With vacation time at hand and more activities taking place, a well-stocked first-aid kit, kept within easy reach, is a necessity in every home. Having supplies gathered ahead of time will help you handle an emergency at a moment’s notice. Make sure that you and your family are prepared to treat the most common injuries, and emergencies that will take place over the summer.

This is also the beginning of the storm season. After a quiet start to 2009 Hurricane season, three storms have started in just 30 hours.

You and your family’s safety depend to a large extent on what you do now, before there is a storm on your horizon. Planning and preparation are the two most powerful survival tools at your disposal, and it is simply unwise not to make full use of them. To this end, be sure to have a comprehensive first aid / emergency kit close by.

A first aid kit is a collection of supplies and equipment necessary to provide immediate care to an injured or ill person before treatment by medically trained personnel. The kit will be made up of different contents depending on the place where the kit will be used and the number of persons it needs to protect. Will it just be your family at the cottage, or will there be extra guests?

It is recommended that your first aid kit be assembled in a clean, waterproof container to keep the contents safe and aseptic. Most kits come in durable plastic boxes, fabric pouches or in wall mounted cabinets. The type of container will vary depending on where they will be used and will range in size from pocket sized through to large backpacks. A wall mounted first aid cabinet would be perfect at home or cottage, but a fabric bag would be better suited in your vehicle.

First aid kits available through your local stores are generally intended for treatment of very minor injuries only. Typical contents include adhesive bandages, gauze and a disinfectant. Specialized first aid kits are available for various locations and activities, and will focus on specific risks related to that activity.

For example, first aid kits designed for use in a boat will contain seasickness remedies. Kits designed for industrial applications will contain burn medication and a suitable infection barrier for performing artificial respiration. They will also have larger quantities of supplies to treat multiple victims.

Trauma injuries, such as bleeding from cuts and scrapes, bone fractures or burns, are usually the main focus of most first aid kits designed for the home; however these kits are also practical for use while traveling, at the cottage or during a disaster related evacuation. These kits will include:

Adhesive bandages

Adhesive tape

Sterile Dressings (applied directly to wound)

Sterile eye pads

Sterile gauze pads

Antiseptic wipes or sprays

Sterile non-adherent pads, containing a non-stick Teflon layer

Triple antibiotics

Bandages (non-sterile for securing dressings)

Gauze roller bandages

Elastic bandages (used for sprains)

Triangular bandages (used as slings, tourniquets and to tie splints)

Blood stoppers, to promote clotting for severe bleeding.

Butterfly closure strips (to close wounds)

CPR mouth piece

Splints, to stabilize broken bones

Burn dressing (sterile pad, soaked in a cooling gel)

Gloves (disposable)

Trauma shears, for cutting clothing and general use

Tweezers

Alcohol pads (sterilizing equipment)

Flashlight

Instant-acting chemical cold packs

Alcohol rubs or antiseptic hand wipes (hand sanitizer)

Thermometer

Emergency blanket

First Aid Booklet (Read the entire booklet so you’ll understand how to use the contents of your kit) 

It is an excellent idea to include Aspirin, primarily used for central medical chest pain, as an anti-coagulant and Acetaminophen for pain relief.

Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as Ibuprofen can also be used in the case of a strained joint.

Don’t forget extra prescription medications if you are going away for your vacation.

Remember to check the contents of all of your kits regularly and replace the items that have been used before you need them again.

While there is no way to predict when and where an injury or natural disaster may occur, being prepared with the proper first aid and emergency gear will give you and your family a much better chance of getting through the difficult times.

First aid or medical kits should be found in every household and automobile. Accidents happen when we least expect them and being prepared can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. The most common types of accidents include cuts, scrapes, burns, and insect bites. A large percentage of accidents happen in and around the home, then out in the great outdoors, and final in and around vehicles.

A kit should be readily available both inside the home and when the family is outdoors. It is also important to keep a kit in your garage for outside emergencies and in your vehicle for emergencies that may occur when you are traveling. A kit should also be a part of every emergency preparedness plan. When preparing for a natural disaster, most experts believe everyone should have emergency supplies for at least the first 72 hours. It is a good idea to include at least a 72 hour supply of any prescription medications as well. First aid or medical kits are a must in households that have children. Children can be very accident prone and it is better to be prepared than caught unaware. It is important that each member of the family be familiar with the contents of your kit and knows how to use them.

Your kit should consider the needs of each individual family member. It is very important to change the medications in the first aid kit periodically. Most medications have an expiration date, which can be written down on a piece of paper and kept inside the first aid kit. Also, include items such as glucose monitors and blood pressure monitors for family members that have diabetes and/or high blood pressure.

