COVID-19 may be the most prominent virus of concern in the U.S. now, but public health officials also are preparing for seasonal influenza. And indications are it could be a different season than what the U.S. experienced the past two years.

The Australian flu season, which typically runs May through September, has already exceeded its five-year average, particularly affecting children under age 5, according to a recent report.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. experienced a steep drop in influenza rates due to masking and social distancing measures. However, that has changed.

“Many have stopped masking,” says Dr. Abinash Virk, an infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic. “For the for the large part, we will see the reemergence of influenza in the winter. In comparison, in 2020 winter, when we were all masking and social distancing, there was literally no influenza. But now that has all changed.”

Dr. Virk says that cases of influenza began to return as the masks came off. “We’re going to get influenza this winter again, and people should seek out influenza vaccination when it becomes available in their local community,” she says.

Seasonal influenza, like COVID-19, is a contagious respiratory illness that disproportionately affects adults ages 65 and older. However, they are not the same viruses. The similarity and differences of the two viruses also means it can be difficult to discern between the two when the symptoms overlap.

Prevention is best way to avoid confusion. Testing is the only way to be sure.

Testing helps limit spread, but it is particularly important for people at risk of severe influenza or COVID-19 so that they can then be treated with specific antiviral treatments available for these viruses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that those 65 and older receive higher-dose, including high-dose and recombinant vaccinations, or adjuvanted flu vaccinations over standard-dose unadjuvanted flu vaccinations.

All people over the age of 6 months are encouraged to get their flu vaccination when available in their local community. The CDC recommends people are vaccinated for flu by the end of October to ensure they are fully vaccinated for the influenza season.

Along with vaccination, here are other steps you can take to protect yourself from influenza and other contagious viruses:

• Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Use an alcohol-based sanitizer on your hands if soap and water aren’t available.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

• Avoid crowds when flu is spreading in your area.

• Avoid being in close contact with others who are sick.

• Cover your mouth with a tissue or your elbow when you cough or sneeze, and then wash your hands.

• Regularly clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces, such as counters, light switches or doorknobs. This can prevent the spread of infection from touching a surface with the virus on it and then your face.

• Practice good health habits. Get regular exercise, get enough sleep, drink plenty of fluids, eat a healthy diet, and manage your stress.

• Consider masking in crowded indoor locations, especially if you have risk factors for severe influenza or COVID-19.

If you become sick with the flu, you also can help prevent the spread of the flu by staying home and away from others. Continue staying home until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours.

And a reminder that a flu shot doesn’t protect people against getting infected with COVID-19 and getting vaccinated for COVID-19 doesn’t protect people against getting the flu which is caused by a different virus, the influenza virus. Currently, a combination vaccine against influenza and COVID-19 is not available, so it’s best to have both vaccines to have protection against both diseases. A combination vaccine may become available later this year.

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As children and teens continue to head back to classrooms, questions are arising about how much of a risk K-12 schools are when it comes to the spread of monkeypox.

More than 18,400 cases have been diagnosed in the United States since mid-May, as of Wednesday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most of the cases have occurred among men who have sex with men, a group that includes people who identify as gay, bisexual, transgender and nonbinary. However, the CDC has said anyone — regardless of sexual orientation — is at risk of monkeypox if they come into close, personal contact with a patient.

Of those cases, 31 have been in children, according to state officials from across the country. Texas has the most confirmed pediatric cases with nine followed by California with six and Georgia with three.

Although the risk to most children is low, school officials are keeping an eye out for possible infections.

“So, superintendents are obviously aware of monkeypox,” Noelle Ellerson Ng, associate executive director of advocacy and governance at AASA, The School Superintendents Association, told ABC News.

Monkeypox Cases Among U.S. Children

State and County Health Departments

Ng said most schools she’s spoken with are not currently creating new health guidelines to address monkeypox because they’ve already had policies and strategies in place for communicable diseases, many most recently used to address COVID-19.

“So, it’s making sure those are current, up-to-date, that they know what they are, that their school health staff are versed in them,” she said. “And then just diligence on behalf of the administrative team and the health team to know what local and state health policy guidance is and then topping off with the CDC guidance and recommendations.”

