week, calendars to check off, and even products that fit on top of a pill bottle. Ask your pharmacist for help finding the right product for you.

Tips!
You can get help:

- At work, there may be a nurse on site.
- At school, a school nurse may be able to help your child take medicines on time and safely.
- At home, a visiting nurse may be able to help you.
- Friends and Family
- Friends and family can help by:

Going with you to the doctor. Ask them to take notes about your medicines and other parts of your treatment plan.
Picking up your medicine at the pharmacy. Have them show the pharmacist your list of medicines, vitamins, and supplements. They should ask, "Will this new medicine work safely with the other medicines?"
Calling regularly to remind you to take your medicine on time. If you are having any problems, let them know.

Keeping a record of what medicine you take so you won't take it twice.

4. Keep a Record of Your Medicines

Keep track of your medicines, vitamins, and other dietary supplements.

For More Information
To learn about specific medicines, go to "MEDLINEplus" If you do not have Internet access, ask your local librarian for help.

The checklist, Women and Medicines: What You Need to Know, has information on how medicines can affect women's bodies and what women can do for safe and effective medicine use.

This guide is developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE).

- source link

Now HD Digital Radio with more attractions

Now you can listen Florida High Definition Radio stations and
new country music stations with new music and more programs. But it is not enough because now HD Digital Radio is available with more offers.
More qualities of HD Digital Radio:

* It can plays CDs, Plays DVDs, Satellite Radio, Video outputs, Integrated iPod Dock.

* It offers FM-like sound of AM and the superior CD-like sound of FM HD Radio stations

* HD Digital Radio is available with dual Alarm clock with large LCD, and as usual sound quality is the best.

* HD Radio receiver is now enabled with iTunes Tagging.


Process of tagging is simple: When you hear a song you like on your local FM HD Radio station, you simply hit the “tag” button. The song’s info will be saved from your HD Radio receiver to your iPod.
The songs will show up in a playlist called "Tagged" in iTunes the next time you sync your iPod to your computer.

Also you can click, download and buy the songs you want directly from the Apple iTunes Music Store.

* Polk Audio I-sonic ES2 offers a powerful, room-filling stereo sound with palpable bass. HD Radio is now equiped with the same technology.

"Taking Charge of Your Health" - Helping learn about alternative healing

Curious about how to improve your health and well being?

The Center for Spirituality and Healing partnership with Life Science Foundation, has created an online learning program. The site provides you with up-to-date, evidence based information about complementary and alternative medicine and contributes to the evolution of an integrative healthcare system.

"Taking Charge of your health" which is a project of 'University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality and Healing'

The Center for Spirituality and Healing is a nationally-recognized leader in complementary therapies and healing practices. The Center works to transform healthcare through innovative educational offerings, rigorous scientific research, inspiring outreach programs, and integrative clinical services.

You can learn about complementary and alternative medicine at the site. Every topic has wealth of information about the therapy in detail.

- What Are Complementary Therapies?
- Aromatherapy
- Ayurvedic Medicine
- Botanical Medicines
- Chiropractic
- Healing Environment
- Healing Touch
- Holistic Pregnancy & Childbirth
- Intuition in Healthcare
- Massage Therapy
- Reflexology
- Mind-Body Therapies
- Reiki
- Traditional Chinese Medicine

- These real-life narratives share the successes and challenges of everyday people who have tried complementary therapies.
Check the page: Persoanl stories

Site link: 'Taking Charge'