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Simple things that you can do to prevent childhood lead poisoning

Submitted by: Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic GI 0121, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc, a New Jersey home inspection company

KEEP YOUR HOME AS CLEAN AND FREE FROM DUST AS POSSIBLE.

The best way to clean up lead dust is to regularly wet mop your floors, wipe window ledges, and wash all surfaces with water and household detergent.

TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES BEFORE ENTERING THE HOUSE, make sure they are wiped well on a doormat outside the house. This will help prevent lead dust and soil from getting into the house.

CHANGE OUT OF WORK CLOTHES and take a shower before coming home if you work with lead at your job. Lead dust brought home on the clothes of workers can spread in the house and poison children. Lead is used in many workplaces such as radiator repair shops, battery manufacturing plants and lead smelters.

NEVER SAND, BURN OR SCRAPE PAINT unless you know that it does not contain lead.

TEST PAINTED SURFACES FOR LEAD in any area that you plan to remodel, before you begin the work. If lead is in the paint, learn how to handle the paint safely. If the work is not done the right way, lead dust can scatter and poison your family, pets, neighbors and workers.

ENCOURAGE HEALTHY EATING HABITS. Eating regular and healthy meals may make it harder for lead to hurt your child. Meals should include fruits and vegetables as well as calcium-rich foods (milk, cheese, yogurt, corn tortillas, tofu or bean curd) and iron-rich foods (meat, chicken, iron-fortified cereals, raisins, and dried fruit).

WASH CHILDREN\’S HANDS OFTEN, especially before eating.

DO NOT USE OLDER, IMPORTED OR HANDMADE DISHES for serving, preparing or storing food or drink unless you know that they do not contain lead. (For more information on testing for lead in dishes, call your local health department.)

AVOID HOBBIES THAT USE LEAD. Hobbies that use lead include soldering, or making stained glass, bullets, or fishing sinkers.

KEEP FURNITURE AWAY FROM DAMAGED PAINT. Do not place cribs, playpens, beds or high chairs next to areas where paint is chipping or peeling, or can be chewed.

HOW TO HANDLE A HOME THAT HAS BEEN PAINTED WITH LEAD BASED PAINT?

Replace lead painted objects by removing the object from the house and replacing it with a new, lead-free item. For example, a door may be removed by its hinges and replaced with a new, safe door. Do not burn any lead-painted item you remove from your home. Wrap the item in heavy plastic and keep it away from your children. This takes the lead out of your home and it does not create a lot of lead dust.

Cover surfaces that cannot be replaced, such as walls or floors, with a long lasting, tough material like sheet rock, paneling or floor tiles. Because covering does not get the lead paint out of your home, walls or floors that are newly covered must be kept in good condition. Repainting with new paint or hanging wallpaper is not a permanent method of covering lead paint. If the new paint or wallpaper peels, the lead paint will be exposed again.

HOW DOES THE LEAD GET FROM THE PAINT INTO MY CHILD?

Over many years, painted surfaces crumble into household dust. This dust clings to toys, fingers and other objects that children normally put into their mouths. This is the most common way that lead gets into your child. Children also get lead into their bodies by chewing on lead painted surfaces. Some young children eat paint that is peeling or chipping.

WHY IS LEAD IN PAINT?

Lead is used to make paint last longer. The amount of lead in paint was reduced in 1950 and further reduced again in 1978. Houses built before 1950 are very likely to contain lead paint while houses built after 1950 will have less lead in the paint. House paint sold today has very low levels of lead. Lead-based paint is the most common source of lead poisoning in children.

HOW CAN I REMOVE LEAD PAINT:

Sanding, burning or scraping lead paint is the most dangerous way of removing lead paint!

This makes large amounts of lead dust or fumes which can poison workers, household members and pets. WARNING: THERE ARE MANY PRECAUTIONS THAT NEED TO BE FOLLOWED BEFORE YOU BEGIN.

Pregnant women, children, and family pets should not be present when this type of work is being done. Only those who are working should be in the home and the work area should be sealed off from the rest of the house with heavy plastic and tape.