Two weeks ago, ahead of most children heading back to school, the CDC released monkeypox guidance for K-12 schools, day cares and other settings serving children and adolescents.

The federal health agency said the disease risk to most Americans under age 18 is low but that schools “should follow their everyday operational guidance that reduces the transmission of infectious diseases.” Examples include staying home when sick, proper hand-washing etiquette and “routine cleaning and disinfection practices.”

The CDC also recommends schools consult their local or state health departments for questions about what to do if someone develops symptoms and testing for monkeypox, as well as notifying parents if a case is diagnosed among a student or an adult.

Linda Mendonça, president of the National Association of School Nurses, said the guidance has been especially helpful for school nurses, who are often required to relay health information to the community.

“It certainly is helpful to have that, and it provides us talking points and information to share with our school communities,” Mendonça told ABC News. “For instance, letting you know, parents know to keep children home when they’re sick; to make sure we’re washing hands cleaning and disinfecting and doing all of those things that we would do for pretty much any kind of infectious situation that we might have in the school setting.”

Already some schools have announced they’re following these policies. On Monday, Fort Bend Independent School District in Texas announced a high school student had tested positive for monkeypox.

The district said it will keep up with the cleaning protocols set in places for schools, including using UV-C disinfecting lamps — which use ultraviolet light — in classrooms and other facilities.

Parents and families escort their children to Cordova Park Elementary School on the first day of school, Aug. 10, 2022, in Florida.

Tony Giberson/[email protected] via USA Today Network

Last week, after two elementary school students tested positive in Newton County School System in Georgia, the district said parents were notified and parents considered close contacts would receive communication on next steps.

“NCSS facilities employees will thoroughly clean and disinfect classrooms and other areas at both schools this afternoon to ensure ongoing safe and healthy learning and work environments for students and staff. Both schools will be open tomorrow,” the district said in a statement.

According to the CDC, as of Aug. 21, out of 151 cases of monkeypox in those under the age of 20, only 17 have been in those aged 15 and younger.

Dr. Perry Halkitis, dean of Rutgers School of Public Health, told ABC News that while there is a risk of transmission from touching infected bedding, towels or clothing of a monkeypox patient or contaminated surfaces, the riskiest mode of transmission is sexual encounters with someone who is positive or prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.

“Of the children out there, I’m most concerned about adolescents who begin to engage in sexual behavior,” he said. “It usually begins like [ages] 15, 16, 17, 18. Those are the kids I would be most concerned about.”

“The parents who should be the most conscious, the most aware, the most opening conversations with their children are the ones who are potentially have children who are engaging in really intimate behaviors with others, which could lead to the transmission of monkeypox,” he added.

However, while he encourages parents to ask questions of what schools are doing to make sure kids are protected in general, he advises mothers and fathers not to panic.

“I think the more important thing I would say to these parents is let’s be aware that we’re still dealing with something called COVID-19, that there’s a new booster going to be available sometime in the fall,” Halkitis said. “Let’s talk about whether or not your child is vaccinated for that.”

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With Labor Day just around the corner, it seems too early to bring up flu shots but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says September and October are the best times to take the flu vaccine.

Health care experts say it is not too early to get your flu shot. Here are the recommendations from the CDC for flu shots:

• It recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.

• While there are many different flu viruses, a flu vaccine protects against the viruses that research suggests will be most common.

• Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.

• Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year before flu activity begins in their community.

• Vaccination of high-risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.

• People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children; pregnant women; people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease; and people 65 years and older.

• Vaccination also is important for health care workers and other people who live with or care for high-risk people to keep from spreading flu to them.

• Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for infants should be vaccinated instead.

Both for those who have and those who have not gotten the flu vaccine this season, the CDC offers these recommendations to reduce your chances of getting sick and to manage your sickness if you do:

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

• If you are sick with flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs such as the flu.

It should also be remembered that the hospital emergency room is not the first line of defense for battling the flu.

