An Overview of the Various Allergic Reactions

Posted on May 26, 2008
Filed Under Allergies | Leave a Comment

Practically everyone experiences allergic reactions to something or the other. Allergies are not contagious or hereditary as allergies form according to the body constitution of a person. Some people are allergic to bee stings, some to latex, some to dust and some to flower pollens. Whichever allergy you may suffer from, it affects only you and does not pass on to anyone else.

When you suffer from allergic reactions, it is basically the response of the body to an ‘invader’ called the antigen. The antigen triggers the body immune system, which is responsible for protecting the body from harmful agents like bacteria and toxins. And this trigger is called an allergic reaction. The trigger or allergen can be anything like some food, medications, plants, dust, insect venoms or bacteria.

Once the body is exposed to an antigen, a chain of reactions starts in the body. First the white blood cells produce antibodies specific to the antigen through ’sensitization’. It is these antibodies that detect and destroy substance that induce disease and sickness. Usually the antibody involved in allergic reactions is called immunoglobulin E.

The antibody then produces and releases chemicals and hormones called ‘mediators’, where histamine is a famous mediator. These mediators affect the local tissue and organs while activating more white blood cells and this produces symptoms of the allergic reaction.

Sudden release of the mediator leads to sudden and severe allergic reactions. As different people suffer from different triggers that trigger allergies, you have to find out what you are allergic to. Sometimes, besides food, dust and bee stings, minor injuries, exercise, emotions and hot or cold temperatures can become your trigger for allergic reactions.

The allergic reaction may take place in a spot in the form of a small skin rash or itchy eyes, or over the body like a body rash. Sometimes you may develop a persistent cough, congestion or a running nose. Sometimes the allergic reactions may have more than one symptom too, and sometimes, it may be life threatening like in anaphylaxis. The extent of the allergy depends on the person, and is sometimes unpredictable.

Though allergies tend to run in a family, it is not necessary to be hereditary. So there is a chance of your suffering from an allergy even if no one else suffers from the allergy in your family. It has been found out that people having one trigger for allergic reactions usually have other triggers too. It is also those having some medical conditions that are more prone to allergic reactions. It’s best you visit your family doctor to find out what may trigger allergic reactions in your body.

Keep Your Child Safe and Injury Free at Home

Posted on February 2, 2008
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Most parents tend to be extra vigilant when taking their children outside of the home so it might be somewhat shocking to learn that most accidents actually happen at home. If you take a moment to think about it, there are potential hazards in each room of a typical home. This article will outline the main ones. It’s important to note however, that no matter how safe you make your home good supervision remains essential.

The kitchen is an area where there are a lot of dangers for young children. They naturally want to be where the action is and the kitchen is often a hub of activity in many households. It’s a good idea to keep young children busy and safe by making a low cupboard or drawer their own. Fill it with plastic kitchen ware, empty plastic food containers, plastic measuring cups, plastic strainers, wooden spoons or mixing bowls. Little people love to ‘help out’ in the kitchen and can be given a little cold water to stir, serviettes to fold, or placemats to arrange while dinner is being prepared. When cooking, use the back burners, keep the handles of pots and pans turned towards the back of the stove and the kettle well out of reach. Store all cleaning agents, vitamins and medicines high where they can’t be reached and install child safety cupboard latches. Many household cleaners are in attractive, bright containers and may therefore be very appealing to young children. If children see their parents taking medication they might want to as well. When it’s time to eat, take a few minutes to remove bones from meat and fish and cut food into small pieces. Using placemats is preferable to a table cloth which can be tugged and pulled at. Always use the safety belt on high chairs and never let children stand up in them. It’s best to train toddlers and children of all ages to remain seated when eating to reduce the chance of choking.

The bathroom is another potentially dangerous area around the home. Keep medicines in a locked cabinet or one that is out of reach. Child safety latches are a good idea in the bathroom too - to keep little ones away from toiletries and makeup. Keep the lid of the toilet closed and avoid using solid toilet bowl cleaners in the tank. Some brands of these cleaners are the colors of candy and juice and might be enticing to little eyes. Community health nurses recommend when running a bath run the cold water first then the hot. Finish off with more cold to cool the faucet. Be sure to test the water before letting the child into the tub. Place a non-slip mat in the bathtub and never leave a child alone in the bathtub for any reason. Although it’s tempting to run and answer the phone or put the laundry in the dryer since it will only take a second, remember that a child can drown in very little water in that same time so constant supervision is necessary.

