Visit Napa Valley this summer

Napa Valley catches the attention of millions of wine and nature lovers every year. California Wine Country attracts more than five million visitors each year. The main attraction in the valley is the world renowned wineries, visiting wine making process and an opportunity to experience the most fabulous wines.

Though California Wine Country is bountiful with scenic beauties, the wine industries and the making of world class wines formulate this valley a top tourist spot. There are some well organized tours best among that is Napa Valley tours that showcase the best wineries in the world. The Napa Valley tours takes visitors through a 30-mile valley, starting from San Francisco Ferry Building, passing through V.Sattui winery, Rutherford Ranch winery, Domaine Shandon and ends by ferry/bay cruise at the Ferry Building.

The significant features of the tour include- as a minimum three to four winery visits, you can see wine making from start to finish - with wine tasting experience, a chance to buy wine at low prices and the tour provides an occasion to take pleasure in the panoramic views of the valley.

For more information visit http://www.winecountrytourshuttle.com/

Tips for saving ENERGY this summer

...at home
• Keep your air conditioner in the shade. An air conditioner exposed to direct sunlight will use 5 per cent more energy than a shaded one.
• Adjust your air conditioner's thermostat when you go out and shut down your system when you are away for extended periods.
• Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120ºF) for everyday use, and turn it down when you go away.
• Turn off and unplug stereos, radios, TVs, VCRs and clocks when you leave for holidays. These appliances have a stand-by function that uses energy even when they are turned off.

...on the road
• Don't use the air conditioner in stop-and-go traffic and you save on fuel consumption by as much as 20 per cent. Stay cool at highway speeds by using your car's flow-through ventilation.
• Don't idle. Idling for one hour uses 1.4 litres of fuel. If every Canadian motorist avoided idling by only 10 minutes daily, approximately three million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions would be avoided every year.
• Remove roof racks and put luggage in the trunk. (Saves up to five per cent of fuel by reducing aerodynamic drag.)
• Gradual starters save money. Avoid flooring the gas pedal from a dead stop. This uses 50 per cent more fuel than gradually pulling away.
• Keep your tires inflated. Under-inflated tires can increase your fuel consumption by five per cent.

Napa Valley Tours - Bothe Napa Valley State Park

If you are heading Napa Valley Tours, the Napa-Sonoma area, and you love finding those best-kept-secret places, then you will not want to miss this park. It is located in the heart of the Napa Valley, not far from the community of Calistoga. You will find it on any map of the area.

Here’s the setting to imagine. This park boasts a wide variety of trees including Douglas-fir, tanoak, madrone, and coastal redwoods. There is also a wide array of wildlife including raccoons, squirrels, deer, foxes, bobcats and coyotes. It is also home to six different kinds of woodpecker.

So now that you have purchased a bottle or two of your favorite wine, and you have that picnic lunch in the car, consider this park a great place to enjoy the wonders of this famous valley. There are picnic areas, a swimming pool and numerous trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. There are also 50 developed wooded campsites, nine of which are walk in only. The park has restrooms and showers along with group, family and “hike or bike” campsites. A visitor center is also available with a Native American garden next door. The plants in this garden are still used by the Wappo people.

Now let me give you a few tips for getting there and staying there. Maps and brochures are available at the visitor center as well as by mail. Campers with a maximum length of 31 feet and trailers with a maximum length of 24 feet are allowed. The park ranges in elevation from 300 to 2000 feet. The park is located 5 miles north of St. Helena and 4 miles south of Calistoga on Hwy 29/128.

For more information visit http://www.winecountrytourshuttle.com/

The Need for a Bone Density Test

A bone density test measures bone strength and mass -- indicators of a person's risk for developing osteoporosis.
New York-Presbyterian Hospital says these factors may indicate the need for a bone density test:

• Having had a bone fracture, perhaps stemming from loss of bone mass.

• Having a close relative -- notably a mother or grandmother -- who has been diagnosed with osteoporosis or who fractured a bone.

• Having taken over the long-term medications that can cause bone loss, including corticosteroids and certain anti-seizure drugs.