A visit to a primary health care physician or after-hours clinic may be necessary if symptoms warrant but the emergency room should be reserved for emergencies. Fortunately, many of the same practices we have had to get used to in the past couple of years to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 will also help prevent the spread of the flu — that is if we simply follow the guidelines.

— CNHI News Service

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Many homeowners have a bottle of vinegar sitting in their kitchen cabinet right now. The bottle is probably only pulled from the cupboard to make salad dressings, marinades, or other food recipes. However, vinegar has far more uses than just recipes, including household cleaning supplies. Vinegar can be used as a powerful disinfectant because it contains acetic acid, per Healthline. What is acetic acid? It’s the colorless organic compound that brings a sour taste and bold smell to vinegar. And because vinegar has an acidic nature, it’s often used as a key ingredient in some store-bought household cleaners. Vinegar is strong enough to dissolve dirt, grease, mineral deposits, and grime. It’s also powerful enough to kill bacteria. All while also being a naturally derived substance that doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals. As many food-enthusiasts may know, there are several different types of vinegars to choose from including white distilled vinegar, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar and red or white wine vinegar. Bonus: Vinegar can also be used to get rid of those pesky mineral deposits from hard water on your toilets and in your shower.

So, what’s the best type of vinegar to use for cleaning a toilet plunger? Because we want to avoid staining surfaces with a darker-colored vinegar, white distilled vinegar is the best option for cleaning a toilet plunger. Additionally, white distilled vinegar has almost 5 percent acidity, which is close to the acidity level in many store-bought multipurpose cleaners. If the smell of white vinegar is too potent, you can use apple cider vinegar instead. However, you’ll want to dilute the apple cider vinegar with water to avoid staining any surfaces. Once you’re chosen your vinegar, start cleaning your plunger.

1.) Start by pouring either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar mixed with water into a large bucket. 

2.) Soak the plunger in the bucket of vinegar and swirl the plunger for about 2 minutes. 

3.) Remove the plunger from the vinegar and insert the plunger into clean toilet water. Flush the toilet to clean the vinegar off the plunger.

4.) Let the clean plunger dry and place it back near the toilet or wherever you store the plunger. 

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As a kid in Watertown, I spent a lot of time in the weeds and willows along the Sioux River and at Lake Pelican and was always on the lookout for any strange bug that hitched a ride on my clothing or me, and ticks always seemed to be around.

The Game, Fish & Parks lists numerous seasons in their literature and on their web site, but there is one you will not find listed there, the tick season.

At our last Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers, (AGLOW) conference I had an opportunity to talk with Brian Anderson, known as the Tick Terminator and Anderson, he

works hikers, bikers, campers, backpackers, gardeners, lineman, and safety directors.

His recommendation to prevent ticks from getting on your skin would be to use Permethrin.

Most Permethrin comes premixed, and is effective for 6 weeks and 6 launderings.

Anderson offers Duration 10%, which is the only Permethrin concentrate EPA.

Ticks are generally found in tall grasses and low-lying shrubs preferring shaded moist areas. They don’t jump, fly, or drop out of trees. Instead, they wait patiently on a piece of vegetation to sense the CO2 or the smell of an animal or human walking by.

They then latch on and start their search for a nice place to have a 2–4-day blood meal. They’re out in varying numbers in most all of the 48 contiguous states when temps are above 32 degrees or warmer, also note that they do not die off in the winter. The small younger nymph ticks (the size of a poppy seed) are actually responsible for most of the  Lyme disease cases because at their size they can easily go unnoticed until it is too late. Adults are easier to see but like all ticks they are very stealthy and their bites are painless when they start their feeding. These nasty little bugs can be a royal pain, but do not let them stop you from going out, you will want to prepare yourself for tick season the same way you would for the other outdoor activities.

Ticks come out in the spring, about the time outdoorsmen and women head into the woods looking for morel mushrooms, wild asparagus or hunting turkeys, but do not think that is the only time they are active as they hang around throughout the summer.

Do not let a little critter like a tick keep you from getting out into the outdoors this year. If you are prepared, there are several things’ hunters and those of us who love the outdoor can do to prevent ticks from hitching a ride.

