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Increase your readership through email marketing: Check out 5 simple tips. Learn more about how you can earn more readers through proper email marketing strategies.

December 13, 2018 by
Email marketing

Increasing your readership through email marketing is easy, but you need to work consistently and follow a proper formula. Keep reading, and learn more about 5 simple tips that will certainly help you get it right from day one!

1 Optimize the content of your email

One of the most important things you should do is to optimize the content of your emails. This means that you should start with a killer headline. This is the first most important thing to consider when creating emails. Headlines should be attractive because they are the first things people will read! To create a headline worthy of your brand, you should aim for something between 5to 15 words, going for a catchy, casual and intuitive approach. After you came up with the perfect headline, it’s time to think about the body of the email! A text should never be too long. Generally, anything from 20 to 200 words would be ideal, really depending on the particular context of your situation. Make sure that the content is well written and optimized properly. This way, you can ensure better content readability and much higher chances to appeal to your readers! Once you got the bulk of the text out of the way, it’s time to think about a catchy conclusion, something that is going to make people visit your website or click on your links. A “call to action” is perfect in this case. Whether you are going for something personal, such as an invitation, or something more understated, such as highlighting a website link, it’s really important to finalize this step to optimize the content of your email. This 3-step formula is a sure-fire was o maximize every email you send, and it works every time due to its universal appeal.

2 Include perks for your readers

Make your readers feel like they’re not just being sold to! If you offer them something unique with your email, they will certainly appreciate what you have to offer!

3 Create share-worthy emails

The best emails are the ones that jump off the inbox. In the best case scenario, your reader won’t just be reading your email and move on to something else. He will be so galvanized by the content, that he will be willing to share it with his friends via email, or social media. Make it easy for people to share your content. Isn’t just about creating great emails, but also present easy ways for people to share the content. Keep social share links handy, if possible, and make sure to do so in a subtle way. Often times, requesting your readers to spread the word won’t be effective. They are going to need to do soon their own. This is the only way you can appeal to them and truly make a difference!

4 Include appropriate links and media.

Adding media (such as pictures and videos) as well as links, can maximize the full reach of your emails, as well as helping you drive more traffic to your website. However, it’s important not go overboard, and avoid using too many links and media!

5 Improve the consistency of your emails with dedicated email marketing software.

Marketing tools such as EMMA can do wonders for your productivity. It’s one of the best ways to process large loads of emails, using a specific all-in-one platform that can assist you in many ways.




7 Instagram Mom Pages to Follow for Inspiration

December 12, 2018 by
instagram

Being a mom is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. It truly is. Motherhood can be thankless and stressful. There are probably days you think you’re not cut out for the gig. We all feel that way from time to time. It’s natural. That’s when you could use a little motivation and reassurance that other mothers are going through the same trials and tribulations.

Social media can be a parent’s lifesaver when it comes to connecting with other parents, sharing stories and gaining information. Instagram is one of the most popular of the platforms. If you’re seeking content from other mothers to help you feel better, take a look at these seven Instagram mom pages to follow for inspiration. You won’t regret it.

1. @thewildcoelis

The first Instagram account on the list is actually a mommy/daddy duo, but their photography and content are so amazing that they simply must be featured here. Katie Rose is the mom, and she shows the life of her family in ways that are cool, yet inspiring. The couple lives in Nova Scotia. Between the backdrop of the locale and their lovely home, the images in this account are simply wonderful. If you’re a beachy cottage lover, you’ll be in heaven.

2. @simplelivingfolks

If you’re looking for a down-to-earth mom who tells it like it is and is absolutely genuine,you’ll love Kelly of Simple Living Folks. She describes herself as a homeschool mama and woodland homesteader. That should give you an idea of her values.She’s so much more, though. Kelly is an advocate for body positivity and is free in sharing her flaws. You’ll feel like you’re hanging out with your best pal.

3. @mommysinsidevoice

Amie Jay is the mom behind Mommy’s Inside Voice. She informs you right in her bio that she’s a blogger with a potty mouth, which some of you might find immediately endearing.This Instagram influencer mom is also a birth and postpartum doula. How cool is that? Amie’s pretty, but not too perfect. She shows you her messy side in photos, along with some really funny and motivational memes. Did we mention potty mouth? It’s okay, though. Her family is adorable. Check them out.