Every kit should include the following basic items, a assortment of gauze pads, adhesive tape, various bandages, antibiotic ointment, cotton swabs, eye drops, latex gloves, a tweezer, bottled water for cleaning wounds, and a first aid handbook. All kits should include prescription medications as well as non-prescription medications such as syrup of ipecac used to induce vomiting if instructed by a poison control center, medicines for treating bee stings, antihistamines for itching and allergic reactions, and pain medications such as aspirin.

If you had an emergency in your home or vehicle today, would you be prepared? Most people don’t like to think about emergencies and this often results in not being prepared for household accidents. Don’t leave your family’s safety to chance. Be sure your home and vehicle are properly equipped with a first aid or medical emergency kit today!

You have a pet dog and would love it to be disciplined, obedient and well-behaved. It may not be easy but with patience, and understanding, it can be. Just remember to treat your dog as a member of your family and it shall learn its lessons well. Dogs are a lot like humans in behavior through their growing years. Hence, train them when puppies. If it is a young one, be patient for they shall tend to ignore you like teenagers do. You need to handle them like your kids.

Whenever we wish to tell someone something, we generally call out his/her name. Same thing goes for the dogs who love to have their own names. They obey commands if said along with their names as: Danny, Sit! Among the common commands taught to pet dogs is Sit; a tricky one to teach wherein you can either motivate the dog sit on its own (motivational dog training) or you can gently teach it how to sit.

The first method needs practice and can take time but is a well tested and reliable one wherein the dog willingly sits due to your action. Here, you need to attract the dogs attention with something (treat/toy) it likes. Take the object and dangle it right above its nose, such that the dog is forced to look up. With the dog attention firmly on the object, move your hand slowly and gradually backwards over its head. Don’t be too fast or slow or else the dog shall lose interest in the object. Now, the dog will have to sit to see the object; while it is lowering its back to sit, speak out Sit and encourage it to sit. After the dog sits, reward it with praises, or a treat. Once the dog learns to sit quickly, a simple hand movement over its head is enough to make it sit.

The second method is to make the dog sit by your side (say left) and use your hand (right) to dangle something in front of the dog to hold its attention. At the same time, with your other hand (left), gently press down its back so that it moves into a sitting position. Keep saying Sit, till it finally sits. For large dogs, you need to wrap your arm around its back and gently force their back legs to sit, thus making them sit.

Command the dog to sit, gently and warmly such that it feels good, like Sit, good boy, Danny! or Sit down, well done! If the dog is already sitting, make it feel good by patting it or with praise.

Dog training techniques are varied. You have the choice and can seek the help of CDs, DVDs, videos, cassettes, books or consult the pet store or society. Internet (via google.com) is another place with tons of information; through search phrases such as dog training techniques or dog training aids or how to make pet dog sit etc. Check out the techniques and try out whichever you like.

When kids are at play, it should not only be for the sake of their enjoyment. What parents should consider more is that, toys are the first tools that children use to know more about themselves and of course the things around them. Toys are also helpful tools so kids can be trained on certain abilities or learning skills. Educational toys make them learn while having fun.

There are several subcategories for educational toys. They also vary depending on the kid’s ability and age group. One of the specific skills that parents would want their kids or children to focus on while growing up is their language skills. And under this skill would be the kids’ ability to speak. Speech aid toys are definitely on top of the list when it comes to sales and popularity in this category. These toys also differ from each other. There are toys wherein kids are instructed to push certain buttons and then they will hear a recording. These recordings could be varying animal sounds, nursery rhymes or simple melodies. For toddlers or small kids, these recordings could be the alphabet, numbers, simple words or greetings. For more complex and more interactive speech aids, there are those that could give kids easy instructions like, “press the green button”, “press the heart-shaped button”, etc. These can also stimulate the kid’s ability when it comes to interaction with his or her playmates. Plus, they begin to gain knowledge on how to tell simple or short stories.  It is also important to take note that listening and speaking skills go hand in hand. That is why most of these toys are usually a combination of both learning abilities. If kids need more attention with regards to their language or speaking skills, parents can opt to get more specialized toys.

There are several toy companies who manufacture educational toys that focus on the aforementioned skills. As a matter of fact, there are several speech aids that you can choose from. They have different designs, shapes and features. You may not notice it but the kids can also develop their psychomotor skills alongside their speech skills when you buy them playthings such as these.  They can also learn to recognize shapes and colors.