There are two groups of ticks, the hard and soft ticks and in the upper Midwest, it is the hard ticks we find in wooded, grassy, or other densely vegetated areas, the areas where mushrooms and asparagus is.

Soft ticks tend to live in bird nests, on rodents, and on bats. Either of these ticks can find their way onto us, but there is no species of tick, which depends solely on us for survival.

Some ticks take up residence on a certain host; luckily, we are not one of them.

Females can lay many eggs, anywhere from 3,000 to 11,000 eggs, so we should do what we can to prevent them from catching a ride from us.

There is only one-way to avoid a tick-borne disease to not to go into areas they reside. DUH, like that’s is going to happen if you are an outdoorsmen or women that spends every spare moment out in the field or woods.

Since we know we are going to be in the same areas where ticks reside, here are a few simple precautions that can reduce the chances of a tick encounter.

Because ticks come up from the ground or grass onto you, it is a good idea to block any route they might have as they attempt to get on your skin. You will want to tuck your pant legs into your boots and your shirts into your pants and for extra protection, tape those areas where the clothes meet with duct tape, and on the next to the last application, to twist the tape so the sticky side is out and then another wrap.

Ticks are dark colored, so wearing light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks crawling around before they get on your skin.

Repellents containing 0.5 percent or more of Permethrin works well as a great tick repellent and often used on clothing.

Some products containing Permethrin may remain on your clothing fibers even after washing.

When you get back home, check all your clothing before going into the house and once inside, do a whole-body inspection, washing your clothing as soon as possible.

Do not forget about your dog, man’s best friend, as they can pick up ticks in your yard, if you take your dog out with you on your outdoor excursions, do not forget to protect it.

There are several commercially available dog dips containing Amitrax or Permethrin, which provide dogs with tick protection for two to three weeks per treatment.

For the very best tick prevention for your pet, contact your local veterinarian as some of them such as Cedar County Veterinary Services offer canine dips at certain times of the year where your dog simply swims through a tank of treatment.

Veterinarians also have prescribed treatment options, most of which can last for a month or more.

Once you find a tick attached to your skin, remove the tick as soon as soon possible and then disinfect the affected area following the tick’s removal.

According to recent research, the best method to remove a tick is to grasp it close to the skin with fine-tipped tweezers, place your tweezers close to and right up against the skin grasping the base of its mouthparts not its body.

Pull gently and straight away from the skin until the tick comes free. It is best to grasp the tick from its back to its belly, instead of from one side to the other, helping to keep the tick’s mouthparts from remaining imbedded in the skin. The sooner you remove a tick, the less chance it will transmit a disease to its host.

One of the most common diseases transmitted by ticks is Lyme disease and each summer cases of this disease grow.

After a tick bite, Lyme disease may take several weeks without any signs of illness, making diagnosis difficult, and Years of pain, physical and mental impairment can result if untreated.

Some other tick diseases often show signs up within two to five days of a tick bite and are easier to diagnosis.

Tick borne diseases may progress so rapidly that delaying a day or two of diagnosis and treatment may result in death.

If you have signs of severe or persistent headaches, fever, soreness or stiffness in muscles and joints, appetite loss, fatigue, or a skin rash occurring within three weeks after a tick bite, immediately contact your doctor. Figuring it out early and early treatment is critical.

They then latch on and start their search for a nice place to have a 2–4-day blood meal.

They’re out in varying numbers in most all of the 48 contiguous states when temps are above 32 degrees or warmer, also note that they do not die off in the winter. The small younger nymph ticks (the size of a poppy seed) are actually responsible for most of the Lyme disease cases because at their size they can easily go unnoticed until it is too late. The adults are easier to see but like all ticks, they are very stealthy and their bites are painless when they start their feeding.

Gary Howey is an award-winning writer, producer, broadcaster, former tournament angler, fishing and hunting guide and in 2017 inducted into the “National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame”.