4. @mego

If you love beauty and fashion, you have to check out Meg O. This Houston blogger seems to have it all. She’s pretty, stylish and put together. She’s also a mom, just like the rest of us, trying to do her best to manage family life.

Meg gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how she puts it all together with makeup and fashion tutorials. She also takes us along on her adventures, as she and her family are avid travel enthusiasts. Meg has tons of Instagram followers and with reason. She’s fabulous.

5. @lauren1eah

You will love Lauren! Her Instagram bio reads, “I’m a mom, but there are some other cool parts about me, too.” She’ll remind you that you are an individual with needs that go beyond your family. And that’s okay. We all need that reminder once in a while. Her photos are bright and happy. Your mood will improve just scrolling through her feed.

She also keeps it real, though. Lauren will remind you of the best friend you’ve always wanted.She covers a wide range of topics, including food, home, shopping, gift ideas and more. She’s open with her personal thoughts and views in a way that is reassuring with a bit of fun.

6. @katy_ursta

Moms looking to be healthier will want to follow Katy Ursta. So will anyone who loves a dose of humor every day, as this is one funny chick. She’s a cancer survivor who offers inspiration on embracing life and all it has to offer. She’s also a business owner, so this is a great place to stop if you want some tried and true marketing advice.

You’ll find fun photos of Katy as she works out, while mommin’ it up and managing it all. Her humorous memes are always a nice treat on those sneaky stressful days. She’s a ray of sunshine. Her smile shines through and shows you her true personality.Katy’s definitely one to add to your list of mom Instagram accounts to follow.

7. @lexieloolilyliamdylantoo

How’s that for a mouthful? Relax, you can just refer to this Instagram sensation as Stefanie.Her feed is definitely the place to come if you’re looking to meet an inspirational mom who manages a very full plate. She has four kids, with one on the way. One of her children was born with Down’s Syndrome. So, Stefanie is an outspoken advocate for special needs kids. She’s also a bookworm, runner and professional blogger.

How on earth does this woman do it all with such grace? Her posts feature family life uncut, and she takes great care to feature each of her kids. This is a great way to focus on a particular age range if that’s important to you. It’s also fun to follow Stefanie’s pregnancy progress posts to share in her special journey.

These moms are all fantastic in their own ways, just as we all are. It helps to get an inside view of a range of different lifestyles and parenting approaches, especially on those days when you feel like you’re just not doing anything up to par. Start with these mom pages for the inspiration and motivation you need to make it through. They’ll keep you busy for a while.




How to Calm an Anxious Child

December 10, 2018 by
children

It is common for children to feel anxious; just like adults. When they are trying something new, or do not like doing something, it makes them anxious. Kids get anxious especially when there is some big change in their lives; like shifting to a new house or school. Anxious kids will find it hard to concentrate, will lack self-confidence and will lose their temper easily. It is important for us, as parents, to not snap at them, and to help them deal with their problem instead. We must be able to talk to our kids about their anxiety issue, and help them overcome it. If your child’s anxiety is severe, and starts to interfere with their everyday life, it may be better to consult a doctor. Given below are a number of tools that can help calm an anxious child.

1. Visualization

Visualization is an extremely powerful tool to deal with anxiety. You can ask your child to close their eyes and to picture themselves in their happy place. Let them visualize them in a place where they feel safe, comfortable and happy. This will help ease out the symptoms of anxiety. You can also ask them questions like, “If you gave your feeling a color, what color would it be?”, or “Rate how you feel from one to ten”. This will help you determine their level of anxiety, before discussing it with them.

2. Counting

Another effective way to calm your anxious child would be to get them to count. This is a distraction technique that requires your child to concentrate while counting, which helps ease their level of anxiety. You could even ask them to focus on the clock, and tell you when ten minutes have gone by.

3. Breathing Technique

Breathing is a calming strategy for anxious children. Tell them to close their eyes and take a few deep breathes, or you can even make it into a game by telling them,” Let’s pretend we’re blowing up a giant balloon. So take a deep breath, and blow it up till the count of 5.” This will easily distract the child, and calm them down.

4. Calming fragrances

Fragrances are also known to calm anxiety. Spray some soothing perfume, or light some scented candles around the room to instantly calm your kid

5. Drawing

Drawing or coloring is an excellent tool to divert the attention of an anxious child. When your child starts to feel anxious, you can place a coloring book in front of them. You can also ask your child to draw in order to express his feelings. Sometimes it is easier to express ones emotions through art rather than words.

