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Sylvia Dickens

Hale Publishing

How To Live Off The Grid

Posted Thursday, May 28, 2009 (164 days 7 hours ago.) Viewed 110 times.

Have you wondered how to live off the grid? If not, you might want to look into it because renewable power looms as a very real necessity.

Those in charge of our energy resources are yet to make a significant move in that direction. Instead, they continue to extract coal, oil and gas from the earth like it will be there forever. Unfortunately it eventually will run out.

Unlike the earth's power-generating substances, renewable power comes from sources that are constantly replenished. They are not likely to run out at any point in our lifetimes. That's why it's important to switch to renewable energy, starting right at own home.

The majority of us have experienced power outages to some degree and how they can interrupt our lives and our comforts. Those who rely on power for their health needs can readily grasp the inherent dangers in continued power interruptions.

Did you know that you can make your own power and live off the grid? Solar panels and wind mills are two great ways that you can generate the power you need for your specific needs.

Imagine not having to rely on the industries that seem oblivious to the dangerous situations they put some of us in. Nor are they willing to admit that oil, natural gas, coal and other power generating substances are a threat to the environment.

How to live off the grid and save on your electric bill

There are systems available that you can use to become energy self-sufficient.

Bear in mind that fossil fuels contaminate the very air that we breath and the water that we drink. They affect vegetation and wildlife as well. Over time, our planet will become uninhabitable because of the effects of burning fossil fuels.

Luckily, you don't have to rely on the country's power grid any longer because there are much better options available. You can easily use the sun and wind to produce your own power simply by building and installing your own solar panels or wind mills.

That might sound like a challenging prospect, but one thing's for certain, you will make a significant impact on the environment by doing so. Besides, consider the savings when you live off the grid.

Are you tired of paying increasingly higher energy costs for a power grid system that could crash at any moment? Get instructions on how to live off the grid. Discover why do we need renewable energy

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Dog First Aid: What To Do When Your Dog Needs Help

Posted Wednesday, May 06, 2009 (186 days 11 hours ago.) Viewed 19 times.

Dog first aid is no different from human first aid when it comes to following procedures. Actual treatment usually requires special skills but that doesn't mean you cannot offer assistance. Whether dog or human, it helps to know something about injuries and conditions so you do not cause more harm. With dogs, there are a few other things to consider as well.

Dog First Aid: Rule Number One

Remember that dogs will bite if they are in pain or afraid, which is often the case when they have been injured. Even the most docile dog can become dangerous in the right situations. It's important, therefore, to keep this as your top priority when trying to aid a dog. The best way to prevent getting bitten is to put a muzzle on the dog or wrap a towel or coat around your arm for protection.

We'll discuss how you should always be prepared in a minute.

Rule Number Two: Protect the dog from additional harm

Of course, you want to make sure the dog cannot be harmed either by being in a dangerous location or by inappropriate treatment. As with humans, if you move the injured party, you could cause more damage, especially if bones are broken. If a dog is on the roadway, find something solid to carefully put the dog onto, like a flat board and lift him to a safe location well away from traffic.

Take special precaution to ensure your own safety as well. Make sure motorists can see you and avoid you.

Rule Number Three: Begin life-saving treatment

Dog first aid carries the same treatment priority system as human first aid, often referred to as A-B-C. Airway – Breathing – Circulation. Making sure the dog can breathe is the first priority. This means making sure he has a good airway, nothing lodged in his throat.

Check for injuries to the dog's chest that could mean a perforated or collapsed lung. If you see that he is in distress and cannot breathe because of a gaping wound in the chest area, cover the wound with a towel. Press firmly against the wound so that the air from his lungs cannot escape. Or even better, use a plastic bag as a patch instead and secure it to the dog with adhesive tape to stop oxygen leakage.

Stop the bleeding from any wounds as blood loss can lead to shock and death if it is severe or long lasting. Apply a tight wrap around the wound. Tie a knot in the wrap and place it on the dog so the knot sits over the wound itself. This will provide additional pressure to help stop the bleeding.