He developed and was the Producer-Host for 23 years of his award winning gary Howey’s Outdoorsmen Adventures television series. He’s the Host of the award-winning Outdoor Adventures radio program carried on Classic Hits 106.3, ESPN Sports Radio 1570 in Southeastern South Dakota, KWYR Country 93 AM and Magic 93 FM in Central South Dakota, As well as on KCHE 92.1 FM in Northwest Iowa. If you’re looking for more outdoor information, check out www.GaryHowey’soutdoors.com , and www.outdoorsmenadventures.com, with more information on these Facebook pages, Gary Howey, Gary E Howey, Outdoor Adventure Radio, Outdoorsmen Productions and Team Outdoorsmen Productions. The Outdoor Adventures television show is available on numerous independent markets, and the MIDCO Sports Network.

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Having complete IV start kits or central line insertion kits to reduce gel type variability and, thus gel contamination and following AIUM and INS disinfection recommendations are 2 ways to prevent health care-acquired infections.

Stopping contamination during the use of an ultrasound transducer is vital to preventing health care-acquired infections. Nancy Moureau, RN, PhD, CRNI, CPUI, VA-BC, is an expert in the field of vascular access practice, owner and CEO of PICC Excellence, and a member of Infection Control Today®’s (ICT®)’s editorial board, and she discusses her suggestions to avoid contamination with ICT®. She also examines the controversy of using high-, medium-, or low-level disinfection for ultrasound transducers, what the American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) and the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) recommend, and how the suggestions differ for vascular access and percutaneous procedures.

This is the third of 4 segments of ICT®’s interview with Moureau. The first segment is here. The second segment is here.

Infection Today® (ICT®): You mentioned that ultrasound coupling gel has been identified as a source of patient infections. What precautions can practitioners take to prevent the transmission of contamination via that gel?

Nancy Moureau, RN, PhD, CRNI, CPUI, VA-BC: Inmy opinion, the best practice for preventing the transmission of contaminants via gel is not to use gel at the insertion site. We need to have coupling gel that aids in visualization, because ultrasound cannot transmit sound waves through air. It requires some sort of fluid medium or gel in order to be able to visualize the body’s structures.

But the variability and inconsistency that we talked about earlier is widely present in the use of gel. I have walked through a single institution and seen 5 different types of gels used, all of which were nonsterile. That raises the possibility that practitioners are using a nonsterile gel on a sterile insertion site, and effectively pushing that gel into the bloodstream. While I have not found a lot of evidence or research on the impact of gel within the bloodstream, it can’t be a good thing. Gel embolizing in the bloodstream is very likely to create problems that we may or may not be aware of.

If we can eliminate gel from the insertion site by keeping the gel and transducer on the other side of a barrier that still permits visualization of vascular structures, then we may have a home run. That way, variability in gel usage wouldn’t matter. We could use any kind of gel behind the barrier without creating a risk of contamination.

The best way to reduce variability is to have a complete IV start kit or central line insertion kit that clinicians can grab and use at a moment’s notice. Kits should be optimized, efficient, and not very costly, providing everything that’s needed—and nothing that’s not needed. In the case of central line insertions, for instance, sterile gel packets are included in the kits. A well thought-through kit is more likely to have departments and department heads agree to stock it in their areas, and to encourage their clinicians to use it, thus promoting greater standardization.

But just like everything else, there’s a huge amount of variability in the use of kits. Even IV start kits are not consistently used throughout the hospital, where peripheral IVs are inserted just about every minute of every day.

We need to be consistent with our practices, and management needs to enforce the use of these safety supplies—including the use of sterile gel, if gel is used on the skin during insertion. We need to have people enforce best practices—or at least to monitor and encourage those practices—and establish some form of standardization within all hospital departments.

ICT®: What are the key elements of guidelines from the American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) and the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) regarding the use of ultrasound-guided vascular access procedures?

NM: Both of these organizations have excellent recommendations on the use of visualization technologies. However, the Infusion Nurses Society does not have specific recommendations for processing transducers, other than to say that disinfection should be performed before and after use, which is a very consistent requirement.