When you buy toys it is also important to check the label and the toy’s contents. It is also best to make sure that there are no small parts that could cause choking especially when you’re buying toys for kids 3 years and under. You can save money if you can pick the educational toy that could grow with the kids. And as much as possible be imaginative in picking your kids’ playthings. Don’t easily give in to what they like or want check if it will help them develop specific skills.

It is also important that once in a while you play with the kids. That way you will be able to bond with each other and you will be able know your kids more.

Camping is a favorite hobby of many American families. It’s the time when a family or a group of friends try to get away from the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives and enjoy one another’s company. Nature lovers also get to be one with nature and people are challenged by trying to survive against the elements with just the bare necessities.

Safety should be practiced at all times. Especially when you’re out camping, you don’t want to run into any accidents or have someone hurt. As they always say, safety first! Here are some safety tips that you can do to avoid any accidents which would enable you to spend the best quality time with your family or friends while you’re out camping.

The weather is always unpredictable. It can be sunny then cloudy the next. Check local weather news before going out camping and be prepared for it. Bring appropriate apparel for the weather forecast.

Bring something that will let you have access to the outside world. Cell phones, 2 way radio and transistor radio (to let you know about current news about the weather and the area you are in)

Think of the worst case scenario; bring extra clothes and food just in case. Bring flashlights and extra batteries as well.

If the whole family goes out camping, tell your neighbour where you are going and when you will come back so they know where you are if someone drops by unexpectedly and looks for you.

Try to return to camp before it gets too dark. Days are shorter during winter and longer in the summer.

Campgrounds or forests might also be shelter to snakes, insects and poisonous plants. Be cautious every time you’re out there.

In order to avoid insect bites or running into any kind of animal, always stay on trail and avoid grassy, bushy areas.

Do not wear shorts on trail; choose jogging pants or pants made out of light fabric if it’s too hot.

Have an emergency plan. In case of emergencies, all your family members should be aware of this.

Set up a meeting place and tell every member of your family if in case someone gets lost.

Always bring a first aid kit to your camping trip. Before leaving your house, check if there’s enough bandages, band aids and other materials. Check also the expiration dates of medicines and ointments. Don’t forget to bring insect repellant and anti-itch lotion.

Know how to administer first aid to common sicknesses or accidents that may happen. Also teach other family members so they can also give first aid to other family members if the need arises.

Additional camp-fire tips:

Keep fires small, you just need enough fire to keep you warm or roast marshmallows, not to start a whole forest fire. Always keep water in hand to extinguish the fire if the need arises. Never leave a fire unattended.

Do not cut branches from trees, always use dead wood that’s lying in the ground.

 

Training your cat is very important and for several different reasons. First, a cat that hasn’t been trained, doesn’t know what behaviors are acceptable and what are not, therefore, they are more likely to misbehave because they don’t know they are misbehaving. Having a trained, well behaved cat allows the cat and the owner to bond and have a loving relationship rather than having a misbehaving cat that causes its owner a lot of stress and frustration.

It is very important, as a cat owner, to understand that cats cannot be trained the same way as dogs. They don’t behave the same way and they don’t have the same thinking process as dogs. If you are trying to use the same training techniques on your cat that are designed for dogs, you probably aren’t going to see results. Forcing training techniques on a cat will not work. They are stubborn by nature and if it’s not something that is appealing to them, they are going to ignore you.

The first step to training your cat should be to learn and understand your cat’s personality. There are many aspects to your cat’s personality and they should all be taken into account when choosing the right training tactics. Find out what your cat’s likes and dislikes are and use that information to help you. There are a few simple tips to keep in mind when training your cat:



· Keep your training sessions short. If you drag out sessions for a long time, your cat will most likely become bored and will stop listening.

· Only start training session when your cat is already awake. Don’t wake your cat up for a session because he or she will probably just ignore you.

· Always be sure to reward your cat for obeying you, using treats, food, or showing them affection.



 

You should also only train your cat for one thing at a time. Whether you are teaching them to do tricks or use the human toilet rather than a litter box, you shouldn’t try to teach them everything all at once. When you’re training your cat, let them master one thing before moving on to another. This will avoid both you and them becoming overwhelmed.

There are many benefits to having a well trained, well behaved cat. You will have less stress because you won’t have to worry about how your house is going to look when you get home. You can enjoy a loving relationship with your cat instead of spending most of the time mad at him for misbehaving. Taking the time to train your cat will definitely pay off in the long run and you and your cat will both be happier.

