July 2009 Archives

Saving money is easy and you can do so in the comfort of your own home! Here are 30 simple and easy ways to start:

• Wash dishes by hand or wait until the dishwasher is full
• Use cold water rather than hot to wash your laundry, etc.
• Only do your laundry when the washing machine is full
• Take showers instead of baths and limit showering time
• Make sure to fix leaky faucets and turn them off tightly
• Turn down the pre-set temperature on your water heater
• Turn down room thermostats and wear a warm sweater
• Consider installing a few new programmable thermostats
• Replace all of your light bulbs with energy efficient ones
• Turn off the TV, lights, and/or fan whenever you exit a room
• Turn off the computer monitor when you're not using it
• Weatherstrip all windows and doors with foam or sealer
• Cover drafty windows with window film and lined curtains
• Add door bottom sweeps or rolled up towels to block drafts
• Caulk exterior cracks in windows, doors, pipes, and vents
• Insulate attic, basement, crawl space, and heating ducks
• Hire a professional home inspector to forecast costly repairs
• Request a free energy inspection from your utility provider
• Update your home with more energy-efficient appliances
• Be sure to claim tax credits for home energy improvements
• If you have a home warranty, make sure get the most of it
• Plant your own vegetable garden and grow your own herbs
• Instead of going out, invite friends over for potluck parties
• Try to bake multiple dishes in the oven at the same time
• Microwave left overs (uses less energy than your stove)
• Know what you want before you open the refrigerator
• Borrow books, music, DVDs, etc. from the library for free
• Consider feeding your pet less expensive food for a while
• Don't be afraid to ask your landlord for a break on the rent
• Consider cancelling cable TV, magazine subscriptions, etc.

Source: Nations Heritage Federal Credit Union

For information about financial management classes contact Wenhsing Cheng at wcheng@ag.tamu.edu or 214-904-3050.

     The Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University, Texas AgriLife Extension, and the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) are helping citizens of Dallas and the state of Texas to get prepared for the unexpected by providing useful tips to cope with disaster that may occur. 
     September is National Emergency Mangement/Preparedness Month.  And, preparing for disasters helps everyone in the family accept the fact that disaster can happen, and provides an opportunity to identify and collect the resources needed to meet basic needs after disasters.  According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Red Cross, Preparedness includes:

1. Talking about damage that may be caused by disasters that can strike where you live;
2. Deciding on a number to call and a place where the family will reunite if separated by a disaster;
3. Pulling together basic supplies;
4. Selecting valued personal items to take along such as toys for children and medicines for people who may be sick; and
5. Safeguarding personal and valuable items
   

For more details on making an emergency supply kit and other important procedures be sure to contact Marvin Young at 214-904-3050 or mryoung@tamu.edu.

Also see our websites at:
http://pvcep.pvamu.edu/
http://dallas-tx.tamu.edu

Or for access to more information on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery you may contact the EDEN website at:  texashelp.tamu.edu

Learning about what is the best core for the development of infants and toddlers is important.

We know that having warm and loving relationships between young children and the adults in their lives has a lasting influence. Warm, sensitive care in the first year of life can help children handle minor stress in preschool better. Elementary children will show fewer behavior problems when faced with stressful situations. Children may show more adaptability later on.

A stimulating, learning environment for infants and toddlers can even increase their brain development. Loving care, nutrition, good health care, and daily learning about his or her world add to the child's natural abilities and help the brain to develop.

How to Learn and Grow with Your Infant or Toddler:

• Learn about the child's natural routines and moods. From the first days of life on, answer his cries for help and his feelings of happiness. Hold, touch, comfort, and play when he wants to. When he needs to rest, let him rest.
• Develop warm, loving relationships which show how much you care, value who he is, and make the child feel safe and secure.
• Understand that each child is different and special.
• From infancy on, talk to, sing to, and read to the child. Early language development is the key to school success. Limit television and play music.
• Encourage play and have a safe play space, use stimulating toys, and listen to the child.
• Keep routines and rituals to help the child know what to expect.
• Discipline is teaching. Help the child to understand the results of their behaviors.
• Choose good child care and stay involved in the care.
• Remember good nutrition, health care, and to take care of yourself, too.

For information about parenting classes contact Wenhsing Cheng at wcheng@ag.tamu.edu or 214-904-3050.

Excessive exposure to a hot environment, especially while active or working, can bring about a variety of heat-induced symptoms - some mild and some severe. Heat illness can range from mild to moderate cramping and leg swelling to more severe heat exhaustion and even fatal heat stroke if the body's temperature is not brought down. In all these cases, you will want to get the person to a cooler environment - an air conditioned building if possible - or under a shade tree or other shaded area if air conditioning is not available. You will also want to be sure the person is hydrated with regular sips of cool (not ice cold) water or electrolyte-containing sports drink (unless vomiting ensues or heat stroke symptoms are evident).