Most recently, an AIUM taskforce has published a position statement to clarify the methods used to disinfect transducers in a way that is practical, efficient, and provides a level of safety for patients. The new Intersocietal Position Statement has been accepted by the Infusion Nurses Society and more than 20 other organizations. It supports the evidence-based position that cleaning and low-level disinfection (LLD) effective against bloodborne pathogens are adequate and sufficient methods for processing transducers used in percutaneous procedures. By contrast, procedures that are invasive or involve contact with mucus membranes would require high-level disinfection.

By making it easy to perform disinfection—making it a process that is consistent, manageable, and efficient—we can ensure greater standardization from department to department. In turn, departments will be able to utilize these visualization technologies in ways that are helpful to patients while optimizing the availability of critical equipment.

Ultrasound guidance improves the success of intravenous or arterial device insertions by making it possible to perform better assessments of veins, and by visually guiding the needle into the vessel. There are a number of advantages associated with the use of ultrasound, so we certainly don’t want to inhibit its use.

ICT®: How should the different levels of cleaning and disinfection be applied to transducers used in percutaneous procedures?

NM: Current practices for the cleaning and disinfection of medical devices are based on the Spaulding Classification System, which was first published in 1957. The Spaulding system calls for different levels of disinfection or sterilization to be used in accord with the clinical application of the device. But the rules of the Spaulding system need to be interpreted differently when dealing with modern devices and procedures, and that’s where the Intersocietal Position Statement comes in. Focusing exclusively on ultrasound-guided percutaneous procedures, the position statement makes the case that ultrasound transducers used in such procedures do not need to undergo the high-level disinfection that might be required for more-invasive procedures.

Moreover, it’s not necessary to use high-level disinfection for transducers that are used with a cover or separating barrier that prevents the bare transducer from ever coming into contact with the insertion site. According to the evidence reviewed by the position statement taskforce—and now endorsed by 22 health professional organizations—it is safe and sufficient to use low-level disinfecting agents or wipes for the disinfection of transducers used in percutaneous procedures, when permitted under the manufacturer’s instructions for use.

Ultrasound transducers or probes that come into contact with mucous membranes or are used in endocavitary procedures (anal, oral, or vaginal) must be processed using high-level disinfection. This level of processing is more costly and time consuming and should not be applied to all types of ultrasound use.

Novel disinfecting agents are becoming available for conveniently performing not only low-level disinfection but also intermediate-level disinfection. In the future, we will have wipes that easily perform the function of high-level disinfection for these types of ultrasound devices.

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Cleaning is one of the most important things we can do. With pets in the home, cleaning is more important. Dirty spaces can lead to health issues and self-esteem problems.

Keeping your carpets clean is essential in maintaining allergies and keeping illnesses at bay. Pets are known to leave stains on carpets; we recommend a good quality pet stain carpet cleaner to keep your carpeting in good condition.

Cleaning is the only way to prevent the spread of germs in your home. Disinfecting surfaces, cleaning floors, and washing bedding are essential to maintaining a healthy living environment.

Keeping your home clean through a routine is essential and has many benefits. Here we have outlined the importance of a cleaning routine for pet owners.

A Cleaning Routine Will Reduce Stress

Things can get out of hand when we don’t stick to a regular cleaning routine. As a general rule, it is best to spend at least 15 minutes a day cleaning each area of your house to maintain a clean environment.

While this doesn’t cover all the cleaning needed, it will help maintain your home until it is time for a deep clean.

Kill Harmful Germs, Viruses, and Bacteria

Cleaning can help you avoid getting sick and prevent allergies and asthma problems. Having pets requires regular cleaning: all that pet dander floating around is a problem waiting to happen. A combination of dust mites and mold can destroy your immune system.

It is no secret that a clean house is better for your immune system. Did you know that cleaning your house will reduce depression and decrease your stress levels? You do now!

A dirty carpet carries many health risks to you, your family, and your pets. Without regularly cleaning your carpets (and home), you are more at risk for respiratory issues, allergies, skin irritations, and a weaker immune system.

Eliminate Allergens In The Home

When we have pets, they bring in allergens such as dust and pollen. A regular cleaning routine is a necessary evil if you want to reduce the allergens in your home.