6. Love

Show your kid that they are loved and cared for, in order to ease their anxiety. Embrace them, and tell them they are loved and safe. Ask them to take a minute to list out all the people that they love. Tell them you are proud of them, and will always protect them. Support your child through the difficult situation, and assure them that you both will get through the situation together.

7. Question them

Another way to deal with anxiety issues is to actually deal with the problem. You can do so by asking them to identify what they feel and to open up to you about it. Ask them the following questions:

• Why do you feel this way?
• What do you think will happen next?
• What is the worst thing that could happen?
• Let’s act like detectives and investigate the situation, shall we?
• How can I help?

8. Motivate Them

Sometimes, kids just need a little reassurance that everything will be alright. Therefore, it is extremely important to motivate and encourage them to get through the situation. Saying things like “You are so brave!” or “You can do it” will really help them be brave and face their problems. Reassure them that you will
you are always by their side, and will help them persevere in this situation. Another trick to help ease their anxiety is by telling them to say “I can do this!”10 times; louder each time.

9. Relating

Your kid probably thinks that they are the only ones having anxiety issues. As parents, it is our job to let them know that there are times when we also get scared and anxious; and also tell them what we did to overcome it. Acknowledging that the situation is difficult is also a good thing to do, because it lets your child know that you respect their feelings.

10. Exercising

Going out for a walk or making your child do yoga are great tools to relax them and relieve them of their anxiety. They can also stretch, or go for a run to burn excess energy and boost their mood.

11. Stress Ball

Stress balls are malleable toys that are squeezed in the hands to relieve anxiety and stress. It is an extremely useful tool for kids to use when they are feeling anxious, as they can direct their anxiety to the stress ball.

12. Changing the topic

Changing the topic is also a good option because it will help divert the attention of the anxious child. Try to engage them in some fun activity when they feel anxious. Encourage them to keep their feelings aside, and either draw, or go for a walk. When they deal with the problem later, it won’t seem like such a big issue anymore!




Help Us With the Veggies

December 3, 2018 by
veggies


Convincing children to finish off their veggies is always a herculean task! It is almost as if they do it on purpose…eating all the things you don’t want them to and leaving out all the things you want them to finish! And it isn’t even a matter of a few years. Till your child is all grown up and out of his teenage years, you are burdened with this question every single morning you wake up : What do I make today? Something that is healthy, and tasty. Something to satisfy your concerns for their health, while also tingling their taste buds!
In this battle of the feeder and the fed, the parents often end up losing, simply because they finally give in to their children’s demands. Just for today, they say. Let them eat what they feel like. And then the next day and the next the same story follows! In fact this is one of the primary topics of discussion among parents…How do you make your child eat good food?! We all share our tips and tricks..some turn out to be successful, some bomb, and then we set out looking for newer tips! The battle goes on, and yet we never give up! Who says parenting is easy!!
The one tip I have found that works most times is: Disguise, Disguise, Disguise!! Because the fact of the matter is, they are never going to readily eat veggies they don’t like no matter how much coaxing and cajoling you do. So here are some great ways by which you can deceive your child into eating those veggies without complaining!
They like shapes! This is especially true for the smaller ones. Get artistic with all you cook! Bring home all the moulds and cutters you can find in the shapes of hearts, butterflies, stars..anything that interests your child! And set out to giving everything a shape! A heart shaped boiled egg? Apple slices cut out like stars? Pancakes shaped as hearts? Who wouldn’t want to try that! You will the popular parent at school!
They like colours! Again for the smaller ones (don’t try this with the older kids, they see right through it!). Don’t place any meal before them that looks dull and boring. Add splashes of colour where you can! Jams tend to be a favorite, so use it! Sauces again can be your savior! Remember how you feel when you walk into a restaurant and the food served is beautifully decorated and all you want to do is dig in! Same goes for your child! Decorate, decorate and make it look appealing so they atleast give it a try!
Package it well! If packing the food for your child’s school recess, make sure you do it in a box of his/her liking! Remember, everything about the food must draw your child’s attention, then and only then is there a possibility that they even try it!
Junk Food At home! So they like their burgers, rolls, noodles and pastas to wholesome meals at home? No problemo! Learn the art of hiding the good stuff in them! Burgers are the easiest to meddle with, because the making of the patty is in your hands! Make the patty wholesome, adding all the veggies they wouldn’t normally eat. When placed between the two buns and loads of cheese and sauce, they wouldn’t even notice your trick! Stuff the rolls with a Spanish style omelette loaded with veggies and place a generous smear of cheese, tomato sauce or any popular topping! Get innovative with noodles and pastas. They won’t stop eating the junk food. So the best thing to do is making it at home with ingredients you trust!
Recycle! Left over gravy and veggies from lunch? Wet some slices of bread and mash it. Mix them all up and shallow fry to make patties. Makes for a great evening snack. While the kids (mostly the teenagers) have their doubts on the actual contents, remember all they want is to eat tasty food!
Diversify Cuisines! Try cooking up dishes from various cuisines! Your child may prefer a fried rice to a pasta! Even better then, add loads of veggies in the rice! Try to coax your child into trying your new experiments, you never know which one might succeed!
Find healthier substitutes! Always keep a lookout in the supermarket for the nutritional value of anything your child likes. More often than not, you will find something that almost tastes the same but is way healthier. Whole wheat bread for that burger, soy milk for the packaged smoothies, you will find it when you look for it!
Juice it Up! Check if veggie juices interest them. Vegetables like carrots and spinach can taste great with a dash of lemon and a pinch of salt! If they still don’t like it, try mixing them with regular fruits juices once in a while. If juice isn’t your child’s thing, try soups! There are so many recipes for yummy veggie soups online….there must be one somewhere that can satisfy his palette!
Dips to go! Serve up veggie salads with exciting dips. Cheese, yoghurt, mint, hummus…there’s a whole choice of dips one can make. Recognize the ones your child likes and say it is to be served only with the salad. Watch him eat up the salad for the sake of the dip!
These little tricks can help parents find a balance between the much desired health and the much favored taste!