• Having physical risk factors, such as a slender build, low body weight or fair skin.

• Being a smoker or heavy drinker.

Ear Infections: New Thinking on What to Do

Parents who've ever suspected their youngster had an ear infection might have been inclined to call the doctor, schedule a visit and expect an antibiotics prescription.

That's been the ritual. But no more.

As a result, Tunkel said, guidelines issued in 2004 by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Otolaryngology began to encourage what doctors call an "observation option." That means that children 2 years and older who are otherwise healthy can be observed for a short period of time before being given antibiotics.

Ear infections are the most common illness among infants and young children, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, with an estimated three of every four kids having an ear infection before age 4. Usually infection occurs in the middle ear and is called otitis media. It's called otitis media with effusion when fluid and mucus build up in the tubes of the middle ear.

Ear infections often clear up on there own. But another pediatric otolaryngologist, Dr. Richard Rosenfeld, stressed that "observation is different than no treatment." Rosenfeld is chairman of otolaryngology at Long Island College Hospital and the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center and a consultant for the American Academy of Pediatrics on the ear infection guidelines.

When recommending observation before medication, he said, doctors might send parents home with a "safety net" prescription, one to have on hand in case the situation worsens. Parents should ask the doctor for specifics on the timeline for observation, which typically ranges from one to three days.And while watching and waiting, the focus would be on pain relief.

But observation isn't advised for all kids, even if they're healthy and 2 years or older, Tunkel said. For instance, a child with a fever of 102 or more would typically be treated.Rather, the guidelines are aimed to address concerns about resistance to antibiotics that can develop from overuse, he said.

Also, a study reported in the British journal BMJ in July found that ear infections come back more often in kids who've been treated with antibiotics. In the three years after being treated for an ear infection, 63 percent of the kids who were given the antibiotic amoxicillin had recurrent ear infections, compared with 43 percent of those not treated with an antibiotic.

Anesthetic ear drops, which usually require a prescription, can help but don't produce prolonged relief, Rosenfeld said. And the practice of putting warm compresses on the outside of the ear can't hurt, he said, but there's no real proof that it works, either.

Someday, kids might be able to be vaccinated against ear infections. Scientists are working on developing such a vaccine and testing ways to deliver it, including rubbing it on the skin rather than injecting it, according to a presentation at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Microbiology.

In the meantime, parents can take some simple measures to reduce the likelihood of their child developing an ear infection, Tunkel said. If parents smoke, stopping will reduce exposure to cigarette smoke, which is a risk factor for ear infections. And parents who choose a day-care setting with as few children as possible can, at least theoretically, reduce the pool of circulating germs, he said.

Tips for being active as a family

If you'd like your child to be healthy, start by looking at yourself and your family. Being active as a family allows you to be good role model, it helps everyone reduce stress, and it's a chance to have fun together. But it takes some organization to get going, and effort to maintain.
Building activity into daily life
Usually the biggest hurdle to family activity is finding time, but you don’t need to do everything all the time. Just try and fit a few activities into daily life in a balanced way:
• Walk or ride a bike with your child to the local shops or to and from school
• Encourage children to help with household chores such as walking the dog, washing the car or mowing the lawn
• Go for a family walk after dinner
• Keep a football, jump rope or bat and ball in your car at all times.
Being organized
Some activities take more organization. While this requires effort at the start, it can produce good results that really last:
• Plan ahead and schedule a regular time for physical activity that fits in with the whole family
• Take part in either organized sport or activities in the park – make it a feature of your weekend, e.g. football, bike rides, kite-flying
• Plan family holidays with a view to being active, e.g. somewhere near the beach or where there are good walks to do. Remember to take bikes, tennis rackets, balls and other equipment.
Keeping up the activity
It’s easy to get carried away with enthusiasm for family activity, then let it slip as time goes by. To avoid this happening:
• Choose activities the whole family will enjoy. Make a list of ideas from each family member and choose a few activities from the list
• Vary the activities to prevent boredom
• Don’t overspend – work out how much you can afford and choose activities based on that
• Choose convenient locations – if you need to travel for an activity (swimming pool, park) try to make it close to home
• Set goals so that your family’s progress can be tracked, then set new goals to keep interest up.