Pollen, pet hair and dander, mold, and dust mites in your home may cause your allergies to flare up. The time you spend cleaning can help you enjoy spring and avoid suffering through it.

Improve Your Mental Health

Did you know that an unclean home can impact your and your pet’s mental state? Regularly cleaning and tidying your house can improve your mental health.

Not only does a clean house protect your immune system, but it is an activity that many find relaxing. Cleaning and decluttering are highly linked to reduced stress and anxiety levels.

A cluttered or messy environment can often be perceived as “unfinished business” (intentionally or unconsciously), creating extra strain.

When you are determined to have a clean home, breaking your schedule into more manageable tasks can help you maintain a clean house. A professional cleaning service is an incredible option if you cannot hold a cleaning routine.

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National Preparedness Month  is an observance each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.

The 2022 Theme for this preparedness month is “A Lasting Legacy.”

“The life you’ve built is worth protecting. Prepare for disasters to create a lasting legacy for you and your family,” FEMA officials said.

Emergency preparations should include having enough vital supplies for several days if basic services are unavailable in a disaster.

FEMA advises: After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for several days. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.

Make sure your emergency kit is stocked with the items on a FEMA checklist online. Download a printable version to take with you to the store.

Once you take a look at the basic items consider what unique needs your family might have, such as supplies for pets or seniors.

Basic Disaster Supplies Kit

To assemble a kit, store items in airtight plastic bags and put the entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:

–Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)

–Food (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food)

–Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert

–Flashlight

–First aid kit

–Extra batteries

–Whistle (to signal for help)

–Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)

–Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)

–Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)

–Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)

–Manual can opener (for food)

–Local maps

–Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Since Spring of 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended people include additional items in their kits to help prevent the spread of coronavirus or other viruses and the flu.

Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:

–Masks (for everyone ages 2 and above), soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces

–Prescription medications. About half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day. An emergency can make it difficult for them to refill their prescription or to find an open pharmacy. Organize and protect your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins to prepare for an emergency.

–Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives

–Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution

–Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream

–Pet food and extra water for your pet

–Cash or traveler’s checks

–Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container

–Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person

–Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes

–Fire extinguisher

–Matches in a waterproof container

–Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items

–Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils

–Paper and pencil

–Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children.

Maintaining your Kit

After assembling a kit, remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed:

–Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.

–Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.

–Replace expired items as needed.

–Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.

Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work and cars.

Home: Keep this kit in a designated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept.

Work: Be prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours. Your work kit should include food, water and other necessities like medicines, as well as comfortable walking shoes, stored in a “grab and go” case.

Car: In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car.

In addition to building a supply kit, consider these other steps to prepare your family: make a plan, make sure children know important phone numbers and learn local evacuation routes.

Disasters can happen anywhere, any time. That’s why it’s important you’re prepared.

 

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The Scent Knows No Boundaries

The nostril-stinging tang of vinegar suggests some disinfecting power to Kevin and is fine for the bathroom, especially after it fades and leaves only a clean scent of lavender with a hint of cedar. But he finds the fragrance overpowering for the kitchen, where he prefers an olfactory blank slate that he can fill with the aromas of cooking. “My spouse, on the other hand, could not get enough of the fragrance and said he’d welcome it in every room of our home,” he says. “But he is someone who likes to use scented candles at the dinner table, which I consider criminal.” 

Laura also prefers using Diptyque in the bathroom because of the lovely lavender scent, specifically, the guest bathroom. “It would never be an everyday cleaner for me because it is too expensive,” she says. “It’s for show, status, and special occasions.”

Perry is sensitive to fragrances and falls physically ill at the whiff of many cleaners, perfumes, and scented products. The Diptyque cleaner was no exception, but on a 1-to-10 scale from pleasant to offensive, she’d rate it a 6. “I don’t get nauseous using it as long as I leave the room as it sits for 30 minutes to work. But I don’t like the smell at all, and it hangs in the back of my throat so much that I need to gargle after using it,” she says. “It smells nothing of lavender, cedar, or fig tree to me.”

