Can you recognize The signs of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, tasteless, non-corrosive gas that can be a by-product of the combustion of ordinary fuels. CO is relatively harmless in open spaces, but can become very poisonous if it is allowed to accumulate.

Carbon Monoxide is Not in Natural Gas

Carbon monoxide is not in natural gas but it can be produced if your natural gas appliance is not burning efficiently or is not vented properly. CO is also produced whenever any fuel such as gasoline, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal is burned.
Other CO sources include vehicle exhaust, blocked chimney flues, fuel-burning cooking appliances used improperly for home heating, generators used in an enclosed space or charcoal grills used in the home, tent, camper, garage or other unventilated area.

Signs of Improper Combustion

Look for these signs of improper combustion that can lead to carbon monoxide:

• Stuffy, foul-smelling or stale air inside your home
• The smell of exhaust fumes
• A yellow/orange flame on gas ranges, furnace or water heater burners
• Soot around outside of chimney, furnace or water heater flue vent or fireplace
• Large areas of condensation of water vapor on walls or windows

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide may cause any or all of the following symptoms:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Irregular breathing
• Rapid heartbeat
• Ringing in the ears
• Vision problems such as seeing spots or “floaters” and blurred vision
• Fatigue or feeling ill at home but feeling fine outside the home
• Confusion or memory loss
• Loss of coordination

Carbon monoxide poisoning can eventually cause loss of consciousness, coma, seizures, cardiac arrest and respiratory failure.

What to Do if You Detect Carbon Monoxide

Follow these simple guidelines if you think you have a carbon monoxide problem in your home:

• If your detector alarm sounds and you are experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, leave your home and immediately call your local emergency services number or 911.
• If you have no symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and your detector alarm sounds, first check the detector. Push the reset button (if available) and turn off any appliances or other sources of combustion. Get fresh air to the building and check for sources of carbon monoxide. Adjust, repair or replace your appliances as needed by calling a qualified service or repair company.
• If you think you have symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and you do not have a detector, leave your home and immediately call your local emergency services number or 911.

Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning by following these simple suggestions:

• Purchase carbon monoxide detectors
• Be sure all fuel-burning equipment is installed, adjusted and operating properly
• Have appliances installed by a professional, and carefully follow manufacturer instructions
• Do not cut off or restrict combustion air sources to appliances
• Equipment should be inspected regularly by a professional heating or appliance contractor
• Provide adequate ventilation in the house when using stoves, fireplaces or unvented space heaters.
• Never burn charcoal indoors or in an enclosed space
• Clean your chimney and check for blockage, especially with wood burning fireplaces and stoves
• Open your garage door before starting your vehicle

Fandango Poor Customer service update

I was advised on Sunday when I called the company by a Supervisor supposedly named Missy, that she will email mail me right back with information on my gift card that I immediately faxed to her. Well not to my surprise she did not bother to keep her word and of course I kept the fax transmittal sheet proving it went to her. While doing my own research on line I noticed the card I had contain two parts to it so I went hunting for the other part. I would think a customer service rep and a supervisor who only sale one product would know something about their product to have helped me instead of this cat and mouse game them seem to love to play. I still would never recommend or purchase this card again due to the facts:

1. Very poor customer service-Why do they pay these people if they do not even know their product? Why do service people repeat from their script instead of listening to the question. A machine could do what they do. Even though I hate machines I could understand when it keeps repeating itself and never answering simple questions.

2. The buyer pays for the gift card the price of the gift card and a fee to active it. Then the person who receives it is charged a 2.50 fee each time they use it. My gift was for twenty five dollars so for the matinee price I was charged 5.00 for using this card twice, and of course none of this is disclosed on the card for the purchaser to know nor the recipient to know. What a rip off.   

Fandango You need to learn and teach good customer service

I have a real pet peeve when companies provide horrible customer service. Todays Company is Fandango!!! I received a gift card at Christmas time from them that will only work if you buy tickets on line which is what I tried to do but that doesn't work either. So I called them and the young lady keep repeating herself saying I had to scratch the silver strip on the back of the card of. I advise over 10 times there is no silver strip just a number with a bar code. I guess she found it funny to keep reading from her script instead of talking normal and listening normal. I finally asked to talk to a manager who I thought could hold a conversation without repeating herself and I guess one doesn't exists in the company. I faxed proof of the card to show them as I guess they don't realize what products they sell and left a message for a CEO to call me. It is their corporate procedures not to call back customers.  Really????? It is my corporate procedures to never spend a penny on your product again.....Do no give them your money unless you like throwing it away. I will be blogging more on this as I can not stand such lousy customer service.

Neser Insurance-Noroviruses- how to protect yourself

 The Headlines and News Articles:

New Strain of Stomach Bug Spreading Across US

Ian Goodfellow, a prominent researcher at England's University of Cambridge, calls norovirus 'the Ferrari of viruses' for the speed at which it passes through a large group of people.

"It can sweep through an environment very, very quickly. You can be feeling quite fine one minute and within several hours suffer continuous vomiting and diarrhea," he said.

A new strain of the norovirus stomach bug that has been sweeping the globe is taking over the United States, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday.

Health officials have grown better at detecting new strains and figuring out which one is the culprit. They now know that norovirus is also the most common cause of food poisoning in the U.S.
Each year, noroviruses cause an estimated 21 million illnesses and 800 deaths, the CDC says.