Choosing right snacks for kids

Chips, biscuits and chocolate bars give kids a pleasant taste 'hit'. But these foods are usually high in kilojoules, saturated fats, sugar and salt and provide few nutrients, so they need to be limited. Luckily, children can also enjoy fruit, vegetables, dairy and other cereal-based healthy snacks, though it can take a little coaxing and a few firm rules.

Tips for parents

* Set limits on the number of sugary snacks allowed and explain that they are treats and not for every day.
* Offer children a variety of healthy snacks as this will give them the opportunity to make their own choice and get them in the habit of choosing more healthy options.
* Always have healthy snacks in the home to decrease the temptation of having unhealthy ones.
* Don’t give snacks too close to meal times as this discourages children from eating their main meal, which leads to a desire for snacks later on.
* Avoid soft drinks and other sugary drinks, as they make fill children feel full and may therefore take the place of a healthier snack.
* Remember – snacks can be a great way to incorporate more fruit and vegetables into your child’s diet.

Give more of …

Fresh or canned fruit – try making fruit kebabs, or chopped fruit in a tub

Vegetable sticks (e.g. carrot, cucumber, capsicum) with low-fat dips

Raisin toast or bread, pikelets, pancakes or scones with a little polyunsaturated or monounsaturated margarine or fruit spread

Lightly spread muffins and crumpets

Rice cakes topped with vegetables and reduced-fat cheese, vegemite or sliced banana

Dried fruit and unsalted nuts (not suitable for children under 5)

Yoghurt (natural or fruit)

Healthy fruit muffins

Give less of …

Biscuits

Cakes, donuts and pastries

Chocolate bars and lollies

Potato chips, corn chips and cheesy snacks

Sweet drinks – fizzy drinks, cordials and fruit juices

Tips for Healthy vegetarian eating

There are three main types of vegetarians:

• Vegans eat only plant-based foods. They do not eat any meat or animal products, including dairy products or eggs.
• Lacto-vegetarians eat dairy products along with plant-based foods. They do not eat eggs.
• Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat eggs and dairy products, in addition to plant-based foods.

You can get all the nutrients you need from a vegetarian eating plan. But dairy products are good sources of calcium, vitamin D, and complete protein. And eggs are a good source of vitamin B12 and complete protein. So if you don't eat milk or eggs, you need to look elsewhere for these nutrients. Vegetarians also need to make sure that they get enough iron and zinc.

A registered dietitian can help you come up with a vegetarian eating plan that provides you with the nutrients you need for growth and development during your teen years. Here are some nonanimal sources of nutrients that vegetarians may not get enough of:

• Vitamin B12 – fortified soy beverages and cereals, brewer’s yeast, seaweed
• Vitamin D – fortified soy beverages and sunshine (vitamin D is made in your skin with the help of sunlight)
• Calcium – tofu (if made with calcium sulfate); soy-based beverages with added calcium; breakfast cereals with added calcium; fruit juice with added calcium; dark-green leafy vegetables, such as Chinese cabbage, bok choy, kale, collard greens, turnip greens, and mustard greens. (Keep in mind that veggies are not as good a source of calcium as milk. You will have to eat many more veggies than you would have to drink milk to get enough calcium.)
• Iron – breakfast cereals with added iron; green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and turnip greens; cooked dry beans, such as kidney beans and pinto beans; peas, such as black-eyed peas; lentils; dried fruit, like apricots, prunes, and raisins; enriched and whole-grain breads
• Zinc – whole grain bread, legumes, nuts, oatmeal, and tofu.
• Protein – tofu and other soy-based products, beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, seeds, nuts, and grains. (Keep in mind that plants provide incomplete protein. In order to get all the amino acids your body needs, you have to eat a variety of plant foods. So, for instance, eating beans with brown rice will give you complete protein because each food contains the amino acids that the other food lacks.)