There are tools for every trade, and the right set of horse training aids can make the difference between success and frustration. Don’t be tempted to skimp on this area of investment.

All horse training is serious business. The average animal outweighs the trainer by an impressive margin, and the horse training aids you choose can help prevent serious injury.

– Rope Halter

The most basic of horse training aids is the halter and lead rope combination. A rope halter will facilitate tying and leading, and works better than a flat halter because it will prevent leaning while at the same time being comfortable for the horse. The halter is placed on the animal’s head.

– Lead Rope

The lead rope is attached to the halter and used to direct or “steer” the horse. In many ways this horse training aid is like a leash.

– Longe Line

The term longeing refers to the set of training skills used to teach a horse direction, posture, and how to yield or move off pressure. And the longe line is the training aid used to accomplish this.

– Progress String

In most cases, this horse training aid is a thin, braided rope with an eye splice at one end and leather “popper” at the other. This device is used in many ways.

You can apply a progress string as a visual aid. For instance, to let the horse know when he is in your space.

Also you can use this tool to make physical contact from the saddle. The progress string is not heavy enough to cause a horse any pain, but the popper end make s a distinct noise when applied, and can work in place of a crop.

– Large Rubber Ball

Perhaps a less traditional horse training aid is a large rubber ball, like the kind you can buy at any toy store. This aid is great for conditioning the horse’s nerves.

You can roll the ball around in front of the horse, and even roll it gently into the horse’s legs. Also, while in the saddle, you can direct the horse into the ball and gently guide the animal to move the ball around with its legs.

This sort of training will help you desensitize your horse to unexpected movement and objects, thus decreasing the likelihood of getting spooked.

– Plastic Tarp

Another tool for developing the horse’s courage, a common plastic tarp is an inexpensive and effective training aid. Start by laying the tarp out in the training area and leading your horse over it, or even asking the horse to walk over the tarp on its own.

As you know, a tarp can get pretty noisy when walked on. And it will create the illusion of strange footing.

You could even slowly work into an exercise where you place the tarp over your horse’s back, possibly completely covering him or her with the tarp. This not only develops the horses’ trust in you, it also simulates noisy brush and other riding situations and helps desensitize the horse to such conditions.

This list of horse training aids will give you plenty to work with in the beginning. Of course as training progresses you will need more advanced tools and tactics.

(c) 2008 Mary Ann Copson

In the spring and summer your kids ? and you too- are more likely to be outside barefoot or rolling and playing in the grass. Getting an insect bite or sting can put an end to these happy go lucky times. This quick and easy bug bite and sting natural remedy never fails to work and to get the kids back on track for more outdoor adventures.

To squelch a bug bite or sting:

Quickly find a broad leaf plantain leaf – these are easily found as they are common weeds in almost all grassy areas. (This is one plant I would choose not to eradicate from my lawn because of these medicinal benefits.) It is low growing, dark green and broad, with ?ribs? on the leaf ? please look it up in a plant identification book if you are not sure.

Chew up the leaf ? the action of salvia activates its sting stopping powers. (If you are afraid to chew it up then bite on it to break the skin and mix it with some of your salvia.)

Place the chewed up plantain leaf on the bug bite or sting. Almost immediately the pain will stop. You or your child can hold the plantain mass in place while you go inside and get the rest of the remedy.

Find your comfrey tincture (you do have a good herbal first aid kit, right?), a big Band-Aid (my kids always went for a gauze pad and first aid tape – so much more dramatic).

Leaving the plantain mass in place, secure it with the Band-Aid or gauze and first aid tape. Secured the bandage then dribble some comfrey tincture under the dressing and on the sting. The comfrey is soothing and cool and takes away any lingering pain, stinging or discomfort.

Leave on until it falls off later that day or the next morning. If it is a bad bite or sting, you may need to put a fresh plantain/comfrey dressing on the next day.

This remedy has never failed and prevents infections from the bite or sting. The best thing is how much it seems to empower the children (and adults too!). If someone around them gets a bug bite or sting the kids are the first ones to find the plantain (so be sure you teach them to be able to accurately identify it) and they show up beaming and full of compassion ? ?Don?t worry. It?s OK –we have the plantain!?

We all realise the importance of being able to cope with minor cuts and injuries at home. Most parents will have had the experience of one of their kids falling and grazing knees or elbows. Similarly, few of us will have made it to adulthood without a minor cut that produces bleeding.

The trauma suffered in such minor accidents is negligible however we all want to be able to treat such injuries as quickly as possible and without much fuss. This is where a home first aid kit comes in handy.