Nasty Norovirus Found on Grocery Bag

Dishwashing Won't Kill Tummy-Troubling Norovirus: Study -

Why are Noroviruses a problem?

Although Noroviruses cannot grow outside the body, or in food itself, an infected person easily contaminates any food they come in contact with - as well as any other surfaces. Contaminated food can then infect several people at once.
Noroviruses are probably the most common cause of stomach bugs in New Zealand and outbreaks (mass illness of many people) are frequent where people live close together eg, rest homes, hostels, restaurants or cruise ships. In New Zealand most outbreaks occur in summer and autumn.
To date, the largest Norovirus outbreak in New Zealand was on 17 June 2006. It was linked to a catering firm who, contrary to cooking instructions, served raw, thawed, imported oysters to fans in a corporate box at a rugby match. An estimated 350 people fell ill with Norovirus infection soon after.

How are they spread?

As few as 10 Norovirus particles may be enough to infect a healthy person. An infected person sheds many Norovirus particles and can easily transmit the virus to other people through sharing their food, utensils, drinks or touching common surfaces.

What are the symptoms?

People get sick suddenly, usually within a day. They have diarrhoea, violent vomiting (often projectile) and stomach cramps. Some sufferers will also have a mild fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, tiredness and nausea. Keeping up fluid intake during this time is important because of the risk of dehydration. The illness only lasts a couple of days and does not usually cause any complications.

What kills Noroviruses?

Prevention is the best cure because there is no effective treatment. There are many different strains of Norovirus and no vaccine to help people develop immunity. Antibiotics do not kill viruses so they won’t help someone who is sick with a Norovirus.
Norovirus particles on food can survive freezing for several months, some even survive the pasteurisation (heat treatment) of milk and the low levels of chlorine used to sanitise drinking water.

Can I lower my risk of contracting a Norovirus?

Yes - you can avoid most routes of Norovirus exposure by following these steps:

• Although any food can be contaminated by the virus, bivalve shellfish (such as those collected recreationally) are sometimes implicated because they are often eaten uncooked. Seawater contamination is monitored in most recreational shellfish collection areas, and warning signs are put up if the collection area is too polluted. Check for warning signs and don’t collect shellfish near sewage outlets
• If possible, cook recreationally collected shellfish thoroughly before eating. Boil them for 3-5 minutes (3 minutes if they’re shelled) or steam for 4-9 minutes. Internal temperature must reach 90^oC for 90 seconds to kill the virus particles, hence the recommended long cooking times
• Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and cook food well, especially if someone in your household is sick.
• Cook all meat until the juice (blood) runs clear. Make sure your meat is properly defrosted by thawing it covered, in the fridge for 24 hours
• Keep drips of meat juice (blood) away from raw or already cooked food by covering the meat and storing it on the bottom shelf of the fridge
• Don’t prepare food if you’re showing symptoms of a Norovirus infection and for at least 3 days afterwards. Wipe all surfaces including handles with bleach-based household cleaner (follow manufacturer’s instructions)
• Most viruses and other pathogens are washed off your hands with proper washing. Follow the 20-20 rule. Lather your hands with soap then wash for 20 seconds with warm water, then dry your hands for 20 seconds with a dry, clean towel or paper towel
• Make sure your own hygiene is meticulous if you are caring for someone who is sick. Keep the toilet area and all bathroom surfaces (toilet, taps, handles etc) really clean with household disinfectant. These are significant sources of infection
• Remove and wash any furnishings - including bedding - that may be contaminated, using soap and hot water (if possible). Viral particles can survive for at least 12 days on some surfaces (workmen at a rest home whose occupants had suffered a bout of Norovirus fell ill with the disease themselves. Viral particles were subsequently discovered in the carpet.)

Which cleaning products kill stomach flu viruses (norovirus)?

The best cleaning product to kill norovirus and other gastroenteritis viruses is household bleach. The CDC recommends using a minimum 2% solution of household bleach in water to kill norovirus1 use a 10% solution made of 0.5 cups bleach with 4.5 cups water. (Household bleach only contains 6% sodium hypochlorite which is the active "bleach" ingredient. The rest is water. So, a 2% solution of household bleach in water is actually only .12% sodium hypochlorite. A 10% solution of household bleach in is water actually only .2% sodium hypochlorite.) Clorox Clean-up with bleach is also a good option. Although, it does not say it kills norovirus on the label, it contains more than the CDC recommended amount of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) so it should do the job. It contains 1.84% sodium hypochlorite. Any cleaning product with more than .12% sodium hypochlorite contains enough bleach to kill norovirus according the CDC guidelines. Cleaning with bleach creates very strong fumes. I would ONLY clean an entire bathroom with bleach if someone actually has the stomach flu (not just every week).  Remember that you can’t use bleach on your nice wood floor, and it can discolor and eat holes in fabric. Wear rubber gloves and protective eye ware so you don’t get it in your eyes. Do not use chlorine bleach to clean your hands. Also, chlorine bleach usually can’t be used at the same time as other cleaning chemicals because a poisonous gas can be produced. So, use bleach by itself.

                   

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Commercial dishwashers can kill everyday bacteria but not norovirus, the cause of stomach flu and many foodborne illnesses around the world, according to a new study.

Norovirus Outbreak Confirmed in Arlington Public Schools

December 12, 2012 6:58 PM

ARLINGTON, Va. (CBSDC) - Parents of children in Arlington have officially been put on watch after the state of Virginia confirmed a Norovirus outbreak in the area.