For people who follow vegetarian diets, the American Dietetic Association has these tips:

• Talk to a registered dietitian, especially during the teen years or if you are recovering from an illness.
• Limit sweets and fatty foods.
• Choose whole-grain or enriched breads, cereals, pasta, and rice.
• Eat a variety of nuts, seeds, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.
• Include good sources of vitamin C (such as grapefruit) to help you absorb iron.
• Choose low-fat or nonfat dairy products, if they are included in the diet.
• Make sure you get enough calories.
• Eat at least three good food sources of vitamin B12 every day. If you don't regularly eat foods with vitamin B12, take a vitamin B12 supplement.

Tips to Overcome Your Fears and Anxiety

• Maintain control over those things that you can. For example, if you walk for exercise, continue to walk.

• Limit your television news viewing. Tragic things feed news coverage, but you don’t have to subject yourself or your family to repeated doses of it. Tune in for occasional updates, but limit your exposure if it adds to your anxiety or that of your family members.

• If it makes you feel better to keep family members close by, then do so. Being cautious about personal safety is good. But try not to overreact.

• Do something for someone else. Taking attention off our own worries and doing something nice for someone else can improve our own frame of mind.

• Volunteer. Contact area schools, hospitals or volunteer groups to ask how you can help. Taking action to be part of something positive is a very constructive way to reduce your anxiety.

• Talk to someone. If you start to feel overwhelmed by your emotions, talk with a friend, family member, doctor, religious advisor or mental health professional.

• Resources Are Available For further information and support you may wish to contact your Employee Assistance Program.

Do's and Don'ts on the Internet for kids

DO:
1. DO use the Internet to help with schoolwork. The Internet is a source of great volumes of information. It's like having the world's largest library at your fingertips!
2. DO use the Internet to "visit" museums in far away places. Some examples are:
3. DO use the Internet to meet children in other countries or to keep in touch with pen pals who live far away in this country or other countries.
Some on-line services host chat rooms especially for children, and monitor them periodically for safety. You can safely establish an international mail pen pal through an existing program sponsored by your school, and then expand your pen pal communications to the Internet if your pen pal has access to Internet e-mail at his or her school or a nearby university.
4. DO be careful about talking to "strangers" on a computer network. Who are these people anyway? Some people say and do things which are NOT NICE.
5. DO use the Internet to learn more about universities and colleges that you may be interested in attending. Almost all colleges post some information on the Internet. Many colleges let you take a "virtual tour" of the campus, or submit applications for admission or financial aid applications on line.
6. DO respect the privacy of other users on the Internet, just as you expect your privacy to be respected. How would you feel if someone read your private e-mail or your grades? 7. DO be careful when you "download" (copy) programs from the Internet. Use a virus scan program before loading it on your computer. Some programs on the Internet contain viruses that can harm your computer.

DON'T:
1. DON'T give your password to anyone. Passwords are intended to protect your computer and your files. It's like giving the key to your house away!
2. DON'T answer messages that make you feel uncomfortable because they seem improper, indecent, or threatening? TELL A GROWN-UP RIGHT AWAY.
3. DON'T give any personal information, such as your family's address, phone number, credit card or calling card numbers, your school's name, or your picture to anyone on a computer network that you don't personally know.
4. DON'T arrange to meet anyone you've met on the Internet without telling your parents. Some people on the Internet lie about who they are, how old they are, and why they want to meet you.
5. DON'T try to break into computers. It's not a game. It's a crime and it's an invasion of privacy. Computers often contain sensitive information. How would you feel if someone broke into a computer and changed your grades? Deleted your term paper? Cut off your telephone?
6. DON'T steal copyrighted computer programs ("software") by copying it from the Internet. This is the same as stealing it from a store. People work hard to develop new programs and deserve to be paid for them. If software designers don't get paid for their work, they can't continue creating new software, such as new educational games or tools that help with schoolwork.
7. DON'T make copies of any copyrighted material, like books, magazines, or music without the permission of the author, publisher or artist. Copyrighted works are available (usually illegally) on the Internet. You are committing a crime if you copy and distribute them.
8. DON'T copy material that you find on the Internet and pretend that it's your own work. It's the same as copying a book or magazine article and pretending that you wrote it. It's easy to get caught. Remember, your teacher and thousands of other students have access to the same material.