Rule Number Three: Call for help

While you are taking these life-saving steps, have someone call for help. If this is not possible, carefully move the injured dog into your vehicle and transport him to the nearest veterinarian hospital right away so that he can receive proper treatment.

Knowing dog first aid will come in handy many times during your relationship together. Dogs can get injured in many ways – they can step on something, swallow a dangerous object, eat food that is toxic to dogs, or they can just get ill the same as humans can.

These three steps can make the difference between your dog's life or death, given the right circumstances.

Be Prepared

Always have a dog first aid kit handy for such emergencies. Some of the main ingredients must be: a muzzle, leash, scissors, tweezers, bandages, medical tape, small towel, a blanket, Kwik Stop or cornstarch to stop the bleeding if your dog tears a nail, and rubbing alcohol. A pair of gloves for your protection would be a good idea. Never give your dog anything by mouth (not even water) if he is in severe distress from an injury or accident. Depending on the problem, it could make it worse or interfere with treatment by the vet.

Read more dog care articles on Sylvia's dog nutrition site. Discover the dog nutrition secrets that can make the difference in your dog's overall health and endurance. The "Healthy Dog Nutrition Secrets" package, just released by award-winning journalist Sylvia Dickens, explains all about the dangers certain foods pose for your dog, includes delicious dog food recipes you can make yourself, a dog food report, dog care, and much more.

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Dog Nutrition: Do Scare Tactics Work For You? Be Careful How You Answer

Posted Friday, May 01, 2009 (191 days 5 hours ago.) Viewed 33 times.

If you're like most of us, you've probably become immune to scare tactics, even when they talk about dog nutrition. After awhile, how do you know when it's important to sit up and take notice? You've probably found that most scare tactics are unfounded.

You've heard the story of the boy who cried wolf. He got great joy out of scaring people with his false alarms. When there was a real danger, however, no one paid any attention. Scare tactics in advertising work much the same way.

How do you decide which dog nutrition scare tactics should be heeded?

Promoters can tell you that certain dog food ingredients are a threat to your dog's health, but where's the evidence? You know all they want to do is sell you their product. But there are some product creators who do give you the goods, but how do you tell them apart from the false threats?

Here are 3 quick ways to decide what to believe about dog nutrition

1. Dogs, like humans, can have allergic reactions to certain foods and ingredients. Talk to your vet about your particular dog regarding dog allergies and what causes them. Ask specifically about dog food and what he's discovered from examining pets. Ask about your breed to see if it is more susceptible to allergies than other breeds, and what you should do to protect your dog, including his dog food recommendations.

2. Read through official sites that provide information based on facts and research. Be careful which sites you choose, however, because some organizations represent dog food manufacturers. It's common sense that they are going to take the side of their members, rather than offering unbiased reports.

Here are a few official sites to get you started:

American Association of Feed Control Officials
http://www.aafco.org

"AAFCO is composed of state, federal, and international regulatory officials who are responsible for the enforcement of state laws regulating the safe production and labeling of animal feed, including pet food."

US Federal Drug Administration - Center for Veterinary Medicine
http://www.fda.gov/cvm

"The Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) regulates the manufacture and distribution of food additives and drugs that will be given to animals. These include animals from which human foods are derived, as well as food additives and drugs for pet (or companion) animals."

3. Learn how to read dog food labels. You will find tips on what to look for on the FDA site above. Labelling can be deceptive. For instance, one product might list corn first, while the other lists meat. This should tell you that the product contains more of the first product on the list and therefore which product has the best dog nutrition.

While you do want to see meat listed first, you also need to know how concentrated is the nutritional value of that particular meat to determine whether it truly is the most nutritious ingredient. From the research you conduct on the official pet food regulatory sites, you will find out the truth and understand what ingredients can pose a threat to your dog.

Determining who to believe is a challenge, but if you do your homework, your task will be much clearer on which dog nutrition alarms to observe.