Facts That You Need to Know About Ticks in your Home

December 2, 2018 by

insect

Just the thought of ticks can creep the hell out of anyone. They are nothing like your regular bugs. They are gross looking, they are stubborn, and they can suck the life out of you. Ticks are a huge menace in the United States, and every year millions of people are rushed to the ER due to tick-related diseases. That is why it is important that you pay immediate attention to the problem if you spot even a single tick around your house no matter how much you feel the urge to ignore those creeps.

To be able to ticks properly, it is important that you can recognize them in the first place and know a few basics about them such as their behavioral patterns, what do they feed on and what their possible hideouts are. Here are a few facts about ticks that will help you understand them in a better way.

They are not Insects

Although they look like any four-legged bugs, ticks are not your regular insects and should not be taken and treated as same. Scientifically, they are classified as a family member of the arachnids, which means they are the same family as scorpions and spiders. This is yet another reason to be scared of them.  When they find a hideout, they continue to camp there instead of moving around in search of blood and wait for a living being to come to them.

They Spread Diseases and Can be Deadly

Unlike common bugs, ticks can be extremely threatening and can make you sick. The level of sickness may vary from minor fever and nausea to something very deadly. However, if you find a tick on your body, it does not mean you are going to be ill or die. Not all species of ticks spread diseases, and some can be completely harmless. However, you should still see a physician in the event of spotting a tick on your body to make sure that there is nothing to be worried of,

You Might Not Notice the Effect Immediately

Even if a tick is capable of making you sick, you most likely will not see the effect immediately. You might not even notice a tick living off your body for a few days unlike what happens with mosquito bites. This means you might get a fever or vomit after weeks of a tick bite, but you might not be aware of its existence. Therefore do not be negligent and see your physician immediately.

Do Not DIY Tick Control

Tick control is a process that requires professional attention and training. A non-specialist cannot understand how they work and off the rack products cannot deal with them or offer a permanent solution to the problem. Do not try to launch any tick control operation on your own and make sure you hire a professional tick exterminator to take care of in-depth fumigation,




Mom’s Tips: These 5 Things Will Make Your Friday Evening at Home Fun

November 26, 2018 by

Party

Perceptions of a fun Friday night come in various forms and shapes.

You go through different stages of the colourful palette of activities that are considered appropriate as your age catches up on you and young moms (of one) – or even moms to be – could end up laughing at my idea of a fun Friday night.

As you get drained by weekly activities, errands and chores, Friday night at home instead of out is becoming a more and more appealing option year after year.

It’s the end of the week and it doesn’t mind whether you’ve been keeping your head buried in work responsibilities or simply kept running around your kids – big up stay-at-home moms – you deserve a relaxing weekend.