Things that causes acne in women

• Hormone changes during puberty. During puberty, girls have an increase in male sex hormones called androgens. This increase causes the glands to get larger and make more sebum.

• Hormone changes as an adult. The menstrual cycle is one of the most common acne triggers. Acne lesions tend to form a few days before the cycle begins and go away after the cycle is completed. Other hormone changes, such as pregnancy and menopause, improve acne in some women. But some women have worse acne during these times. Stopping use of birth control pills can play a role as well.

• Medicines. Certain medicines, such as those used to treat epilepsy and types of depression.

• Make-up.

• Pressure or friction on the skin. Friction caused by bike helmets or backpacks can make acne worse.

• Family history. If other people in your family have acne, there is a greater chance you will have it.

Tips to stay active as the temperature drops

• Get outside. Take advantage of the colder season by participating in activities you can only do this time of year, such as skiing, snowboarding, or ice-skating.

• Think variety. If the weather is dreadful outside, stay motivated by introducing variety into your workouts. Try purchasing a new fitness toy, like a jump rope, exercise video, heart rate monitor, or stability ball.

• Don’t forget about fluids! When exercising in cold weather, it’s harder to gauge your fluid loss, but it is still easy to become dehydrated. Fluid replacement is essential even in chilly weather!

• Plan for indoor fitness. Rain and snow are not excuses from exercise. Plan ahead by finding an indoor location before you need it. Join a health club, buy a video, or investigate local mall-walking opportunities.

• Choose exercises that complement your summertime sport. While basketball and swimming transfer easily to indoors venues, this is not true for all sports. If your favorite sport is golf or baseball, it may be harder to find winter opportunities to play. However, you can still keep in shape by choosing workouts that mimic motions used in your favorite sport to keep those muscles strong, flexible, and ready for spring.

• Experiment with new and different indoor activities. Try yoga, aerobics, or kickboxing—or any other indoor class you have wanted to try, but just couldn’t bring yourself to do because the weather was so nice outside.

• Layer, layer, layer! Garments can then be removed and replaced as needed. The clothes next to your skin should absorb moisture and your outer layer should protect you from winds.

• Adapt your gear to indoor fitness. Don’t just change your location. If you change your workout conditions, you may need to change your shoes and other equipment as well.

• Don’t forget your hat. Hats are important to keep body temperature stable. Hats prevent heat loss from the head and neck, which can account for as much as 50% of total heat loss when you’re outside.

Recipe for healthy heart - Spicy Baked Fish

1 pound cod (or other fish) fillet
1Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp spicy seasoning, salt free

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a casserole dish with cooking oil spray.
2. Wash and dry fish. Place in dish. Mix oil and seasoning, and drizzle over fish.
3. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes or until fish flakes with fork. Cut into 4 pieces. Serve with rice.

Makes 4 servings--Serving size: 1 piece (3 oz)

Calories: 133
Fat: 1 g
Saturated fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 77 mg
Sodium: 119 mg

Safety tips for happy fishing activity

Make sure someone knows where you are and how long you will be gone. Check out all the signs where you'll be fishing and stick to what they say. Pick the right spot—stay away from tree branches that hang over the water, power lines, or strong currents. Look before you sit, step, or touch—you don't want to get near animals, or slip on wet rocks. Be careful if you're fishing off a dock or pier so you don't fall in. Check the weather report before going fishing and if a storm sneaks up on you, head for home.

Wear a life jacket if you are anywhere near deep water, running water, or on the ice. Wear a hat and sunscreen to shield you from the rays, and make sure you have your shades on to fight the glare off the water.

Fishing hooks are sharp, so be careful not to hook yourself, or someone else! Keep a first aid kit handy in case you get stuck. Carry a whistle to get help if you need it.