Arlington Public Schools sent out a letter Wednesday alerting parents of the highly contagious virus after four cases of the virus were reported in the area.

A public health physician for Arlington County says the state of Virginia only needs to test two cases before confirming an outbreak.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Arlington Schools Suffer With Norovirus

7:56 AM, Dec 13, 2012

ARLINGTON, Va. (WUSA) -- Parents in Arlington County need to know norovirus has surfaced at two schools.

Parents of students at Patrick Henry Elementary and Randolph Elementary received notices about the outbreak Wednesday.

Noroviruses are a group of related viruses. Infection with these viruses affects the stomach and intestines and causes an illness called gastroenteritis (GAS-tro-en-ter-I-tis; inflammation of the stomach and intestines).

Anyone Can Get Norovirus

Anyone can be infected with noroviruses and get sick. Also, you can get norovirus illness more than once during your life. The illness often begins suddenly. You may feel very sick, with stomach cramping, throwing up, or diarrhea.
Noroviruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the United States. CDC estimates that each year more than 20 million cases of acute gastroenteritis are caused by noroviruses. That means about 1 in every 15 Americans will get norovirus illness each year. Norovirus is also estimated to cause over 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths each year in the United States.

Many Names, Same Symptoms

You may hear norovirus illness called "food poisoning" or "stomach flu." It is true that food poisoning can be caused by noroviruses. But, other germs and chemicals can also cause food poisoning. Norovirus illness is not related to the flu (influenza), which is a respiratory illness caused by influenza virus.
Symptoms of norovirus infection usually include diarrhea, throwing up, nausea, and stomach cramping.
Other, less common symptoms may include low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and general sense of fatigue.
Norovirus illness is usually not serious. Most people get better in 1­ to 2 days. But, norovirus illness can be serious in young children, the elderly, and people with other health conditions; it can lead to severe dehydration, hospitalization and even death.
You may get dehydrated if you are not able to drink enough liquids to replace the fluids lost from throwing up or having diarrhea many times a day. Symptoms of dehydration include a decrease in urination, a dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up. Children who are dehydrated may also cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.
The best way to prevent dehydration is to drink plenty of liquids. Oral rehydration fluids are the most helpful for severe dehydration. But other drinks without caffeine or alcohol can help with mild dehydration. However, these drinks may not replace important nutrients and minerals that are lost due to vomiting and diarrhea.
If you think you or someone you are caring for is severely dehydrated, contact your doctor. For more information on norovirus and dehydration, see norovirus treatment.

Norovirus Spreads Quickly

Norovirus and Food

Norovirus is a leading cause of disease from contaminated foods in the United States. Foods that are most commonly involved in foodborne norovirus outbreaks include leafy greens (such as lettuce), fresh fruits, and shellfish (such as oysters). However, any food item that is served raw or handled after being cooked can become contaminated with noroviruses.

Norovirus can spread quickly from person to person in crowded, closed places like long-term care facilities, daycare centers, schools, hotels, and cruise ships. Noroviruses can also be a major cause of gastroenteritis in restaurants and catered-meal settings if contaminated food is served.
The viruses are found in the vomit and stool of infected people. You can get it by

• Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus (someone gets stool or vomit on their hands, then touches food or drink).
• Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then putting your hand or fingers in your mouth.
• Having direct contact with a person who is infected with norovirus (for example, when caring for someone with norovirus or sharing foods or eating utensils with them).

People with norovirus illness are contagious from the moment they begin feeling sick until at least 3 days after they recover. But, some people may be contagious for even longer.

Norovirus: No Vaccine and No Treatment

There is no vaccine to prevent norovirus infection. Also, there is no drug to treat people who get sick from the virus. Antibiotics will not help if you have norovirus illness. This is because antibiotics fight against bacteria, not viruses. The best way to reduce your chance of getting norovirus is by following some simple tips.

Stop the Spread of Norovirus

Practice proper hand hygiene

Wash your hands carefully with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers and always before eating or preparing food. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. These alcohol-based products can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but they are not a substitute for washing with soap and water.

Take care in the kitchen

Carefully wash fruits and vegetables, and cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before eating them.

Do not prepare food while infected

People with norovirus illness should not prepare food for others while they have symptoms and for 3 days after they recover from their illness. (see For Food Handlers: Norovirus and Working with Food)

Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces

After throwing up or having diarrhea, immediately clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces by using a bleach-based household cleaner as directed on the product label. If no such cleaning product is available, you can use a solution made with 5 tablespoons to 1.5 cups of household bleach per 1 gallon of water.

Wash laundry thoroughly

Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with vomit or stool. Handle soiled items carefully—without agitating them—to avoid spreading virus. If available, wear rubber or disposable gloves while handling soiled clothing or linens and wash your hands after handling. The items should be washed with detergent at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dried.

More Information

• CDC Norovirus web site
• Norovirus Treatment
• Norovirus Trends and Outbreaks
• For Food Handlers: Norovirus and Working with Food
• Norovirus in Healthcare Settings, general information on norovirus and prevention in healthcare facilities
• Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives, hand- and water-related hygiene tips
• Put Your Hands Together [PODCAST - 3:48 minutes], information on how to help stop the spread of infection and stay healthy
• Foodborne Burden
• Tips for Healthy Cruising
• CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program
• Epidemiology of Foodborne Norovirus Outbreaks, United States, 2001–2008. Emerg Infect Dis [Internet]. 2012 Oct

From Neser Insurance Local Lawmaker wants law no smoking if a child is in the car

I am for not smoking around a child however I am not for our government telling me how to live my life. Why stop here. How about the elderly in the car or a pet? How about drinking at home in front of the child or praying to your God in front of the child? Then there is swearing, auguring, or cleaning products that can hurt a child.