Another common living space with conceivable hazards for young children is the den or family room. Televisions and bookshelves are exceedingly heavy and could seriously harm a child if they were to topple upon them. It is therefore recommended to secure the television set and book cases and keep the VCR and other electronic equipment out of reach. Any large pieces of furniture should be anchored and sharp corners padded. When children are crawling and grasping for things to hold onto, anything free standing that could topple is a problem. For this reason it’s a good idea to replace free standing lamps with wall or ceiling lighting.

Make the child’s room a safe haven. Ensure blind cords are out of reach or install the pull-down variety. Make sure the crib mattress fits snugly and that there are no spaces in the headboard. Never put a pillow, duvet or quilt in the crib. If you are planning to get a second-hand crib, check the date printed on the crib. If it was made before 1986, it is not safe. Place your baby on his/her back to sleep to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Always remove baby’s bib before putting him/her in a crib or play pen.

Overall home safety should include working smoke alarms in the bedrooms and hallways on each level. In addition, stairs should be protected with safety gates on each end. Unused outlets should have plastic outlet covers on them. When safe-guarding the yard, it is best if ornamental ponds and swimming pools are completely surrounded by fences and a locking safety gate between them and the house.

Parents will feel more secure knowing that they have done what they can to prevent accidents. Inevitably though, accidents will happen and while a kiss and a hug better will ‘treat’ most, it’s a good idea to learn some first aid. Community centers often have first aid courses to teach parents how to treat common injuries in children. As they grow up and are able, teach your child how to use the phone to call for help in an emergency. Teach them their full name, address and telephone number as well as your name. Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone where they can see them easily.

Some planning and effort put into home safety will help to ensure a more safe and happy environment for children. Look at your home with a critical eye and even sit on the floor so you can simulate the gaze of a child. Ask yourself what could fall, what their little hands might get caught into or what might bait their curiosity. Remember, as children grow, the problem areas will be different! Just when you think you’ve got it all worked out, they get smarter, interested in new things and more ‘brave’. Parenting is certainly both a joy and a challenge. Creating safer home is a fundamental part of responsible parenting.

Horse First Aid Kits

Posted on February 2, 2008
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Horse first aid kits are essential to have if you go for lots of rides in the woods or on trails. By keeping some basic supplies on hand and some basic knowledge, you can give your horse the care they need when they need it. But remember, your veterinarian should always be consulted if your horse needs medical care.

There are many types of first aid kits on the market, but it is unlikely you’ll find one specifically for horses so you will likely have to modify one that you buy or build your own from scratch. Either way, make sure it contains the basics and put it in a place that is easily seen.

First of all it is important to have some antibiotic cream. Usually any triple antibiotic cream will work. Some horses tend to get scratched, especially on trail rides or walking next to fences. Obviously this antibiotic cream should only be applied to small scratches and not into the eyes. For larger scratches a veterinarian will likely need to suture them closed and put the horse on injectable antibiotics.

You will also need bandaging equipment. Vetwrap, tefla pads, and medical porous tape are a good start. Make sure you buy the largest tefla pads you can find. These might be hard to find, but an army supply store usually has large field bandages that are a good size for a horse. Also, you’ll need a scissors to cut these bandages.

Antiseptic ointments or creams are also another must for a basic kit. It is always best to clean and apply antiseptic to wounds prior to applying antibiotic cream and bandaging them. Your veterinarian can advise you about what would be best.

For long trail rides it is usually good to prepare for occasional bee stings. Usually your veterinarian will give you some anti-histamine if your horse is allergic to bee stings.

To round out your emergency kit, it is also a good idea to keep towels, hoof trimmers, and a knife. A wire cutter is also a must in case your horse has an accident with a fence.

By keeping some basic emergency supplies in a first aid kit you can rapidly attend to your horses needs. Contact your veterinarian and they even might be able to give you specific medication for your horse. For example if your horse is prone to allergies they can give you the medication to keep with you on trail rides.

Put all of your supplies in a plastic box or rucksack and remember to keep them in a highly visible place. You don’t want to be in an emergency and not know where your emergency kit is, the one you put all your hard work into trying to put together.

Tags: First Aid

Tips for a Home Disaster Plan

Posted on February 2, 2008
Filed Under Disaster Plan | Leave a Comment

Most people spend a good deal of time making some sort of plans. We plan in which order we need to do the things we need to do in order to keep order in our lives. We plan meals, lists for shopping, routes from point A to point B and we also make daily schedules. But, how many of us have planned for an event that may separate us from being able to stay in our homes, or even trap us in our homes to where we cannot get tot safety?