If you want to ice fish (fishing through a whole drilled in the ice), wait until the ice is at least 4 inches thick. For fly fishing (special type of fishing in moving water with bait handmade to look like bugs), shuffle into the flowing current sideways. If you're fishing in the waves, shuffle your feet along to scare away fish and other sea creatures.

Tips for a safe Vacation Travel

Enjoy your vacation…

…by playing it safe

• Even though you are taking some time off from work, remember not to take time off from safety
• Here are some points to consider before you go and while you are away. Today’s feature includes
o Securing your home
o Packing your bags
o While you are out and about
Securing your home
Before leaving for vacation, make sure your home is secured
• Keep shades and blinds in their normal position
• Arraign for someone to pick up your mail/newspapers
• Make sure all doors and windows are locked
• Activate home alarm
• Make sure to turn off all gas pilots and water faucets
• Set timer to turn lights on and off or have someone check your house periodically
• Arrange to have grass mowed or snow shoveled while you are away
Packing your bags
• Take only the essential credit cards, plan to use credit cards or travelers checks as opposed to cash
• Pack as light as possible Cumbersome bags will slow you down, making you more vulnerable to getting robbed
• Designer bags can draw unneeded attention Pack in inconspicuous bags
• Keep valuables and medication
While you are Out and About
• Don’t display jewelry, cameras, or other expensive items
• Check maps before you go so you can tour confidently
• Stay in well-lit, well traveled areas
• Always lock your car when parked
• Travel together, keep an eye on children

Exercising in water helps you feel: Flexible, Strong and Refreshed

Flexible. You can bend and move your body in water in ways you can't on land. Strong. Working against the water will help your body get stronger. At less risk of injury. Water makes your body float. This keeps your joints from being pounded or jarred and helps prevent sore muscles and injury. Refreshed. You can keep cooler in water-even when you are working hard. You don't need to know how to swim to work out in water-you can do shallow-water or deep-water exercises without swimming. For shallow-water exercise, the water level should be between your waist and your chest. If the water is too shallow, it will be hard to move your arms underwater. If the water is deeper than chest height, it will be hard to keep your feet touching the pool bottom. For deep-water exercise, most of your body is underwater. This means that your whole body will get a good workout. For safety and comfort, wear a foam belt or life jacket. Many swim centers offer classes in water workouts. Check with the ones in your area to find the  Flexible. You can bend and move your body in water in ways you can't on land. Strong. Working against the water will help your body get stronger. At less risk of injury. Water makes your body float. This keeps your joints from being pounded or jarred and helps prevent sore muscles and injury. Refreshed. You can keep cooler in water-even when you are working hard. You don't need to know how to swim to work out in water-you can do shallow-water or deep-water exercises without swimming. For shallow-water exercise, the water level should be between your waist and your chest. If the water is too shallow, it will be hard to move your arms underwater. If the water is deeper than chest height, it will be hard to keep your feet touching the pool bottom. For deep-water exercise, most of your body is underwater. This means that your whole body will get a good workout. For safety and comfort, wear a foam belt or life jacket. Many swim centers offer classes in water workouts. Check with the ones in your area to find the best water workout for you.

Methods of reducing waste

Why Reduce Your Waste?
Much of the concern around waste management includes the amount of natural resources that are removed from the Earth to produce goods for our consumption and use. Some of the things we buy are meant for long-term use, while many are single-use items. Choosing products with little or no packaging, buying in bulk, considering items that are durable, and practicing the 3Rs of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, all help to reduce waste. We should avoid burying resources in a landfill when they might be useful for another purpose, be recycled into a different product, or give us a good return on our investment. As some say: "one person's garbage is another person's gold."

Reducing Waste
• In the workplace, consider your purchasing policies, waste minimization activities, energy efficiency actions and water conservation measures. Make use of a team of volunteers to tackle waste reduction in the workplace. When there is a group dedicated to the task of looking at wasteful habits and there is support from management, the approach is almost infectious and there is no end to what can be accomplished.
• At home, examine your buying and disposal habits. Do you choose durable goods over disposables? Do you bring your own reusable bags and carry a reusable mug with you? Do you separate materials for reuse, recycle and compost?
• At school, students can monitor the school's efficient use of resources: lights off in empty classrooms, no leaky taps, double-sided photocopying and recycling bins available for everyone to use. Reducing waste = money saved.