Local lawmaker introduces smoking bill

 

RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) - Smoking while driving with a child in the car could be a thing of the past in Virginia.
State Senator Ralph Northam (D-VA), who represents parts of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, has introduced a new  bill in Congress that would subject anyone who smokes in a car with a child inside of it to a $100 fine.
A similar bill died in the House last week and most think this bill could suffer the same fate.
Pediatricians agree that second-hand smoking causes health problems.
"Our clinic is filled with kids who are breathing second-hand smoke and their allergies are much worse," Dr. Jennifer Livingood told WAVY.com. "Their asthma is much worse and there is no amount of medicine that will fix that they need to get out of their polluted environment."
Opponents of the bill argue it's not just smokers' rights at risk.
"You're gonna tell a smoker he can't smoke in his own home and he's got kids?" Stacey Badger said.
Northam is a physician who is running for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in November. His bill has passed the Transportation Committee and is moving on to the courts of justice.

Several states already ban smoking with kids in the car including California, Louisiana, Arkansas and more.

Marin Luther King Jr - A man to remember

Today is perhaps one of the most meaningful holidays on the calendar, a day when we remember a true American hero and revolutionary: Martin Luther King, Jr. He would have turned 84 years old this year (his birthday is actually January 15), but he was tragically assassinated at only 38 years of age, on April 4, 1968. Still, the clergyman and activist did more for the advancement of civil rights in his short lifetime than anyone in this country before or since. Perhaps most remarkable of all, Martin Luther King, Jr., made change through peaceful protest. His words were his weapon, his way of galvanizing a generation into action.
And so, on this profound occasion, we honor Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy with a selection of his most memorable and significant quotes.



"We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others."

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant."

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”  

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”  

“I have decided to stick to love...Hate is too great a burden to bear.”  

“Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”  

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.”  

“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”  

“Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.”  

“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”  

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But...the good Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”  

What Not to do when applying for that Job-Neser Insurance

January 1st, 2013

With the approach of the new year, many people will be begin anew their job search efforts.  If 2012 was not a successful year for in you – in terms of your job hunt – it might be because you are undermining your efforts without even realizing it.
Here are 4 common mistakes that you’re possibly making in your job search:
Listing job duties on your résumé, rather than accomplishments. 
Do not simply provide a “list” of job duties and responsibilities on your résumé.  Highlight the quantifiable achievements and benefits that you provided past employers, focusing on your most recent employer(s).  Quantify, quantify, quantify.  Most (if not all companies) value workers who enhance profits and save time and money.
Thinking your résumé will get you a job
Your résumé will not get you a job – that is not what it was designed to do.  It is a marketing document that is intended to get you an interview.  Therefore, it should not be a detailed compilation of every aspect of your life.  It should include your strengths, your achievements and those interesting facts that will –in a business sense – allow you to stand out from the crowd.
Not paying attention to your references. 
Providing good quality job references can mean the difference between receiving or losing a job offer.   Most companies check them; on average 96% of HR professionals claim to always conduct reference checks, but most job seekers do not put the effort into compiling and maintaining this critical list.  To learn how to best ask and keep quality references, please read How to Get and Keep Quality Job References found on the Candidate Resource Hub of the Snelling website.
Becoming Disenchanted. 
The job hunt is a full-time job, and for many, it can be a long-term endeavor.  The process can be frustrating, especially in this job market where 55% of unemployed people have been unemployed for 15+ weeks.  With this kind of long-term debilitating outlook it is hard to not turn harsh and bitter.  This is very hard to hide. It oozes out in our words, our actions and our body language during interviews, phone conversations, networking events, etc.  Put in the work every day to find a new career, but also do not be afraid to “get away” for a bit and decompress.  Go for a simple walk – anything – to clear your head and gain a little perspective.
Reprinted from Snelling-

Flood Insurance- What's Covered?

 

 

 

  

• The insured building and its foundation
• Electrical and plumbing systems
• Central air conditioning equipment, furnaces and water heaters
• Refrigerators, cooking stoves and built-in appliances such as dishwashers
• Permanently installed carpeting over unfinished flooring
• Permanently installed paneling, wallboard, bookcases and cabinets
• Window blinds
• Detached garages (up to 10 percent of building property coverage); detached buildings (other than garages) require a separate building property policy
• Debris removal

• Personal belongings, such as clothing, furniture and electronic equipment
• Curtains
• Portable and window air conditioners
• Portable microwave ovens and portable dishwashers
• Carpets that are not included in building coverage
• Clothing washers and dryers
• Food freezers and the food in them
• Certain valuable items such as original artwork and furs (up to $2,500)

• Damage caused by moisture, mildew or mold that could have been avoided by the property owner
• Currency, precious metals and valuable papers such as stock certificates
• Property and belongings outside of an insured building such as trees, plants, wells, septic systems, walks, decks, patios, fences, seawalls, hot tubs and swimming pools
• Living expenses such as temporary housing
• Financial losses caused by business interruption or loss of use of insured property
• Most self-propelled vehicles such as cars, including their parts (see Section IV.5 in your policy)

Coverage is limited in basements regardless of zone or date of construction. It's also limited in areas below the lowest elevated floor, depending on the flood zone and date of construction. These areas include:

• Basements
• Crawl spaces under an elevated building
• Enclosed areas beneath buildings elevated on full-story foundation walls that are sometimes referred to as "walkout basements"
• Enclosed areas under other types of elevated buildings

Flood Insurance 101

 

You should know your flood risk to understand your insurance needs.