And there is hardly a better way to usher the two days of ultimate liberty by making your Fridays as restful and soothing as possible. In this mom’s list, you will be presented with five steps to follow – in exact order – to make your Friday evening at home great fun.

Throw a Party For One

Ignite the spark. The kids are in bed – let’s not talk about Him for now – so go on to throw a party. Put your headphones/earphones on – or crank the music up loud if you’re lucky enough to have the house for yourselves – and loosen up your creative muscles. Experiment with new moves to your favourite song and let yourself loose.

Light up some candles to set the mood and treat yourself to a nice little meal as well. Pour a glass of wine, get your tummy filled up and you’re going to feel better already.

Play a Game

As the tempo gets higher and higher, you will need an extra edge to push the adrenaline further. Game nights are fun – and extremely common way to spend your nights with friends – but you can also get engaged in some game playing activity on your own.

The biggest benefit of technology today is an endless wealth of options you can find online and bingo is definitely a great game to start with. Combining the social aspect of playing games, here you will be able to chat with people, interact with other players and socialise a bit.

Those moms who like to take it up a notch can always play online slots either free or for a bit of money, just enough to send blood rushing through your veins. Getting that good-old casino feel after a fine meal and a bit of dancing can truly be the highlight of your Friday evening alone.

Update Your Journal

Once you get that steam out of your system, fun Friday night is a downhill ride from this point onwards. It’s time to get in touch with your inner self, recollect and there is hardly a better way to do so than to get your old buddy Journal out of the drawer, dust it off and pen some life wisdom in it.

Alone time is a perfect opportunity to do some self-discovery, away from all the noise around you. You can keep your headphones on as well just make sure to play a calming tune and get some inspiration to let the words flow.

Treat Yourself with a Soak in the Hot Tub

Beautification time!

Run some hot water and fill up the bath or take a long shower. Nothing can beat a little meditating with a face mask on. Every woman knows face masks are the basic ingredient and choosing the best one is a challenge in its own merit so maybe Business Insider can help.  Make sure to have some aromatic candles spraying the scent around the bathroom as there is nothing wrong in pretending you’re at a spa.

After all, you’re allowed to pamper yourself. Make sure to relax your body and soul alike after a long week behind you.

Get Your Beauty Sleep…or Have a Movie Marathon!

Long weeks can drag you down whether you like it or not. There is nothing wrong in calling it a night early after a particularly difficult week. In that case, you can skip the previous steps – or some of them at least – and jump into your pyjamas straight after a bath.

The rebel moms who want to keep it up after a Friday fun session can also put on their jammies and have a movie marathon. It’s one activity that never gets old. Pick your favourite actor and make a selection of movies you want to go through or simply choose at random.

Maybe it’s more fun that way.




20 Things No One Tells You About Having A Second Child

November 26, 2018 by
child


When you and the husband planned baby no. 2, you expected things to be a little easier. After all, you’ve been through the pregnancy grind once before. How hard could a second pregnancy get? Well, fast-forward nine months and you wish you had someone to give you better advice. It becomes difficult to juggle motherhood and your sanity for the first few months.

However, give it a few years and you might look back on this period and smile.

Before that happens, here are 20 things no one told you about having a second child:

That overwhelming feeling

During the initial months, things become a tad bit overwhelming. If having one child to run after wasn’t enough, you have to carry a second one. And, if the little one in the womb is a kicker, be prepared for a whirlwind nine months.

People will doubt you

Be prepared for people to second-guess your ability to juggle two children. They might even offer help out of sympathy. Let them know that you have things under control, even if you don’t.

‘Busy’ takes on a whole new meaning

You thought your life was busy before baby no.2. Now, you have to find a way to pack in visits to the dentist, doctor’s appointment and your elder child’s soccer games. It isn’t all fun and games.

Diaper changes become a race

You have to find a new way to ensure you get the little one’s diaper changed in time before ensuring the elder child does not break the new vase you bought. Sometimes, you may wish you had an extra set of eyes.

Leaving the house requires planning

Gone are the days when you could leave your home for an outing whenever you wanted. Now, you have to ensure you have baby formula, extra diapers and toys for the little one before you hit the road. You might also have to carry juice for elder brother. Staying at home a better idea, right?