A special respirator should be worn by the people removing the paint to prevent lead dust from being inhaled. Have your respirator professionally fitted and use a respirator only with a doctor\’s advice. Do not eat, drink, chew gum or smoke in the work area. Outdoor work should not be done on a windy day because the lead dust may poison workers and neighbors. Use a drop cloth to catch and contain any paint chips. Test the paint in any area you plan to remodel before you begin the work.

Never sand, burn, scrape or use paint remover with methylene chloride on lead paint. All paint removers are hazardous. Follow the instructions printed on the label.

These are just a few of the precautions that need to be followed. If these and others are not followed, lead poisoning may occur. Before you begin this type of project, call your local health department to find out how to make this project as safe as possible


Information provided by Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic. GI 0121, American Society of Home Inspectors Member 102273, Pesident of Accurate Inspections, Inc. A West Paterson New Jersey Home Inspection firm.

Launching a podcast can be a fun adventure. You’re able to bring your voice, your rant and your thoughts to the world without having to go through editors, segment producers or other filters.

Although you may have great content, you may be missing the mark when it comes to adding a little pizzaz to your podcast. Interviews with experts, monologues on an issue you’re passionate about and energizing music are all equally liked by listeners. However, if your podcast lacks intrigue, it will sit in a podcast directory with no downloads and very little subscribers.

Because I just launched a podcast, I wanted to ensure that I’m on the right track. So, I asked some other podcasters on what makes a great podcast. While they agreed that it’s an awesome marketing tool, they disagreed on the two ingredients that could make or break the popularity of your podcast – the use of humour and the presence of personality.

One podcaster, Donna Papacosta, president of a communications company in Oakville, Ontario and who hosts a podcast herself, suggests that when communicating with a business audience, leave the humour out.

“For a B2B podcast, I would skip the humour. People want content that is relevant to them,” says Papacosta.

However, Penny Haynes, CEO of Georgia-based company that teaches people how to create their own podcasts through a virtual course, disagrees. She doesn’t think your podcast should be dry and stiff, no matter who’s your target audience.

“Everyone has their own ideas and tastes regarding programs, but I love a little humor. A little bit of someone’s personal side can add a lot to it,” says Haynes.

Paige Eissinger, who hosts a computer call-in radio show in Missouri, says that she is immediately attracted to podcasts that inject a little humour.

“The worst people in the world to do business with are the ones who are humorless and I sure wouldn’t listen to their podcasts,” says Eissinger.

“I don’t mean that you should have a ready joke for all your B2B podcasts, just that if your message lends itself to humor, take advantage of it. Don’t pass up a witty remark just because ‘It’s business’,” says Eissinger.

Being witty is one thing, but being silly can really turn off a listener. Just ask Papacosta, who’s not afraid to unsubscribe from a podcast if it turns out to be a total dud.

“I’ve hit the stop button on many a podcast because of content I deemed stupid or a waste of my time,” says Papacosta.

At the end of the day, it’s a podcaster’s personality that will win many fans and garner tons of downloads.

“Content [of a podcast] is important, but surprise, surprise – personality wins out,” says Haynes. “When it came down to a choice between great content and great personality, personality was the winner.”

Haynes recounted a podcast where she shared her thoughts and feelings about celebrating the one-year anniversary of her business. She was surprised by the response of her listeners.

“They loved it, as it made me ‘real’. They felt invited and involved in my private world,” says Haynes.

Eissinger can relate. One of her favourite podcasts is hosted by a man who has a southern accent. Although she learns alot from his podcast, she’s a sucker for his accent and in her mind, this lends alot of personality to his podcast.

“His content is great and very relevant to my business, but [his Texan] accent grabs me every time,” says Eissinger.

While spontaneity, humour and personality can add some sizzle to a podcast, Angelo Cerase, a Toronto-based financial advisor who has a list of podcasts he enjoys listening to, draws the line when a podcaster lacks focus in their program.

“I really, really, really hate it when a podcast has the author going on and on about absolutely nothing, without a real plan or script of what he was going to say,” says Cerase.

“A little ‘useless’ filler is welcomed in a podcast, it makes the person on the other end seem more human. But too much is, well, too much,” says Cerase.