If scented vinegar is something you’re after and $13 sounds like a more reasonable amount to pay, Perry recommends The Laundress Scented Vinegar, which smells more subtle and contains much fewer ingredients. 

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LOS ANGELES, CA – Thousands of new products and services for restaurants, caterers and foodservice establishments were introduced by 400 exhibiting companies during this week’s Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo and Coffee Fest at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  Reporters from several industry publications selected a dozen new products which were entered into a pitch competition on the show floor.  The following companies participated, and attendees selected an overall winner.

·     Best in Show for Pitch the Press was Cubo Beverages for their new Cubo beverage machine – Chef Developed Smoothies and Juices at the Push of a Button | Self-Cleaning!

·     Bear Robotics for their Servi – From running orders to bussing tables, from the dirty work to dish delivery, they help find the right solutions for a business – Servi Runs, You Serve.

·     Beauty Tea Company – Celebrate women’s beauty from the inside out by promoting wellness and relaxation with delicate and delicious tea blends, presented in the most elegant and feminine packaging, making them unique and unforgettable.

·     EmployeeMetrics – Rest and Meal break compliance software that will keep you protected in real time! Lower labor cost while limiting exposure and staying protected against lawsuits.

·     Flavorful Brands for their Golden Onions – Finally, a delicious, full flavor, yellow onion with no onion breath and not years. Goldies is a proprietary hybrid, Non-GMO and available in September 2022.

·     Gloryland Food USA and their Organic White Rice Noodles. A whole food company specializing in the development, production, and international distribution of scientifically innovative, technologically advanced organic, gluten-free, and additive-free rice and wholegrain noodles.

·      Go Essentials for their Mouthwash Mint – Go Essentials is a luxury, travel size product manufacturer. From day one we set out to create the world’s finest packet products.

·     Melinda’s Food offer innovative hot sauces that set your mouth on flavor.

·     RainBao next-generation, plant-forward dumplings are colorful and crafted from a short list of functional ingredients. We’re proof that eating for change can be satisfying and healthy!

·      Sofi for their Sofi Cold Cup, Straw and Cup Holder – Plastic-Free and Bioplastic-Free. 100% Home compostable and Industrial compostable certified (EN 13432). These cups decompose naturally in landfills, soil or marine environments in less than 180 days. 

·     Wash Bins is Southern California’s #1 Trash Bin and Dumpster Cleaning Service. Our state-of-the-art trucks disinfect, sanitize and deodorize bins and dumpsters with 190-degree water to leave them looking and smelling great. 

·     Wingman Cobot for their Tom and Joy Cobots which are intelligently designed to assist real baristas with tangible tasks. Unlike industrial robots, Cobots are lightweight and ease of use – what a delight partner to work with!

The trade show and conference will take place through Tuesday, August 30 at the Los Angeles Convention Center with the trade show floor open from 11 am – 4 pm.  The following events are scheduled for today:

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30th – Exhibit Hall Open 11:00am – 4:00pm

·     San Francisco Wine School is proud to host this special session of Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training in conjunction with the California Restaurant Association. Registrants will also receive Free Show Admission. (8:30 am – 12:30 pm)

·     Culinary Demonstration with Chef Lauren Lawless who has been living by her motto of inspiring the world one plate a time. She has appeared on shows such as Masterchef, Travel Channel’s Best in Food as well as Food Network’s Supermarket Stakeout where she won the grand prize and title of Supermarket Stakeout Champion. (11:30 am Center Stage)

·     Culinary Demonstration with Deanna “Bomb Chica” Colon, who was raised in an Italian restaurant North of Boston where she learned authentic Italian cuisine in the family restaurant and at home. Early on Deanna discovered her talents for music, so at 18, cooking took a backseat. She was awarded a full tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music. Deanna is an entertaining dynamo! Whether on stage or on a plate, She Cooks. She Sings. She Entertains. (1:00 pm – Center Stage)

Registration is now open at www.westernfoodexpo.com.   The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo is owned by Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group and sponsored by the California Restaurant Association. 

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