 TEN FACTS every consumer needs to know about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

1. Everyone lives in a flood zone.
You do not need to live near water to be flooded.
Floods are caused by storms, melting snow, hurricanes, water backup due to inadequate or overloaded drainage systems, as well as broken water mains.

2. Flood damage is not covered by homeowners policies.
You can protect your home, business, and belongings with flood insurance from the NFIP.
You can insure your home with flood insurance up to $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for its contents.

3. You can buy flood insurance no matter your flood risk.
It does not matter whether your flood risk is high or low. Anyone in a community that participates in the NFIP can buy building and/or contents coverage, with very few exceptions. Some Costal Barrier System (CBRS) areas, Otherwise Protected Areas (OPAs) and buildings principally below ground or entirely over water are not eligible for National Flood Insurance.
It is a good idea to buy even in lower risk areas because 25 to 30 percent of flood insurance claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas.

4. The low-cost Preferred Risk Policy is ideal for homes and businesses in
low-to-moderate-risk areas.
Homeowners can insure buildings and contents for as little as $119 per year.
Business owners can insure buildings and contents for as little as $550 per year.
Residential renters can insure contents for as little as $39 per year.

5. Flood insurance is affordable.
About 90 private insurance companies nationally offer affordable flood insurance
backed by the federal government. Contact your local agent.
Policies are available to homeowners, condo owners, apartment owners, renters, and
business owners alike.

6. Flood insurance is easy to get.
You can buy flood insurance from private insurance companies and independent insurance agents; call yours today!
You can purchase flood insurance with a credit card.

7. Contents coverage is separate, so renters can also insure
their belongings.
Up to $100,000 contents coverage is available for homeowners and renters.
Whether you rent or own your home or business, make sure to ask your insurance agent about contents coverage. It is not automatically included with the building coverage (except under the Preferred Risk Policy).

8. Up to a total of $1 million in flood insurance coverage is available for non-residential
buildings and contents.
Up to $500,000 of coverage is available for non-residential buildings.
Up to $500,000 of coverage is available for the contents of non-residential buildings.

9. There is usually a 30-day waiting period before coverage goes into effect.
Plan ahead so you are not caught without insurance when a flood threatens your
home or business.

10.Federal disaster assistance is not the answer.
Federal disaster assistance is only available if the President declares a disaster.
Flood insurance pays even if a disaster is not declared.

Before you get Inked: Know the Risks

Outbreak: The largest cluster of tattoo infections was found in Rochester, New York, where 19 people who went to the same artist caught the bug

Tests showed that the infection was caused by a distant bacterial relative of tuberculosis called Mycobacterium chelonae.
While not life-threatening, the bacteria can cause itchy and painful pus-filled blisters that can take four months or longer to clear up, and involve treatment with harsh antibiotics with unpleasant side effects.
Some ink manufacturers add witch hazel or an alcohol preservative to lower risk of certain viruses, but the hardy chelonae bacteria are resistant to disinfectants, she added.
Investigators found the bacteria in opened and unopened bottles of ink at the New York tattoo parlor. They did not find it in water at the shop, meaning that the artist was not the one who diluted the ink, MacCannell said.
Health officials say tattoo customers should ask what kind of ink is being used and what measures are in place to prevent infections.

Source of outbreak: A tattoo artist from upstate New York said he bought the ink linked to the infection at a large trade show in Arizona

But in all the New York cases, the tattoo artist wore disposable gloves and sterilized his instruments. The problem, investigators concluded, was in the ink, which the Rochester artist bought at large trade show in Arizona, according to NBC.
‘Even if you get a tattoo from a facility that does everything right, it's not risk free,’ said Dr Byron Kennedy, deputy director of the health department in New York's Monroe County.
He is lead author of a report on last fall's Rochester cases was released by the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday.
In the past year, there have been 22 confirmed cases and more than 30 suspected cases of the skin infection in Colorado, Iowa, New York and Washington state, health officials said.
The infections were tied to ink or non-sterile water used to dilute the ink, according to health officials.

 

Tattoos breach the skin, which means that skin infections and other complications are possible. Specific risks include:

• Allergic reactions. Tattoo dyes — especially red, green, yellow and blue dyes — can cause allergic skin reactions, such as an itchy rash at the tattoo site. This can occur even years after you get the tattoo.
• Skin infections. A skin infection — which might cause redness, swelling, pain and a pus-like drainage — is possible after tattooing.
• Other skin problems. Sometimes bumps called granulomas form around tattoo ink. Tattooing can also lead to keloids — raised areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue.
• Bloodborne diseases. If the equipment used to create your tattoo is contaminated with infected blood, you can contract various bloodborne diseases — including tetanus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
• MRI complications. Rarely, tattoos or permanent makeup might cause swelling or burning in the affected areas during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams. In some cases, tattoo pigments can interfere with the quality of the image — such as when a person who has permanent eyeliner has an MRI of the eye.