A home first aid kit is like a mini emergency room for the home. The kit should be kept in an easy to reach and obvious location. It may not be you who uses it and it’s best to have it as accessible as possible. The kit should contain some scissors and creams and thus it should not be within reach of small children. Additionally, don’t confuse a first aid kit with a medicine cupboard. You don’t want to use it for storing medical supplies like tablets, pills or similar medications. Aim to keep your medications in a separate container and store it appropriately.

Many people may believe that they don’t need a formal first aid kit as they have all the supplies they need at home for such incidents however, typically such homes have supplies scattered throughout the house. The band-aids will be in one cupboard whilst bandages will be in another cupboard and the scissors will be somewhere else. It is then also easy to forget where we left the ointment or when the last time we used the tweezers was.

When an injury is encountered particularly that which involves bleeding, the last thing you want to be doing is running from cupboard to cupboard trying to find where you left the supplies.

Keeping a purpose made home first aid kit handy can solve all these problems. The first aid kit should be in stored in a designated location at all times when not in use and all members of the family should be aware of its location. In more serious situations (which can and do occur), such as deep cuts, immediate response can be crucial.

The first aid kit should be well-stocked and assembled to cover the usual household needs whilst taking into consideration the size of the family.

A typical home first aid kit will include the following items.

Sterile gauze pads

Compresses

Disposable gloves

Bandages

Antibiotic ointment

Safety pins

Band-aids

Tweezers

Scissors

Tape

If you believe or discover later that you need to add additional items to the first aid kit you can do so. You may want to include specialised treatments for serious allergy reactions for a particular member of the family of they suffer from these.

Once you have stocked your first aid kit, check it regularly to ensure you have all the necessary materials you need. Check usage dates on creams and ointments and replace if they are coming close to their expiration date. Make it a regular feature for your shopping list that you check the contents and resupply as necessary.

The home first aid kit is a simple idea but has great importance. There have been thousands of events where quick access to a first aid kit has reduced the level of an injury. A good example would be where a person is bleeding heavily and you can apply a compress to stop the flow of blood long enough to get you to the emergency room.

If you don’t already have a first aid kit at home then make a determination now to get one within the next 24 hours. Whilst it seems an unnecessary requirement right now it makes all the difference when you do discover the need for it. Don’t risk your own or your family’s well-being and health with something that can be easily rectified. Having a first aid kit to hand at all times should be standard practice in every home.

Rush to the hospital. Is this always feasible during the hours of emergency? At the same time in small injuries you need not visit to a doctor that you can manage yourself. But in both the situations you must keep the first-aid box ready so that whenever required you can just get the essential things at the right time.

Especially if you have kids at home keeping the first-aid box is a must. Every time they come with cuts on their knees and elbows. At least the primary treatment has to be done at home. If the cut is deep and severe you will have to immediately carry the little one to the nearest hospital and over there also you will find the preliminary nursing is nothing but the first aid. The first-aid kit is a godsend during emergency.

The necessary things the first-aid kit should contain are something you must know very well. Also make it a habit to check it regularly that you have all the necessary accessories placed in order. It always happens that when you are in dire need for the thing, it’s not there.

The basic essentials first

Cotton, antiseptic cream, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic lotion, adhesive tape and band-aids come in the top priorities of the first-aid kit list. Whether it’s a cut or a burn or a swell you will need these accessories immediately. Also keep finger splints made of aluminum; a pair of synthetic gloves and disposable latex. They are important. Don’t forget scissors, soap, eyewash, thermometer, needles and sterilizing agents. If you have to do primary bandage to stop bleeding, all these will be required instantly. Where will you hunt for them when the patient is in extreme pain and needs to be attended?

Medicines must for first-aid kit

If you are through with the first-aid basic accessories then check out for the medicines to be stored in it. Medicines over here are definitely some basic medicines like an antihistamine, an antiallergenic, a pain-killer, vomiting and stomach ache control medicine, anti-diarrhea and anti-dysentery medicines etc. You can keep a bottle of cough syrup and some vitamin tonics along with the kit. They are helpful may be not in emergencies but as regular needs.

The real emergency tools

Apart from medicines and accessories, you have some most essential things to keep in the first-aid kit. A mobile and of course all emergency phone numbers of hospitals, doctors, ambulance, medical store, pathological labs and places related to medical treatment. You have everything in the first-aid kit but without this basic information you can’t move your patient a single inch. And the first aid treatment will go in vain without further care at the right time. Beware!