How to take care of your sinuses?

Problems with your sinuses can make for miserable conditions — nasal congestion, facial pain, achiness, headache, and fatigue. These are common symptoms of sinusitis. But there is help, and evidence shows that some solutions can be inexpensive and effective. Here’s what you need to know about taking care of your sinuses:

Paranasal Sinuses

Sinus trouble begins when openings (ostia) become blocked. The most common way this occurs is due to sinus inflammation. Inflammation causes swelling, which makes it difficult for sinuses to drain. Once drainage is blocked, mucus builds up. This alone can feel uncomfortable, but it also gives bacteria a stagnant, moist environment in which to thrive, which can lead to infection.

The common cold, which is caused by a virus, is the most frequent trigger of sinus trouble. Typically, your body can fight off the virus that’s triggering sinus inflammation and blockage. However, a secondary bacterial infection can take hold.

Many other things though can block your sinuses and lead to infection. The list includes allergies, cigarette smoke and other irritating fumes, changes in barometric pressure during flying or scuba diving, nasal polyps, and a deviated nasal septum.

Chronic Sinusitis

Sinusitis that lasts more than three weeks or recurs more than three times a year is called chronic sinusitis. The most common cause is inadequately-treated acute sinusitis — and since the diagnosis and treatment of acute sinusitis have improved so much, chronic sinusitis is less common than it used to be.

Most patients with chronic sinusitis should benefit from an ENT evaluation, including endoscopy and a CT scan. That’s because anatomic problems such as nasal polyp or a deviated septum are sometimes responsible. Since allergies are often present in many cases, allergy testing may help.

As with acute sinusitis, the key to successful treatment is drainage. In the case of chronic sinusitis though, surgery may sometimes be required. Your ENT doctor may have to remove nasal polyps, straighten a deviated septum, or use endoscopic surgery to open a good drainage channel between the sinus and your nose.

Living With Your Sinuses

To protect your sinuses, stay well-hydrated. Avoid tobacco smoke and irritating fumes. If you have allergies, try to avoid the things that trigger symptoms. Do your best to prevent catching a cold by washing your hands properly and keeping your distance from cold sufferers. When you catch a cold, blow your nose properly to keep bacteria from floating into your sinuses. Treat symptoms of sinusitis promptly with steam inhalation, decongestants, and nasal irrigation. If you don’t recover as expected — or if you have serious sinusitis — see your doctor for antibiotics and, possibly, nasal steroids.
Acute sinusitis is common and uncomfortable. But if you know how to keep your sinuses open and draining freely, you can keep them healthy and happy!

Tips to Protect Your Child from Injury

Follow these steps to protect your child from injury.
Use the right child safety seat in the car.
• Always buckle up your child in the car. Use a safety seat that is right for the car and right for the size and age of your child. Have the seat inspected to be sure it’s put in the car correctly.
• Set the example. Always fasten your seat belt when you drive or ride in a car. Never drive and drink alcohol or use drugs.
• Learn more about child safety seats.

Closely watch your child in or near water.
• Never leave your child alone in the bathtub – not even for a minute. If you have to answer the phone or doorbell, take your child with you.
• Watch your child at the pool or beach. Don’t do anything else such as reading, playing cards, or talking on your cell phone.
• Make sure your child wears a life jacket when swimming in rivers, lakes, or the ocean – even if he or she knows how to swim.

Put smoke alarms on every floor of your home.
• Put smoke alarms on every floor of your home, including the basement, and especially on the ceiling just outside bedroom doors.
• Check smoke alarms once a month to make sure they’re working. Change the batteries every year. (Tip: Change your batteries when you change your clock back from Daylight Savings Time in the fall ).

Keep medicine and cleaning products out of reach.
• Keep medicines, vitamins, cleaning supplies, and other poisons like batteries and bug spray in locked or childproof cabinets.
• Put the poison control number, 1–800–222–1222, on or near every home telephone, and save it on your cell phone. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Play safe.
• Make sure your child wears a helmet when riding a bike or skateboarding. Helmets and other pads help protect the head, face, wrists, and knees.
• Watch your child at the playground. Check for a soft landing spot under swings, slides, and climbers.

Tips to follow when you are out

The way you act in public and with acquaintances will have an impact on a potential offender. Always act and respond to others with confidence and be very clear and definite in your response to any inappropriate suggestions.-
When you are out:
• Tell someone where you are going and whom you are with – offenders may try to confirm with their victims that family or friends do not know where they are.
• Tasting other people’s drinks makes it harder to count how much alcohol you have consumed or to ensure you are drinking what you want to be drinking.
• Keep an eye on each other’s drinks – take turns to go dancing or finish your drinks first.
• Keep your valuables out of sight or where you can see and reach them, especially mobile phones and wallets. Take your handbags or wallets onto the dance floor and check you still have them when you sit down.
• If you feel strange tell a friend and leave with people you trust.
• When leaving premises intoxicated, be careful on the footpath and roads and watch out for each other – pedestrians are easily injured leaving parties or hotels when judgment of space and timing are impaired.
• Avoid getting into heated discussions – logic and rationale thought are affected by alcohol or illicit drugs.
• If a friend is seriously affected by alcohol or illicit drugs or has overdosed, call an ambulance immediately.
Walking:
• Stick to major routes and roads and don’t take short cuts.
• Use footpaths that are well lit and not closed in by bushes or obstacles
• Stay in groups of people.
• Change direction if you think you are being followed and seek a safe place.
Transport:
• On the train:
•
• Travel in the guard’s compartment identified by a blue light, or in carriages that have groups of people who could assist if needed.
• Travel in groups of friends.
• Arrive at the station as close to the departure time of the train as possible and stand where the station is well lit.
• In a taxi:
•
• Sit in the back of the taxi and travel with friends.
• Give clear directions where you want to go – if you are not on the agreed route, terminate the trip. If feeling unsure, insist on being taken to a safe place and terminate the trip.
Driving and Parking:
• Have your keys in your hand as you approach your car in readiness, especially if they are hard to find in a handbag.
• Cars that have easy access may be a target – keep your doors locked with as much visual security as possible (steering wheel locks etc).
• Car Parks with a parking attendant or supervised/patrolled are best, otherwise try to park in locations that are well lit and/or well populated and not crowded in by bushes or buildings where offenders might hide.
• Arriving together with a group of friends or meeting each other at a designated place ensures you are not alone for long periods and reduces the appearance of vulnerability. Offenders target people who appear vulnerable.
Major Events and public spaces:
• Never leave valuables unattended at the beach, in parks or at major events, including leaving car keys hidden on the car. Offenders watch the movements of people in public spaces to pick their targets. Be obvious that you are alert and not alone.
• Stay with your group – especially in large crowds during New Years Eve etc, and watch out for each other.
• Tell people where you are going and what time you will return.
• Don’t take too many belongings and bags.
• Keep belongings in the middle of your circle and always have one person with them.
• Use alcohol in moderation.
• Drink plenty of water and give yourself enough time to get in and out of where you want to be.
Leaving Home for the holidays:
• Ensure the house is securely locked, including windows usually left open.
• Cancel newspapers and redirect your mail or have it collected by a friend.
• Put pets into a boarding kennel or have friends visit them often.
• Tell neighbours or friends who can check on the house, you are away and whom will be at the house legitimately – e.g. gardeners, pet minders.
• Secure your garage or, if unable – move items such as bikes inside the house.
• Consider security devices, including light timers etc.
• Do not leave cash in the house and locate jewellery in a safe place.
• Ensure your lawn is cut, the property tidy and stop all deliveries.
• Avoid leaving the answering machine on and turn the phone volume down.