Medication or other treatment — including possible removal of the tattoo — might be needed if you experience an allergic reaction to the tattoo ink or you develop an infection or other skin problem near a tattoo.
 What's formaldehyde and antifreeze doing in your skin?Tattooing is an art form that has been used for centuries by tribal societies in religious rites and as a natural part of life. At first banned and then appropriated by Western culture, tattoos have recently developed as a decorative art of self-expression; used by some to celebrate events, memorialize a departed loved one, or as a show of commitment to a life partner. There is one thing for sure: all tattoos have a story. What's not so clear is exactly what we're injecting into our skin for art's sake.

A far cry from their tribal predecessors made with dyes from the natural environment, many of today's tattoos contain an unknown conglomeration of metallic salts (oxides, sulphides, selenides), organic dyes or plastics suspended in a carrier solution for consistency of application.³ In the European Commission's report on the health risks of tattooing, they note that close to 40% of organic colorants used in permanent tattoos in Europe are not even approved for use on the skin as a cosmetic ingredient and just under 20% of the colorants studied contained a carcinogenic aromatic amine. Many of the chemicals found were originally intended for use in writing and printer inks, as well as automobile paints.⁴ These inks are injected deep enough into the skin that often tattoos will not even be destroyed by severe burns.⁵

In America, the FDA regulates some of the ingredients in cosmetics worn on the skin, and vitamins, drugs and food additives ingested into the body, but it does not regulate these toxic inks we put under our skin. Their official stance:

"Because of other public health priorities and a previous lack of evidence of safety concerns, FDA has not traditionally regulated tattoo inks or the pigments used in them."⁶
The FDA also does not require ingredient disclosure on the inks—they are considered proprietary (trade secrets)—and so tattoo inks may contain any chemical, including those known to be mutagenic (capable of causing mutations), teratogenic (capable of causing birth defects), and carcinogenic (capable of causing cancer), or involved in other biochemical reactions in the body that might take decades to appear.³ Surprisingly, the FDA does not list cancer in their list of potential tattoo risks, citing only infection, removal problems, allergic reactions, granulomas, keloid formation, and MRI complications.⁶ The job of testing and legislating the use of tattoo pigments in permanent cosmetics is left to the state. In California, specific ingredients are prohibited and the state will even legally pursue companies who fail to disclose tattoo pigment ingredients to the consumer. They recently brought suit against nine pigment and ink manufacturers for inadequate labeling.⁵

What's in a tattoo?
Without full disclosure of ingredients, it is impossible to know for sure what is in tattoo ink. Added to this, each color and each brand of ink has completely different ingredients, according to a 2005 study out of Northern Arizona University.⁷

The carrier solution itself might contain harmful substances such as denatured alcohols, methanol, rubbing alcohol, antifreeze, detergents, or formaldehyde and other highly toxic aldehydes.³
The question of toxicity is multifaceted; there are others factors that may exponentially increase the serious health risks associated with tattooing. When alcohol is used as part of the carrier base in tattoo ink or to disinfect the skin before application of the tattoo, it increases the skin's permeability, helping to transport more chemicals into the bloodstream. Alcohol also works synergistically with mutagens, teratogens, and carcinogens to make them even more harmful, increasing the chance that they may cause mutation or disease, both at the site of the tattoo and systemically.³

Other health risks.
In addition to allergic reactions and the unknown long-term health effects from the metal salts and carrier solutions that make up tattoo inks, there are other health risks involved. Skin infections, psoriasis, dermatitis and other chronic skin conditions, and tumors (both benign, and malignant) have all been associated with tattoos. Due to the use of needles in tattoo application, there is also the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as tetanus, herpes simplex virus, staph, HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, and even Syphilis. And those with tattoos might not be able to get a life-saving MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) test if they need one—some hospitals and testing locations will refuse to do an MRI on people with body tattoos due to the metal particles in the tattoo, which may cause a burning pain during the test.¹⁰

If you plan on having your tattoo removed, you should be aware that some of the pigments used (especially Yellow #7) are phototoxic and may break down into toxic chemicals in the body when removed with UV light or laser, common techniques used in tattoo removal. The toxic end-products eventually wind up in the kidneys and liver, adding to your total body burden.⁵

Think for yourself.
In an ideal world, the 'trade secrets' clause that allows companies to put profit over public health would be disallowed for all products used topically, trans dermally, or ingested into our bodies. However, in the absence of federal regulation to protect the consumer from unqualified tattoo artists, unhygienic tools and application methods, and highly toxic inks, the best advice for the youth of today is abstinence from tattoos. At the very least, one should find out if their state has any regulations on tattoo inks, and always ask to see the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for any pigment or carrier used to see basic health and safety information for the ingredients involved. Skin tests should be performed prior to tattoo application to see if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. Although certain tattoo ink ingredients may be plant-based or otherwise considered safe and non-toxic, the truth is that no long-term studies have been performed confirming that they are safe to inject as a permanent cosmetic. Bottom line: don't trust the government, tattoo ink manufacturers, or tattoo artists to give you accurate and complete information on the toxicity of the pigments and dyes being used—at least not just yet.

What do the states require to become a tattoo artist? It varies but most:

High school diploma or proof of GED completion is usually required
Most states require tattoo artists to be 18 years of age or older; some shops prefer or require artists to have visible tattoos themselves
And to buy a license from the State for around 30.00 dollars.
 

When Does Flu First Become Contagious?

When Does Flu First Become Contagious?