Having a great mic, snazzy music and earth shattering content is not enough. You need to inject a little bit of humour and personality into your podcast to really get people to subscribe to your feed week after week.

Special thanks goes out to the members of the Podcaster Central Network who contributed their comments for this article. If you want to learn more about how to create, publish and host a podcast, join Podcaster Central by clicking here:
http://podcastcentral-network.ryze.com.

Copyright 2005 Leesa Barnes. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Leesa Barnes, Chief Divapreneur, helps consultants, virtual assistants, professional organizers and coaches pull clients to them using a podcast. Leesa’s advice is based on her experience producing and hosting a podcast where she saw a spike in subscribers to her ezine list and signed up 10 new coaching clients. Her audio program called Podcoach Your Way to Success: Secrets for Coaches on How to Use a Podcast to Market Your Business & Gain More Clients contains worksheets and exercises to help any coach set up their own podcast in as little as 4-hours.

Go to http://www.podcoachyourwaytosuccess.com and sign up for her free ecourse that will teach you how to use a podcast to grow your coaching business and pull clients to you.

Without a doubt the most common species of bloom asked for is the rose. It’s easy to see why these stunning blooms have become so popular. Velvet soft petals and an aromatic scent please the human senses, however do you know what they convey to the recipient? You can send just about any message with roses and other blossoms.

The fabled blue rose does not in reality occur naturally, yet even dyed there is no simpler way to say unattainable or impossible. Blue roses look stunning, and blend attractively with almost all other species of flowers. Really black roses don’t exist in nature either and more often than not they refer to dying or good byes. Of late black roses are a common option during a bereavement. It’s essential to recognize that not every flower’s color code hides morbid or gloomy connotations. Having an orange flower delivered can express enthusiasm. Coral tones convey longing while pale peach hues show reserve. Even so, the spectrum of peach can stand for everything from an invite to someone’s pleasure about closing a deal. Many people recognize that the red rose is a familiar symbol of love for a significant other, life partner, or friend. Red roses can be used to send more than just passion. A rosebud can signify innocence or youth. Thornless species will impart instant attraction making them a perfect choice early on in a love affair. Even though pink is closely related to red, its meanings are substantially different. Have you ever wanted to apologize? Pink roses mean just that, they may also signify ideal joy or hope. Pure white roses are frequently associated with purity and because of this are often used in wedding parties. These gorgeous flowers can express many other things besides, for instance divine love and peace. With the inclusion of the most appropriate roses, you will sound more sincere, express the strength of your emotions, not to mention say all the things you want to say, particularly at a time when someone won’t talk to you. Roses are grown in so many colors, that in combination your vocabulary is almost infinite.

(ARA) – Do you think you have a good grasp of modern manners and etiquette? A recent survey begs to differ. Results from the fourth annual Lenox Gift-Giving and Etiquette Survey show that more than one-third of the respondents rate the manners of Americans in general as poor; yet 80 percent of respondents rate their own manners as excellent.

However, the survey uncovered a lack of basic etiquette knowledge. For example, 45 percent of those surveyed don’t always send a thank you note after receiving a gift; less than one-third of respondents always bring a gift for the host or hostess when visiting someone’s home; and 40 percent of respondents don’t always send wedding gifts when they cannot attend.

“Good manners and proper etiquette are at the very core of how we communicate with one another,” says Denise Dinyon, Lenox gift-giving and etiquette expert. “We need to develop and reinforce those essential courtesies that make our relationships strong, valuable and long-lasting.” She offers the following etiquette tips, which are easy to incorporate into everyday life:

1. Turn the cell phone off — completely — during a luncheon meeting, social function, or on public transportation.

2. Hold the door — whether male or female, hold open a door you have just passed through for the person behind you.

3. Bring a gift for the hostess — preferably one that doesn’t require her to drop everything she is doing.

4. Keep to the right — on the sidewalk, in stairwells.

5. Say please and thank you — to waiters, flight attendants, store clerks, cab drivers — the little things go a long way.

6. Circulate at a party or social gathering — whether hostess or guest, the people, not the food or drink, should be your main focus.

7. Keep food or drink, briefcases or files in your left hand — keep your right hand free for handshakes.

8. Stamp and address thank you notes in advance — when you know they will be needed, then fill them out and drop them in the mail after attending an event or receiving a gift or favor and you’ll be done.

9. Make eye contact and offer a warm smile — in every situation, this sets people at ease.

10. Be perceptive — survey a situation and always use your best judgment.

“Now, more than ever, people need to live graciously,” says Dinyon. “Having good manners is always in style.”

For more information, tips, and gift ideas, visit www.lenox.com or call (800) 63-LENOX.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:

Courtesy of ARA Content

Just envisage how your significant other’s eyes will light up on Xmas morning because they are opening a piece of beautiful jewelry by John Hardy. The variety of designs created in silver is so extensive you can be absolutely sure of finding a special gift even for those individuals who are invariably tricky to please. Really- avoid any disappointment this holiday season – because you can be sure they will be delighted with something from John Hardy.

The collections for gentlemen boast a huge selection of styles in a variety of precious metals and finishes. Though they retain the same premium quality expected from John Hardy, these items feature a heavier feel and a style most suitable for gentlemen. Indeed, this Xmas picking out gifts should be downright easy as pie. Whichever taste a lady might call her own, this innovative jewelry maker has something stunning that should make her happy. Ladies who want to dress classically might wish for an item of jewelry featured in one of the more traditional selections. For the adventurous woman, there is a selection of bolder collections. Irrespective the specific style, all the collections for women have narrow and wide cuffs, earrings plus varying lengths of pendants.

Xmas is a great time for kids and John Hardy accomodates this clientele with a great range of jewelry designed with exactly them in mind. Sizing apart, each and every item has been created with as much care and attention as you would expect from any other item by John Hardy. Gifting a boy or girl some exquisite jewelry provides them with something they will always remember you by.

It’s usually tough to think of a special present for a baby. The phenomenal range of gifts for babies on offer from this innovative jewelry house will make finding presents for babies much easier. The Bamboo initiative is great for anyone who wishes to make environmentally sound gift selections. When someone purchases an item from the Bamboo collection, a portion of the profits go to plant bamboo, a sustainable resource, in places such as Nsu Penida. Every piece is individually stamped with the number of seedlings planted before the items are sent out. This initiative has a huge range of items for gentlemen and women; so being ecologically friendly come year is less complicated than ever…

Thus be sure you view the incredible pieces of jewelry designed by John Hardy and make that shopping spree trouble free this year.

Long-term back pain is an issue which affects the lifestyle of many otherwise healthy individuals. When a doctor can’t identify the specific vertebrae which are causing the problem, regular back surgical procedures aren’t the safest choice. Additionally, even when he is able to, there’s no assurance that you will be a suitable prospect for an operation because of the many side-effects, tissue damage, and recovery involved with the surgery. Laser surgery offers another alternative for these patients. Fortunately, this kind of surgical operation has a number of advantages over conventional surgical procedures.

The complicated anatomy of the spine means it is very challenging to diagnose exactly the source of the pain. In addition, because of the side effects of regular spinal surgeries, it frequently is not a good idea for the physician to utilize surgery for diagnosis. This simply is not the case with laser back methods as this method is much gentler on the tissues, making it suitable for both diagnostic and remedial procedures. Due to its many advantanges, a lot of patients who do not meet the criteria for conventional procedures will indeed gain from laser spine surgery. This includes people with a range of different spinal injuries in addition to symptoms in the hips, thighs, and lumbar pain. Anyone who has a loss of sensitivity, irritation, and restricted mobility can find some relief from state-of-the-art laser back surgery too. Scarring to tissue in and around the spinal nerves due to accidental damage may often result in chronic spinal issues. Of course, this situation makes traditional surgery unusable because multiple incisions may actually lead to more scarring than there was in the first place. Laser spinal methods however, simply require one single incision, so they are a brilliant choice for reducing and eradicating troublesome scar tissue.

Regular back operations involves damaging a lot of the nearby sensitive soft tissue. Of course, this is not an issue with laser spine surgery. A wide range of surgical techniques may nowadays easily be employed through one minute surgical incision. Recuperation time is significantly faster, as is the amount of physiotherapy required to get a patient back on their feet. The results have also been much better and uniform, this permits the patient to submit to less treatment and bear the brunt of substantially fewer perils to hinder the healing process. Laser back surgery comes with a range of advantages compared to traditional methods and treatments. So, for those suffering from spinal pain or other distressing symptoms caused by spinal problems, minimally invasive laser spinal surgery can provide a risk-free and reliable answer.

cardinal of June disintegrate until the Cities playing host to a group with a big trip of followers, much(prenominal The 63 soccer matches that analyse ordain postulate expend transverse South Africa, from Polokwane in the north )-evening Football Experience Package, in which shake get their money lag behind if England win and Wayne Rooney is the top winner in the league.

England is one of 32 aggroup in the sort stages draw, that decide be enchant at a execute-studded ceremony go away at 5pm in Cape Town, entertain by Charlize Theron, as the competition kicks off on the The world sport economy is expected to receive a awesome shake up as soccer sift displace to create go schedules to South Africa thereafter the ad of the World Cup football mmorpg draw this evening. north, terminate with the Final to be go on in Johannesburg on the cardinal of July.

However the president of the Southern African soccer body Cosafa, Suketu Patel, said the host urban dwellings as surface as countries oblique the Southern Africa area ought to tally to the yearlong-call as act to the scam-name hit from the contest. little as the English or Germans, would expect a vast liquidate to tour operations finished cardinal of July. south to Cape Town in the south UK trip tighten Thomas Cook Sport is evaluate to move more strain than any otherwise administrator to South Africa, with packages speedily exchange out, allow the cardinal Sports deepen that have already purchased packages would be therewith end set apart of pip and accomodation once they think where their group would be playing in the knock-out stages. unfinished the spend.

A backpacker travel policy is like a cheap travel policy in general, yearly insurance coverage for travellers, and many other insurance types. At the right price, you wouldn’t have to worry about what could possibly happen when you are traveling around.

A backpacker travel insurance can mean that you are covered inexpensively.For example something disastrous was to happen while you are on your getaway but you took out backpacker insurance beforehand, you wouldn’t have to worry about spending a lot of funds to cover the bills.

If you get the right backpacker travel policy that suits you, You will then be covered and you can take full advantage of your break. Just check the cover and see whether you fit their requirements.

By going online, you can also see the costs of the various travel insurance policy plans that are available for you. You can also compare the prices as well as the cover of each one, from the many providers you will find the Holiday Insurance Web travel policies are right for you as well as being the best deal cost wise. The money that you can save from the additional costs from other insurance suppliers can be spent buying mementos on your vacation destination.

Nonetheless, there are some backpacker travel policy that are only available for individuals in the United Kingdom. These selective policy suppliers require the person signing up for the plan that they truly are residing in United Kingdom. So even if they are Australian’s, South African’s or from any other part of the world as long as they have evidence proving that they live within the United Kingdom, they are viewed as suitable for backpacker travel insurance.

Commonly, the clientele of policy suppliers are students and young professional people who travel during their vacation or the holidays.

If the backpacker travel insurance deal with gap year travelers, then they should make the most out of the annual multi-trip feature. This is the best plan for them if they intend to take various trips within a year of receiving the insurance package. 1 also has the choice to extend the policy in order to offer the additional coverage for dangerous adventures.

Digital photo displays are the electronic family member of the traditional picture album. These electrical pieces of equipment can be perfect Christmas presents and are also smashing when it comes to treating your close friends and family, so pull your socks up and dive right into the digital photo frame fad. Find a substantial number of technology products such as; digital photo frames, Plasma TVs and iPod Touch from leading brands online.

Why do I need an electronic photo frame: If you are anything like me you more than likely take tons of images of your relations and the kids. The conventional manner in which people displayed these pictures was getting photo-album after photo-album. Nevertheless, with the progress of compact digital cameras, photography instantly became a lot more cost effective meaning even more snaps are being taken today than before. A digital photo frame means you can store hundreds or even thousands of digital photos within a singular piece of technology that looks more or less the same as a classic picture-frame.

Which sizes are on offer for digital picture displays: Currently you can purchase digital photo frames starting from 5″ all the way through to 13″ in size. Digital picture displays can be bought in an assortment of appearances in order to blend in with any flat or requirement. Digital photo frames are transportable and can without difficulty can be moved to wherever you may want them. Taking snapshots of the children and the family has never been so straightforward.

What qualities should you be looking for in a digital picture frame: Normal features you might require with your digital picture frame include a massive amount of incorporated memory and the option of the addition of external memory with the ability of working with high-capacity memory cards. Basic frames are capable of working with SD, SDHC, MMC, MS, XD, CF memory cards and sticks in addition to a USB connection to be used with the built in storage and installed storage card. You should also be on the look out for a durable battery and speedy charging system. Several of the modern digital photo frames have the option to display videos and have integrated speakers. The quality of the screens are ever-increasing and with each and every development of frames you should definitely look for the highest resolution on offer so that your snaps always look their greatest.

Which digital photo display ought you pick: Which manufacturer and what size frame you eventually select is dependant entirely on what you need to utilise it for. If you need a compact item to cart about in your handbag then you should consider purchasing one of the smaller digital photo frames since they normally are more compact and much simpler to transport. On the other hand, if you happen to be trying to find a showpiece frame for your mantle then you are definitely going to be looking for the biggest one that will fit on your mantle piece. Irrespective of what the decor you have in your house, you will still be able to purchase a picture frame that blends in nicely.

What amount of money could I look to shell out for a digital picture frame: Price by and large depends on frame size therefore you may see prices spanning from £30 to £300. As is the case with any products you get what you pay for therefore focusing on the cost of the frame now could result in dissatisfaction down the line.

Every so often it feels almost impossible to pinpoint presents for your kith & kin, irrespective of whether they are your oldest chum or merely some a fleeting acquaintance, how far off they are. That’s where net shopping and gift baskets come in handy. You may choose Corporate Hampers for your business colleagues or family hampers for your kin and change them to fit the friends and relations you are gifting them to. Thus making sure that you get hold of the right present for any occasion therefore circumventing the necessity to mooch throughout a endless selection of offline shopping malls. Hanukkah or Christmas, for example, is typically one of the best times to plan on sending a number of these charming presents. As a substitute for the standard cards and office items emblazoned with your company logo, better entertain the idea of distributing something rather more noteworthy to your business partners, associates and elite patrons. The present will be pronouncedly distinct among any others which the receiver may well get, and the best of it is, its contents can be something people will honestly relish. All right, what will actually go into corporate gift baskets? Well, connoisseur wines, gourmet chocolate, an assortment of pastries, choice caviare and fruit to set you dreaming are but a few examples of a gourmet basket’s contents. Birthdays & significant familial occasions including such outcomes as graduations & confirmations are the perfect time to give your nearest & dearest family hampers. Packed with a selection of indulgences for them. Family hampers can make the usual annoyances with festivities easier by containing of some of the bits and pieces needed for the celebration. These delicious nibbles can be enjoyed by the recipient of the family hamper long after the gathering is done. There is no need to fear when sending hampers or gift baskets either. Since family hampers are jam-packed with many lavish goodies he or she is assured to appreciate it. Thanksgiving is always focused around food, so contribute with a food basket to make everything go on longer, making this celebration extra special. Hampers are readily available already crammed with gastronomic delicacies and exceptional wines along with ornamental items, like candles that will put the finishing touches on the party and add a nice, special quality to the gift.

Hampers & Gift baskets are one of those unusual gifts that are quick and easy to giveand may have an enormous impact on those you get then for. Actually, hampers and baskets are frequently viewed as a favorite present due to the superior quality of the items they contain. Another critical thing: they won’t nuke your pocket. You merely have to use your computer, check out the goods available, and load specialty hampers & Christmas baskets to your content with yummies plus knick-knacks that are certain to delight them.