If you have not planned what to do in a disaster, natural or otherwise you are unfortunately in a majority. No one really wants to plan for a disaster, so may be it is taken for granted that nothing will ever happen to you or to your loved ones to cause you to have to get to safety. But this way of thinking could be costly.

Here are some tips you can use to start your own disaster plan. These tips may end up helping you or your family survive the ordeal of a disaster if one were ever occur at your home.

Familiarize yourself with types of disasters that have occurred where you live. If you have lived in one place for a long time, you may already know this. But, if you have not lived in one place for a long time, it is wise to know historically what types of disasters have occurred or frequently occur in your area.

Learn about the disaster plans at your place of employment and also where your kids go to school. Knowing this information will help you know what you can do yourself at your own home should a disaster arise. This information would also be handy if one or more of your family members is away from your home when a disaster occurs as you would know where your loved one should be.

Plan how your family would stay in contact if you were separated. It is a good idea to have two meeting places identified, depending on the type of disaster or emergency. One meeting place should be near your home in the event everyone had to get out of the house to be safe. The other meeting place should be away from your neighborhood in case your neighborhood became unsafe.

Set up emergency phone contact. Arrange for a friend or relative who lives away from where you live to be the person everyone would call in the event of a disaster situation. The person you designate for this task should certainly be aware of your plans.

Try to have two escape rooms for each room of your house. Every room with a door and a window has two ways out. Second floor rooms need a ladder or rope escape to enable window escapes if the upstairs hallway becomes dangerous.

Identify how to shut off your home utilities. Every adult and capable child should know how to shut off the electricity, gas and water in case a need to do so arises. It should be made clear that the safety of the house should not be put above the safety of the family’s members lives. In other words, in the case of a disaster, the house has the last priority.

Develop first aid and lifesaving skills. Find some training in your area to learn first aid techniques, CPR and other lifesaving skills. In some emergencies, you will need to be self sufficient until professional help can be attained.

This list of things and is not all inclusive for developing a plan in the case of a disaster. Use it as a guideline to form your own plan that relates to your particular home, location and situation. In the case of disasters, it is always wise to have a predetermined plan.

Critically Important Emergency Equipment for Your Car

Posted on February 2, 2008
Filed Under First Aid | Leave a Comment

Every vehicle should have certain emergency items on hand at all times. Should you be involved in a break down or other emergency, the items you have in your car can save your life.

Always have a spare tire and jack that are in proper working condition to allow you to get back on the road in case of a flat tire or damaged tire. Carry jumper cables in your trunk in case you accidentally run your battery down by leaving the lights on or other items in the car. These items should be in the trunk of your car at all times.

It is a good idea, if you live in areas where cold weather occurs, to always carry a blanket or two in your trunk as well in case you are stranded without being able to run the car engine for heat. If you do run a car engine for heat, be sure to allow the fumes to escape and prevent carbon monoxide poisoning which can kill a person very quickly.

Carry a basic tool kit in your trunk that includes screwdrivers, wrenches, and a socket set suitable for your vehicle, and other items. Spare fuses should be included in case a blown fuse prevents your lights from working. A tail lamp or even a headlight is not a bad addition if you are traveling extensively. If you are mechanically inclined, you might include a set of belts and hoses as well.

At all times, you should have a set of flares in your vehicle to alert other drivers if you break down in a place where you might present a hazard. This can save someone from hitting you, saving both your life and theirs.

Inside your car, preferably in the door storage area of each front seat, carry a tool capable of cutting throughout the seat restraints. Special tools are made for this purpose but a strong knife can work in a pinch. This can allow you to exit a car that has been in a collision before the fuel tank can explore or to escape the vehicle if it is underwater. Be sure the same tool can also be used to break the glass to exit the car if the windows will not go down.

Add a general first aid kit to your car and you are ready to go anywhere safely. Always use common sense if you break down or have an emergency. Use your cell phone to call for help before exiting the vehicle if possible and always stay out of traffic.

Candles and Allergies

Posted on February 2, 2008
Filed Under Allergies | Leave a Comment

A candle is a very nice commodity to have and use. The gently aromas that seems to stimulate moods helps to bring a soothing, calm and warm feel to a home or office. Being able to choose from the many types, sizes, shapes, colors and scents will allow people to have their own preference. However, one thing is usually not thought of when it comes to purchasing a candle and that is the effect it can have on allergies.

When using a candle, the wax or gel begins to melt and produces a smell, whether it is scented or not. This smell is one of many things that can aggravate anyone who is sensitive to smoke or a fragrance. The smell will envelope the atmosphere and depending on the person, can very easily trigger an onset of an attack of allergies that can turn into an asthma attack or worse.

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