Like other viral illnesses, flu has an incubation period before its characteristic symptoms—including fever, chills, runny nose, headaches, achy muscles, fatigue, and sore throat—strike. During the interval between exposure to flu and onset of illness—which typically lasts one to four days—levels of the virus rapidly multiply inside the body.
According to the CDC, most adults with flu can infect others starting one day before symptoms strike. In addition, some people who are infected with flu don’t develop any symptoms, but can still transmit the virus during the period while it’s active in their body. That means you can transmit the infection before you know you’re sick or catch flu from someone who looks and feels perfectly healthy.
Each year, 5 to 20 percent of Americans catch flu, which is responsible for more than 200,000 hospitalizations and up to 49,000 deaths annually.

When Is Someone With Flu Most Likely to Infect Others?

Most adults with flu are contagious from one day before symptoms start until five to seven days after the symptoms appear. However, some people—including kids as well as adults with weakened immune systems—may remain contagious for up 14 days after they start to feel sick.
In general, the risk of spreading flu is greatest when the person’s symptoms are at their worst, because levels of the virus are likely to be at their highest point. Later in the disease, the immune system’s counterattack decreases the risk of infection.
However, the infected person should still be considered contagious for one week after the illness starts (for most adults) or for up to two weeks in the case of kids and people with a weakened immune system.

How Does Flu Spread?

Flu is mainly an airborne infection. A flu carrier (with or without symptoms) can transmit the disease from a distance of up to six feet through airborne droplets released when the person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Other people catch flu if the droplets land on their mouth or nose or if they inhale the infected spray.
You can also catch the disease by touching something that an infected person has contaminated either by handling it (such as an ATM screen or elevator button) or by coughing or sneezing near the object.

What Are the Best Ways to Fight Flu?

The CDC recommends these three steps:

• Get a flu shot. The CDC recommends vaccination for everyone age 6 months or older, unless there’s a medical reason (such as allergy) not to get the shot. As I reported recently, a surprising benefit of flu shots is that they reduce heart attack risk.
• Take precautions to stop the spread of germs. To protect yourself and others, wash your hands frequently with soap and water and cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. If you come down with a flu-like illness, stay home until at least 24 hours after the fever is gone.  
• Take antiviral drugs, if advised by your healthcare provider. These prescription drugs can make flu milder and reduce the number of days you’re sick, reports the CDC. Studies show that they work best if taken within two days of falling ill, but may still help if taken later in the illness.

What company has forever lost your business? Why?

I found this question asked on the web site Reddit and I am posting some of the answers minus the bad language. As a owner of a small business I know I can learn from others mistakes however I would never Lie, Cheat, or Steal because I follow my God's rules and of course the Golden Rule. To all other Companies and you know who you are it is time to stop the abuse you provide to your customers, and stop chasing the almighty dollar and earn it the right way! *****Please fill free to add to the list as we want to know What Company lost your Business and Why?

AT&T.
I called them once to see if they could provide me with better/cheaper internet service than my ISP that I had at the time. All I did was ask for a price and hang up. A week later I got a modem in the mail.
So I called them and asked why they had sent me a modem. They said I had ordered internet service with them, and I told them that I had not. I said that they created an account and initiated service without my consent and to please void the bill and cancel my service. They said they would do that and that they would send me a shipping label to send the modem back.
Three weeks later, no shipping label, but I got a bill for one month of (very expensive) internet service that I had not ordered or used. So I called them again. I said that I told them the story--that I had never ordered internet service and that I had already called them once to try to cancel my service and send the modem back. The customer service rep assured me that the problem was solved and profusely apologized for the situation. He said that he was canceling my account and voiding all charges while he was on the phone with me. He said that I would receive a shipping label within a few weeks and to please send the modem back and that would be the end of everything.
After another month I received another bill for two months with a fee for not paying my previous months' bill on time. I called AT&T again. I'm usually polite to customer service reps because I know that they're just people trying to do their job and that their company's bullshit isn't their fault. But this time I lost it. I said that if I ever received another bill from them I would call a lawyer.
This apparently got their attention because I got a higher up on the line. The dude said that he was cancelling my account, voiding the charges and sending me a shipping label to return the modem on the phone just like the last two times I had called. I just laughed and hung up. Apparently this dude actually did because I got the shipping label and never got another bill. I returned their modem and swore that I would never give AT&T a dime of my money as long as I lived.

AT&T: Bought out my smaller provider with excellent customer service, coverage, and price. They replaced it all with *#@*at higher prices. Ditched them for Virgin.

 

TeleFlora - You had one job ! Not only did they NOT deliver my wife's flowers on valentines day, but they didn't contact me or anything. Called that evening and they apologized and said they would send the next day. Bzzt sill no flowers. Called and cancelled the order. Wife was sad.
How does a flower delivery company not deliver flowers?!?

Petco. About a year ago, one of their respective stores was right in the path of a major storm that caused a lot of flooding. I think it might have been in upstate NY. They evacuated the store, but left all the animals in cages to drown to death. The employees pleaded with management to be allowed to take the animals home and management refused. Insurance. *#@* Petco.

DirecTV. They would not send a tech out to my house even though that's what was needed, and then, when I threatened to cancel my service, the person on the phone said "please do" and cheerfully helped cancel my service.
That would be bad enough, but ever since, I am getting mail from DirecTV a few times a month asking me to come back. No thank you, there is no point: if I ever had trouble with it, I don't believe they're sending anyone to help me, anyway.
Out of the year of service that I had, fully 4 months was dropped channels, recording the wrong channel, service completely out, etc. Netflix has DirecTV to thank for us being customers, as I talked hubby into Netflix so that when we wanted to watch TV after a hard day, we'd have something available.