·         For cramping, you can apply firm pressure or gentle massage.

·         For leg swelling, elevate the legs. Call a doctor if elevation doesn't bring the swelling down.

·         For heat exhaustion (characterized by dizziness or feeling faint, headache, nausea, profuse sweating, clammy/cool skin, rapid/weak pulse, low-grade fever, low blood pressure, and ashen or pale appearance), get the person out of the sun; lay him/her down; and cool the body with cool, wet cloths (changing them often) or by spraying or sponging the body with cool water.

·         If signs of heat stroke are present (characterized by high body temperature [103 degrees F, orally]; red, hot, dry skin; no sweating; rapid heartbeat; rapid, shallow breathing; dizziness; nausea, confusion, irritability, and/or unconsciousness), call 9-1-1 immediately, and begin cooling the body in whatever way possible. Time is crucial, so use whatever means are available for cooling - get the victim to shade or air conditioning; immerse the victim in a cool bath or shower, or spray with a garden water hose; sponge or spray with cool water. If the humidity is low, you can wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him/her vigorously. Do NOT give the victim fluids in this case.

To stay safe in the heat and prevent heat illness, allow your body to adjust by limiting your activity at first. Slow down and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day (between 10 am & 4 pm), if possible. Wear a wide-brimmed hat; wrap-around, 100 percent UV protective sunglasses; and loose fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing to allow some of the sun's energy to be reflected away from the body. Drink plenty of water even if you are not thirsty. Your body needs water to stay cool. If you are doing strenuous activity for more than 1 hour, try an electrolyte-replenishing drink, like Gatorade or Powerade. Eat well-balanced, light, regular meals. Avoid salt tablets unless directed to do so by your doctor.

Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning or who spend much of their time alone. If possible, spend the warmest part of the day in public buildings with air conditioning, such as libraries, schools, theaters, malls, or other community facilities. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest level of the building. Never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle, even when you crack or roll down the windows - temperatures inside a vehicle climb higher than the outdoor temperature.

Giving the body time to adjust to the heat, staying hydrated, and being aware of the signs of heat illness can help keep you and your loved ones safe in the sun.

 

 

Source: Janet M. Pollard, MPH, AgriLife Extension Associate - Health, Texas AgriLife Extension Service

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dallas County CEP / Family & Consumer Science Agent, Marvin Young, has scheduled Diabetes Education Awareness & Prevention (DEAP) classes for the upcoming Fall season.

They will be held at the Dallas County Extension office located at 10056 Marsh Lane, Suite B-101, Dallas, TX 75229. The first group will meet on Tuesdays, November 3,10, & 17, 2009 from 12:00 noon til 1:00.  Group 2 will meet on Wednesdays, November 4, 11, & 18, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. til 2:00 p.m.

Each class will feature diabetes education and awareness information along with a healthy/diabetic food demonstration; and a low impact physical activity.  Feel free to bring your lunch and eat while we learn.

To sign-up for these free classes, please call the Dallas County Extension office at 214-904-3050 to register.  When registering be sure to indicate if you are signing up for group 1 or group 2.  It is on a first come, first served basis for the first 20 people for each group.

How much do you really know about keeping your heart healthy?

Take the following True-False quiz developed by Tufts University:

 

1. Moderate alcohol consumption can improve cardiovascular health.

2. Garlic has heart-healthy benefits.

3. The main reason people are overweight is that they eat too much food.

4. Moderately intense exercise can be just as effective as vigorous exercise.

5. Anger can cause heart disease.

6. Sexual activity puts very little strain on the heart.

7. Cooked tomatoes have more health benefits than raw tomatoes.

8. Drinking milk can lower high blood pressure.

9. The risk of heart attack is greatest late at night.

10. Today the average American eats 150 calories a day more than 20 years ago.

 

Answers:

 

1. True, but moderate consumption means no more than 1 drink per day.

2. True, the phytochemical allicin in garlic can lower blood pressure.

3. False, most people are just less active than they used to be.

4. True, moderately intense physical activity can be just as effective as vigorous physical activity.

5. True, hostility and anger can increase the likelihood of premature cardiovascular disease.

6. True, only a tiny percent of heart attacks can be attributed to it.

7. True, tomatoes must be cooked in order for your body to obtain the powerful antioxidant Iycopene.

8. True, dairy products low in saturated fats can help combat high blood pressure.

9. False, the most common time for heart attacks to occur is in the morning.

10. True, and the average American weighs 24 pounds more today than in the 1960s.

 

Remember, being well informed about your health is an important part of an overall healthy lifestyle!

 

 

Last week I mentioned that having a budget or personal spending plan helps you take control of your financial situation. Following a budget will also help you reduce money-related anxiety and build assets to improve your quality of life.

Saving money is also an important part of building your financial future. Having a savings plan will help your money grow and meet your financial goals. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) offers tips to help you save money.

1. Consider needs versus wants. Think about the items you purchase on a regular basis. These add up. Where can you save?

• Do you eat out at restaurants a lot?
• Can you cut back on daily expenses, such as coffee, candy, soda, or cigarettes?
• Do you have services you do not really need, such as cable television or a cell phone?

2. Direct deposit or automatic transfer to savings.

• When you get paid, put a portion in savings through direct deposit or automatic transfer.
• If you have a checking account, you may sign up to have money moved into your savings account every month. What you do not see you do not miss!
• You may purchase U.S. Savings Bonds through payroll deduction.

3. Pay your bills on time. This saves the added expense of:

• Late fees.
• Extra finance charges.
• Disconnection fees for utilities such as phone or electricity.
• Fees to reestablish connection if your service is disconnected.
• The cost of eviction.
• Repossession.
• Bill collectors.

This informative and interactive site can help you learn more about mosquitoes

and about best management practices to control these pesky insects. Dr. Mike Merchant, Extension Entomologist at the Texas AgriLife Extension Urban Solutions Center in Dallas has done an outstanding job of developing this new educational tool.

 

Mosquito Safari <http://mosquitosafari.tamu.edu/> takes you on a virtual tour of a backyard, encouraging you to see things from the mosquito's point of view. Did you know that an old tire makes the perfect mosquito home? That garbage cans and garbage lids are one of the most common breeding sites for mosquitoes? What about bird feeders and bird

houses in areas where West Nile virus is common--does attracting birds to your backyard make the risk worse?

 

These and many other questions will be answered when you visit the site. Topics covered include mosquito biology and life cycles, risks of mosquitoes to humans and pets, how to identify the most common mosquito species, and steps you can take to reduce mosquito bites in your own backyard. Gardeners will learn about mosquito repellents, where mosquitoes hide during the day, and some practical steps that can help when the city is

not conducting mosquito spray operations. For pest management professionals, the site can be a good way to reinforce the messages technicians give their customers about how to reduce their risks from mosquito bites. New technicians? Mosquito Safari can provide at least a half hour of training time for trainees.

 

If you visit, be sure to turn on the sound, as much of the site is narrated.

 

Source:  Extension in the City: Urban Initiative County News

As we learned within the last few weeks, summer is here, and so are triple digit temperatures!  As you try to stay cool, you need to be sure to drink enough fluids to stay hydrated.  Don't wait until your mouth is dry, your skin is flushed, or you feel lightheaded.  You should drink enough fluids throughout the day to prevent dehydration.

Factors that can cause you to dehydrate more quickly include sweating and increased breathing during exercise or illness with fever, but medications and supplements that promote increased urination (diuretics) can also cause water to move out of the body.

Water is an essential nutrient for life.  More than 70% of our bodies are made up of water, and water is necessary for many of our basic functions such as regulating body temperature, removing wastes, moisturizing our skin, lubricating our joints, and carrying oxygen to our cells.

The following tips may help you keep hydrated:

• Have a glass of water when you first get up in the morning
• Keep a glass of water next to the bed
• Enjoy an herbal tea in the afternoon or evening
• Carry water with you if away from home for long periods
• Drink before you feel thirsty
• Limit sugary, caffeinated beverages
• Choose drinks with 10 or fewer calories
• Know the signs of dehydration
• The best choice of fluid is water!

A good way to start taking control of your financial situation is to develop a budget or personal spending plan. While working on your budget each month, remember, decreasing spending increases the amount of money you have left each month. This is also referred to as "increasing your cash flow."

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) offers tips to help you increase your cash flow:

• Carry only small amounts of cash in your wallet so you will not spend it.
• Use direct deposit for your paycheck or federal benefits, such as Social Security.
• Control your use of credit cards.
• Do not go shopping just for fun.
• Write down your savings goals and take them with you as a reminder.
• Buy only what you need - do not buy things just becuase they are on sale.
• Use coupons to save money.
• Use a grocery-shopping list to prevent impulse buying.
• Take your lunch to work instead of eating out.
• Shop around to get the best deal on big-ticket items like cars and appliances.
• Pay your bills on time to avoid late fees, extra finance charges, utilities being turned off, eviction, repossessions, and the costs of a bad credit rating.

For information about financial management classes contact Wenhsing Cheng at wcheng@ag.tamu.edu or 214-904-3050.