The non-stop feeding spree

When the little one isn’t hungry, you have to ensure the elder one has something to eat. When you have to shuffle between two kids and their meal preferences, it can be tough. Rope in the hubby to take the night shift, if necessary.

The night and day conundrum

Not only will your elder child wake the newborn in the morning, the incessant crying at night from baby no. 2 could wake up the elder one. You didn’t prepare for this dilemma now, did you?

The babysitter dilemma

Getting a babysitter to watch both your kids while you and hubby go for a romantic dinner can be tough. Not only do babysitters charge a bomb, they might even have other demands. Plus, you will always be worried about how the babysitter treats your kids.

Having to clean the entire day

Despite cleaning the house in the morning, it might require another round of dusting in the afternoon. Having two kids would mean double the household chores.

Laundry, all day

There is a never-ending laundry pile to sift through when you have two kids. You will probably have to operate the washing machine twice a day to ensure dirty clothes do not pile up.

The disease transfer

If one of you gets a cold, the entire family will get it in phases. Having to deal with two children with cold can be a nightmare. What could be even worse? You coming down with a cold at the same time!

Grocery shopping can be a nightmare

Tagging your little one in the grocery cart while ensuring the elder one is by your side can be difficult. You may not even be able to focus on the groceries you have to buy. You might have to take hubby along as a babysitter.

Bad end of a deal

Your second child may not have as fancy a room as your first child. The anticipation and excitement is always greater during the first pregnancy. This does not mean that you do not love your younger child any less. It just means you’re probably more exhausted than excited to do anything new.

Travel plans on hold

You probably will not be able to plan an overseas holiday till your little one turns 5. You will have to settle for local destinations for short trips.

Sibling rivalry

You will have to deal with your elder one throwing a fit when the infant gets the attention. In time, they will both learn to love and appreciate each other. Till then, be prepared for a full-on sibling rivalry for the first 15 years of their lives.

Double the noise

Two children would mean double the noise. While one cries for food, the other might howl for attention. Trying to pacify them becomes even more difficult when hubby isn’t at home.

Love life takes a hit

It might not be easy for you and the husband to get alone time. In fact, the possibility of a ‘dry spell’ could loom large. Get your mother or mother-in-law to babysit if you want to spend a few hours alone with the hubby.

Social life may become non-existent

If you had a social life before the second baby came along, you probably don’t have one now. Making the time to catch up with friends for ladies night might be difficult. When was the last time you were drunk and irresponsible?

Double the love

On a positive note, two children would mean double the love. Isn’t it the best feeling in the world when you have both babies sleeping on either side of you? No matter how difficult it may be, small moments are special moments.

Complete family

Taking care of two kids is worth it when they make you proud at school. When other parents come up to you and say: “You must be so proud of your children?” it puts a smile on your face.




Are You Prepared for a Potential Fire?

November 25, 2018 by

Emergency fire

Nobody like to think about the possibility of a house fire, but every home has the potential to be set ablaze—and the amount of damage done, both to your family and to your finances, is directly related to how much you’ve prepared in advance. There are more than 374,000 house fires every year, resulting in a cumulative cost of more than $8 billion, and leading to the loss of 2,600 lives. But you may be able to save those lives (and protect against those costs) with the right prep work.

Is your family prepared?

Fire Insurance

First, make sure your home is covered by insurance in case of a fire. Many home insurance policies cover damage by fire by default, but sometimes, you’ll need an additional fire insurance policy. Your policy will likely cover structural damage to your home caused by the fire, as well as coverage for valuable possessions you may have lost in that fire. Check your policy to see the monetary limits of your coverage, and adjust your policy if need be. It also pays to document your possessions regularly, so you have evidence of what you own.

Fire Extinguishers

Some home fires can be caught and controlled by an adult if they’re noticed in the early stages. Accordingly, it pays to have a fire extinguisher in areas of your home most prone to fire damage, such as your kitchen. Do note that there are several types of fire extinguishers available, each usable for a different selection of fire “classes.” For example, class A fires involve wood, paper, or textiles, while class B fires involve flammable liquids, and class E fires involve live electrical appliances.

Using the wrong fire extinguisher can ultimately make a fire worse, so educate yourself on how to properly use them, including reading fire extinguisher inspection tags.

Smoke Detectors

Make sure you have the right number of smoke alarms installed in your home, and maintain them regularly. You’ll want to have at least one smoke detector on every floor of your house, and a smoke detector in every used bedroom. Test your smoke alarms at least once a month to make sure they’re still active, and replace the batteries once a year. These are your first line of defense against a fire, and can alert you to a developing fire long before it poses a threat to your family.

An Emergency Escape Plan

Next, you’ll need to form and go over an emergency escape plan with your family. At a minimum, you should have two solid methods of escape for every room in the house, such as a door that leads to the front entrance and a window that leads to a feasible roof escape. You’ll also want to teach your children how to move and interact in a house that’s filling with smoke. For example, teach them to feel the door for heat before touching a doorknob to avoid burns, and to crawl along the floor to escape to reduce the possibility of smoke inhalation. Practice your escape plan a few times a year so it becomes second nature, and you won’t have to reeducate your family during a real emergency.

Once outside, make sure everyone knows to “stop, drop, and roll” to put out any flames on their person, and to call 911 immediately.

Fire Prevention Habits

Finally, adopt fire prevention habits with your family that can reduce the chances of a fire happening in the first place. These habits include:

  • Never leaving a stove or oven unattended. This should go without saying, especially with a gas-powered stove or oven. Cooking equipment is one of the most common causes of house fires.
  • Never leave candles unattended. A candle may not seem like it’s capable of starting a house fire, but if knocked over or left by flammable materials, it can quickly get out of control.
  • Clean the lint out of your dryer regularly. Dryer lint is highly flammable, so make sure you’re cleaning it out regularly.
  • Store fire-starting items where children can’t get them. Keep your lighters, matches, and other fire-starting equipment in a place where your children can’t get them or play with them.
  • Repair any faulty electrical work proactively. If you notice any old or faulty wiring in your house, get it repaired immediately—before it becomes a problem.
  • Keep your doors closed at night. Make sure you keep your bedroom doors closed at night. This can block smoke, prevent the fire from spreading, and buy you the time you need to escape.

You may not be able to get your risk of a house fire to zero, but you can get it close with these strategies. Remain vigilant, educate your family, and you can minimize both the probability and the severity of a disaster.




Does My Child Need a Vitamin Supplement?

November 22, 2018 by
Vitamin supplements

We all know that growing children need a range of different vitamins and minerals to keep them as healthy as possible. In an ideal world, this would be provided by feeding them the right foods. A balanced diet, where all the food groups are represented in the right quantities should provide more than enough nutrition for your youngster.

This is great news, except when you have a fussy eater or a child that follows a specialized diet. Your best course of action is to carefully consider what your child does eat and see whether or not there are essential vitamins missing.

You can watch them for the signs of deficiency as well. We recommend that you check out the infographic below, brought to you by medalerthelp.org, and use that to gauge whether or not your kids are showing signs of deficiency.

When You Should Supplement

If you and your family are vegans or vegetarians, you should be taking a vitamin B12 supplement at the very least. This is a vitamin that is only found in animal-based products so it could be lacking in a vegan diet.

Children that have a condition like celiac disease and who have to follow a limited diet, as a result, may also need a supplement.

If your little one is a fussy eater – and let’s be honest, all kids go through that phase, they may need extra help as well. This is also true if they tend to eat a lot of junk food, are on medications that interfere with the absorption of nutrients, etc.

When it comes to minerals, most of us are magnesium-deficient and should probably take a supplement to make sure we’re getting enough of this essential mineral. You can take a magnesium deficiency test online to determine if you should be taking it.

Supplements Are No Substitute for Healthy Eating

While supplements can help to provide vital nutrients, they should never become a replacement for good eating habits. Ensuring that your child eats foods as close to their natural state as possible, without a bunch of nasty additives, or without the food being processed to death is a great place to start.

It also pays to remember that there is such a thing as too much of a good thing here. Water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin B, will not cause problems if you are taking a higher dose. Any excess will simply be washed out.

Fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin A, for example, are another matter entirely. These are stored in the liver and fat cells in the body, and so if your child is taking too much, there is a chance of these vitamins building up to toxic levels.

I’m Still Not Sure

That’s just fine – as parents, we’re only human. We can’t possibly know everything. We’d recommend talking the matter over with your child’s doctor. They can check for signs of deficiency for you, and also give you guidelines regarding diet.

If the doctor feels a supplement is necessary, they will be able to recommend a good one that works well for kids.

Infographic URL: https://medalerthelp.org/the-world-of-vitamins-infographic/




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