How to avoid spreading the flu:and Flu Symptoms:

Holing up at home for four days when sick with the flu may be enough to avoid spreading the virus to others, a new study from France suggests.
On average, people with the flu are contagious for one day after they start having symptoms. Only 5 percent of flu sufferers are contagious for more than three days, the study found.
"We’re finding that individuals have very little remaining infectivity four days after their symptoms, so it would indeed be safe for [them] to go back to a normal life" at that point, said study researcher Anne Cori, of  the Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, who studies the spread of infectious diseases. Infectivity refers to the ability of an individual to infect another person if that other person is susceptible to the virus, Cori said.
Previous studies have estimated the contagious period of the flu to be anywhere from one day to eight days. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people are contagious for up to five to seven days after they show symptoms.
Because it is virtually impossible to know for how long a person has the ability to infect others i based on observations alone, researchers use alternative methods to study this question. The new study examined information collected from lab experiments in which people were infected with the flu. The amount of virus in each person's nose at any given time was used to determine how infectious they were. This information was then plugged into a mathematical model to simulate disease spread.
The study also found that people who display symptoms of flu need to be isolated very quickly to avoid transmitting the disease.
The researchers estimate that, in a best-case scenario, a sick person could reduce the number of people he infects by 50 percent if he is isolated or treated within 16 hours of showing symptoms.
This scenario assumes that people are not contagious until after symptoms emerge — an assumption that is sometimes made for research purposes, but does not always hold true in the real world. In fact, according to the CDC, most healthy adults may be able to infect people one day before symptoms appear.
Since it's very unlikely that a person would be isolated so quickly after showing symptoms, and thus could spread the flu without realizing it, a better way to control flu spread would be to also isolate or treat people who have had close contact with infected individuals, the researchers said.
Randy Wexler, a professor of family medicine at Ohio State University, said he generally tells people who have the flu that they are contagious for one to two days before they show symptoms. He also advises them to stay home for 24 hours after their fever goes away. 
The best way to avoid catching the flu is to get a flu shot each year, according to the CDC. Frequent hand washing is also important for flu prevention, Wexler said.
The new study was published in the August issue of the journal Epidemics.
By Rachael Rettner, MyHealthNewsDaily
Influenza (the "flu") can be dangerous for seniors. But when flu-like symptoms strike, seniors and family caregivers are often confused: is it the flu? Or just a common cold? Should you get a flu shot? What about the 2009 H1N1 ("swine") flu? Here are some things to know as we enter this year's flu season.
Is it a cold, the flu or "swine flu"?
It's not always easy to tell when someone has the flu! Cold and flu symptoms can be similar, with runny nose, scratchy throat, sneezing and coughing. But flu symptoms are more severe. The flu usually begins with fever, chills, headache and aching muscles. The accompanying sense of fatigue may last for days or even weeks.
What about H1N1 ("swine") flu?
So far, people who have contracted the 2009 H1N1 flu (popularly called "swine flu") are experiencing very similar symptoms to those of seasonal flu (the "regular" flu that spreads across the globe every year). However, H1N1 flu may also cause vomiting and diarrhea, which are uncommon with seasonal flu. (Read on to find out more about H1N1 flu.)
Seasonal flu can be dangerous for seniors.
Though the seasonal flu can be pretty miserable for anyone, it can be a serious—even life-threatening—illness for older adults. Complications include secondary infections, such as sinus and ear infections, bronchitis or pneumonia, and damage to liver or kidneys. 60% of flu-related hospitalizations and 90% of flu-related deaths occur in people over 65.
How should seniors, family caregivers protect against the flu?
Get your seasonal flu shot. Unlike most immunizations, which protect over several years, the flu vaccine is only good for one year. This is because the vaccine must target a particular strain of flu every season. The 2009 seasonal flu vaccine is already available, and is recommended for almost everyone—especially for people who are over 65, and those with chronic diseases or a weakened immune system. People who live in or work in a healthcare or senior living facility should also get the vaccine.
Don't forget: Medicare covers the annual seasonal flu shot for seniors. Many senior centers are offering the flu shot right now. Check with your local center for a schedule.
Prevent the spread of flu germs. The viruses that cause cold and flu are spread through the air or through direct hand contact. So the most effective way to prevent the spread of these viruses is hand washing. Wash the hands often in soap and water, and avoid putting fingers to the mouth, nose or eyes. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective. Avoid sharing drinking glasses, use paper towels and paper cups, and use tissues instead of a cloth handkerchief. 
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If a friend or relative—especially a small child—is showing signs of illness, ask that they visit at a later time. What if you are caring for a person with the flu at home? Follow the above sanitation steps. Take extra precautions while disposing of used tissues. And wash used linens with hot water, tumbling dry on the "hot" setting.
First aid if you or a loved one gets the flu
While no drugs can cure a cold or the flu, antiviral drugs (such as Tamiflu ®) may lessen the effects. The person's doctor may suggest decongestants, antihistamines, pain relievers or cough syrups. (Note: check with your healthcare provider before taking aspirin or aspirin-containing products.) Drink plenty of fluids, and get plenty of rest until the fever has passed. Salt-water gargles may relieve sore throat, and hot drinks, too, are soothing. 
Flu symptoms: when are they serious?
Most people recover from the flu without complications. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says to seek medical attention if seniors are experiencing:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting.