Features & Benefits Issue III
July 6, 2019Web Based Testing
August 29, 2019Summer Tips and News You Should Use
BLUMINE HEALTH
SUMMER TIPS AND NEWS YOU SHOULD USE
Please join us at the 12th Annual Kentucky Health Care and Wellness Conference on August 5 and 6, 2020, presented by Baptist Health and BluMine Health. Please click on the link below for more information: https://www.kychamber.com/events/education/health-wellness
Hand Sanitizer News - Straight from Texas
There’s a hidden risk with keeping hand sanitizer in our car to help protect against COVID-19 and other illnesses, especially during the hot summer months. Flammable liquids and direct sunlight can make it explode, CBS Dallas warns.
“It’s flammable and it’s an irritant,” retired Dallas firefighter Sherrie Wilson told the station. “When it’s venting and if it’s venting in a small space like a car, and vapor is released, it can explode.”
The Texas Department of Public Safety shared a photo from firefighters with the Western Lakes Fire District in Wisconsin. It shows serious damage to the driver’s side door of a car that was caused by “hand sanitizer igniting in a hot vehicle that reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit inside the vehicle.”
Wilson said pump bottles pose a greater risk because vapors can leak into a hot car and create a combustible environment.
“What happens with flammables is they turn to vapor, and they vaporize into a confined space… a car. And then if there was any introduction of static electricity, which could simply be somebody getting in and pulling down on a sweater or jacket or anything like that,” an explosion could result, Wilson explained.
There are also concerns that leaving hand sanitizer in a hot car could make it less effective.
“If the alcohol evaporates, the hand sanitizer is less efficient. It is the alcohol that kills the germs,” said Dr. Mihaela C. Stefan, of the University of Texas at Dallas Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
The best advice experts have to offer is to simply carry the hand sanitizer with you.
It's Fun to Be In The Sun BUT there are Safe To Dos That YOU should follow!
- Schedule a yearly skin checkup. Suspect moles or red, itchy patches should be evaluated by a medical professional/dermatologist routinely. If necessary, they need to be removed and treated. It's painless and totally puts your mind at ease and prevents more serious complications in the future.
- Check the expiration dates on your sunscreens because they can go bad just like food. If they are expired, they are not effective in preventing sunburn and sun damage to your skin. Toss them if they are expired, look or smell bad. While the FDA does require that sunscreens be effective for three years, if your sunscreen has been to the beach or in a hot car, their effective time will be drastically cut. The rule of thumb is that if you are using the required amount for your face and body and reapply often, you should go through a few bottles each summer season.
- You can get a beautifully bronzed glow without the sun by using a self-tanner. There are numerous brands to choose from on the market. For that special occasion or event, this might be your best bet for a suntanned look. We do advise you to stay away from tanning beds which can be dangerous to you now and in the future as well.
Helping Hands
Keeping your hands and nails in tip-top shape in the summer can be tricky with all of the sanitizers we have been using. But the following tips should help you to have prettier hands:
- Use soap over sanitizer (when you can)! Keeping hands clean is essential to good health. The alcohol in sanitizers contain about 70 % alcohol and causes our skin to dry out.
- Make it convenient. Keep hand cream and cuticle oil handy. This can be for men as well as women. Look for creams and oils that have almond, coconut, or jojoba oil in it. These ingredients help to keep your fingertips and cuticles hydrated and therefore give your hands a healthier and better look.
- Don't soak! You cannot skip washing your hands, but you should avoid excess water and time in the water with your hands when you can. It's a good idea to wear rubber gloves when you are doing household or outdoor chores that require your hands being in water for extended periods of time.
- Add a strengthener. While your nails are in a recovery period, use a nail moisturizer and a clear nail polish with hardening elements. There are numerous ones on the market to purchase. Apply twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening. It will take 4 - 6 months to fully grow a healthy set of nails.
- Try a supplement. A daily multi-vitamin or extra biotin dose will help to ensure that your nails are stronger and less likely to break or peel. It's worth the effort to have healthier, more attractive hands and nails.
- Use your shower time to help improve the look and feel of your hands and nails. The best way to create good self-care habits is to incorporate them into your daily routine. While showering or taking a bath, push back and exfoliate your cuticles while they are softer and more pliable.
Ways To Ensure Your Phone Is Easier On Your Eyes
- Bump up the font size on your phone. Don't be embarrassed to do this. It is a simple procedure on your smart phone. And it will be so much easier on your eyes.
- Manage the brightness of your phone's screen. You want a phone screen that is not too bright and not too dim which causes strain on the eyes. Turn on the True Tone (iPhone) or Adaptive Brightness (Android) under settings and it will change the brightness level to match the light around you.
- Stop the glare. The sun's glare can fatigue your eyes. Try an anti-glare screen protector for your phone. An extra bonus is that a protective, anti-glare screen on our phone will also help to minimize fingerprints and smudges on your phone's screen!
HYDRATE! HYDRATE! HYDRATE!
Remember the human body is made up of a large percentage of water. The percentage varies depending on your age and gender. The amount ranges from 50 - 75% but averages around 60%. So, while it is important to keep your body hydrated at all times, it is especially important during the hot summer months. Professionals suggest at least 64 ounces of water per day. Enjoy your summer!
